S11320 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 any action possible to get us down to Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise ing on Facebook, she knew she would that limit. That would include denying to speak on the bill and urge its quick be away for the holidays from her be- all discretionary permit requests. and prompt adoption. loved husband Philip, her children, What else does it mean? It means, In doing so, I wish to pay tribute to grandchildren, and stepchildren. But under that mandate in the law, you can a fallen warrior from the State of there were no stepchildren; they were bet that every leftwing environmental Maryland who died in the terrible mas- all her children to Lieutenant Colonel group in the world, much less in this sacre at Fort Hood. I wish to express Warman. country, will sue to block all economic my condolences to all families who suf- We are going to miss her. Her family activity that requires discretionary fered the loss of life or were injured at is going to miss her. We are going to permits. Quite frankly, they will have that terrible shooting. It was a terrible miss her in Maryland because she was a very compelling case. They will point tragedy for them at Fort Hood, for an active member of the community. to this legislative language, if it is en- their families, and for our country. The Army is going to miss her. Most of acted, and say: Time out. The Presi- We know the 13 families are now all, those who need mental health dent is not just authorized to do this, dealing with the loss of loved ones, and counseling will miss her. We are so the President is not just encouraged to 30 other families have members who sorry this happened to her. do this, the President is mandated to were wounded in the attack. We in There will be those who will want to take every action he can, which clearly Maryland suffered a casualty as well. I wear yellow ribbons and black arm- would include denying all discretionary am here today to pay my respects and bands and have flags at half mast. And permits to push that curve, that green express my condolences to the family we should. We should do all the sym- curve, back down to 450 or as low as it of LTC Juanita Warman, a wonderful bols to honor what happened to those can go. woman who moved to Maryland 5 years who fell at Fort Hood. But the best way So what does that mean? That means ago as a call to duty. She had a 25-year to honor the people in the massacre at carbon credits are meaningless if you military career in both the Active and Fort Hood, to honor the people who need a discretionary permit for certain Reserve Army. She devoted her career have been wounded in Iraq or Afghani- economic activity or for any new eco- to serving fellow soldiers. stan is to pass this legislation. nomic project. This is a very important Lieutenant Colonel Warman was a The legislation pending is the Mili- aspect of the bill. Again, it is in Kerry- nurse practitioner. Her field was in tary Construction and VA health bill. Boxer. Exactly the same language is psychiatric and emotional counseling. There is so much good in this bill that also in Waxman-Markey as it passed She served in other parts of the coun- will provide medical services to those the full House of Representatives. try and came as a call to duty to Perry who bear the permanent and some- This gives an enormous mandate to Point Veterans Hospital in Maryland. times invisible wounds of war. While the President of the United States to There she served to help our wounded we want to salute those who fell at absolutely take action once those glob- warriors. Perry Point is the designated Fort Hood and on the battlegrounds of al greenhouse gas emissions get above facility in Maryland to help wounded Iraq and Afghanistan, the way we 450. So my message is clear, particu- warriors, those who bear the perma- honor their memory and their service, larly to the companies that have sup- nent injury of war, who bear the the service of all who have been ported this legislation because they wounds of either emotional or mental abroad, is by making sure when they have been assured certain carbon cred- illness. She was absolutely on their come home, they get the medical and its. side. She was viewed as a consummate The message is clear: Carbon credits social services they need, a bridge to professional by her colleagues and by will not matter if any of your activi- get them back into civilian life. the people who relied upon her for her ties, if any of your new projects or pro- Again, my condolences to the talented counseling. Warman family and to all who fell, but posed projects requires any discre- A master’s degree in nursing, she was tionary Federal permit. To deliver that most of all I thank everybody for their an expert in posttraumatic stress as service. Let’s thank them not only message, crystal clear, to those compa- well as traumatic brain injury. She de- nies, in particular, tomorrow I am with words but with deeds. Let’s pass voted her career to helping these sol- this bill. writing to a significant leading handful diers as she did her family. Her family of those companies that so far have I yield the floor. saw her as a mother to two, a grand- AMENDMENT NO. 2740 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2730 supported the legislation, pointing out mother to eight, and two stepchildren the enormous impact of those sections, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- as well. She was raised in a military ator from Hawaii. 705 and 707, and asking them to focus family. She understood the bonds be- very clearly on what it means to their Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask tween fellow soldiers. She also volun- unanimous consent that the pending projects, to their economic activity, to teered as part of a program called the their bottom line because, again, car- amendment be set aside. Maryland Yellow Ribbon Program to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without bon credits will not matter once this help soldiers reintegrate into the com- enormous mandate and authority of objection, it is so ordered. munity. She developed guidelines to Mr. AKAKA. I call up amendment the President goes into effect. dispel myths about PTSD. She particu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time No. 2740 and ask for its consideration. larly would reach out to women sol- is 12:35 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. VITTER. I yield the floor. diers who had unique challenges, both clerk will report. in their own life and the lives of their The legislative clerk read as follows: f families. The Senator from Hawaii [Mr. AKAKA] pro- RECESS She provided mental health coun- poses an amendment numbered 2740. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under seling to soldiers coming out of a war The amendment is as follows: zone trying to come into a family zone the previous order, the Senate stands (Purpose: To extend the authority for a re- in recess until 2:15 p.m. so that family zone didn’t become a gional office of the Department of Vet- Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:35 p.m., battleground as well. She also was well erans Affairs in the Republic of the Phil- recessed until 2:15 p.m., and reassem- known for her work at Ramstein Hos- ippines) bled when called to order by the Pre- pital. She traveled there in many in- On page 52, after line 21, add the following: siding Officer (Mr. UDALL of Colo- stances to help our soldiers make the SEC. 229. Section 315(b) of title 38, United rado). transition from battlefield to the hos- States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2009’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, f pital in Germany to back here. She re- ceived an Army commendation medal 2010’’. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VET- for her meritorious service at Mr. AKAKA. I yield the floor. ERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED Ramstein. She was a great soldier. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS She was at Fort Hood less than 24 ator from Washington. ACT, 2010—Continued hours. She was getting ready to deploy Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to Iraq. She was ready to go, though week, thousands of families across our ator from Maryland. she was sad to go. From her last post- country are stopping to honor the

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.034 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11321 memory of those who have served for the freedoms our country offers. It is ferent capacity. In Iraq and Afghani- us because of Veterans Day tomorrow because of their unmatched commit- stan, we have seen wars that don’t have and to thank them for all they have ment that America can remain a bea- traditional front lines. All of our serv- done to protect and defend our coun- con for democracy and freedom icemembers, including women, find try. It is a time when many American throughout the world. themselves on the front lines. Whether families are watching what is unfolding Growing up I saw firsthand the many it is working at a checkpoint or help- at Fort Hood this week. It is a time in ways military service can affect both ing to search and clear neighborhoods my State where today we are having a veterans and their families. My father or supporting supply convoys, women memorial service at Fort Lewis hon- served in World War II. He was among servicemembers face many of the same oring seven soldiers who lost their lives the first soldiers to land in Okinawa. risks from IEDs and ambushes as their a few days ago in Afghanistan. Our He came home as a disabled veteran male counterparts. But while the na- hearts and condolences go out to those and was awarded the Purple Heart. ture of their service has changed in families who have suffered the ulti- Like many soldiers of my dad’s genera- these conflicts, the VA has been very mate loss, especially at this time when tion, he didn’t talk about his experi- slow to change the nature of the care everyone is recognizing the tremendous ences during the war. In fact, we only they provide when these women return sacrifice so many people have given. learned about what he did and his her- home. As a Senator from a State with a oism when he passed away, and we Today at the VA there is an insuffi- very large military presence and com- found his journals and read them. I cient number of doctors and staff with munities that are heavily populated think that experience offers a larger specific training and experience in with the men and women who dedicate lesson about veterans in general. They women’s health issues. Even the VA’s their lives to protecting our country, I are very reluctant to call attention to own internal studies have shown that was particularly saddened by the sense- their service, and they are reluctant to women veterans are underserved. That less violence that ripped through our ask for help. That is why we have to is why we included in the veterans Nation’s largest active-duty base last publicly recognize their sacrifices and health bill a bill I have introduced and Thursday. As anyone who has ever contributions. It is up to all of us to worked on that will enable the VA to spent time on a U.S. military base make sure they get the recognition better understand and ultimately treat knows well, those are some of our most they have earned and, by the way, not the unique needs of female veterans. safe and compassionate communities only on Veterans Day. Our veterans The bill authorizes a number of new in the entire country. They are places held up their end of the deal. We have programs and studies, including a com- where a young family plants roots and to hold up ours. prehensive look at the barriers women raises a child and establishes a life for Veterans Day must not only be a day currently face when they try to get themselves. They are a place where of remembrance, it must also be a day care at the VA. It includes a study of military spouses form bonds that they of reflection. It is a chance for all of us women who have served in Iraq and Af- carry with them throughout their de- to reflect on our own responsibilities to ghanistan to assess how those conflicts ployments. They are a place where our Nation’s veterans. It is a chance to affected their health. It includes a re- neighbors always lend a hand to those look at what we can do to make sure quirement that the VA implement a in need. I have seen that firsthand at we are keeping the promise we made to program to train and educate and cer- places such as Fort Lewis Army Base our men and women when they signed tify VA mental health professionals to in Tacoma and Fairchild Air Force up to serve. It is a chance to take stock care for women with sexual trauma and Base in Spokane. I know the pain of of where care and benefits have fallen a pilot program that provides childcare the loss of those 13 public servants ex- short, where new needs are emerging, to women veterans who seek mental tends to everyone at Fort Hood and to and how we can make it easier for vet- health care services at the VA because, the U.S. military community as a erans to get the care and benefits they as we know, women will choose to take whole. deserve. care of their kids before they take care I wish to make special mention today It is appropriate that on the eve of of themselves. I believe we need to pro- of Michael Grant Cahill who came from this very important day, Veterans Day, vide that childcare so those women get Spokane, WA. He was the lone civilian we are working to pass a bill that the care they need. killed in that attack. He was a physi- takes a hard look at many of the chal- This bill I am talking about is the re- cian’s assistant who worked in rural lenges facing veterans and their fami- sult of many discussions with women clinics and veterans hospitals, places lies. It is a bill that is the product of veterans on the unique and very per- where our veterans desperately need collaboration with veterans, their fam- sonal problems they face when they re- care and we desperately need workers. ilies, caregivers, and scores of veterans turn home from war. Oftentimes, when At the time of his death, he was only 4 service organizations. I hold veterans meetings in my State, years from retirement. In an interview As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs the men who are there speak up and with the Spokesman-Review newspaper Committee, I am aware we have a lot talk to me about some of the barriers a day after her father was killed, of work to do for the men and women they face, and it is not until the meet- Cahill’s daughter Keely told the paper who serve our country. Not only must ing closes and everybody is going out that her dad was ‘‘a wonderful person, we continually strive to keep up our the door that the women come up to that he loved his job and loved working commitment to veterans from all wars, me and speak silently and as quietly as with people and helping them with but we also have to respond to the new they can in my ear about the barriers their physical needs.’’ and different issues facing veterans they face. Some of these women have My thoughts and prayers are with who are returning from Iraq and Af- told me they did not even view them- Keely and the family members of all ghanistan, wars that are being fought selves as a veteran and therefore did those who died or were wounded and under conditions that are very dif- not even think of seeking care at the the U.S. military families who are still ferent from those of the past. That is VA. Oftentimes, they have told me reeling from this tragedy. precisely what the caregiver and vet- they lack privacy at their local VA or To the families who have lost sol- erans omnibus health bill seeks to do. they felt intimidated when they diers in Iraq and Afghanistan recently, One of the changes we have seen in walked in the doors. They have told me especially those having military serv- our veterans population recently is the about being forced into a caregiving ices today in my home State of Wash- growing number of women veterans role that prevented them from even ington at Fort Lewis as well as many who are seeking care at the VA. Today asking for care because they had to others, I want them to know that we more women are serving in the mili- struggle to find a babysitter in order to know we are their voice and we need to tary than ever before. Over the next 5 keep an appointment. They should not stand up for them. As we all know, Vet- years, the amount of women seeking have to speak quietly into my ear at erans Day tomorrow is a day we cele- care at the VA is expected to double. the end of a meeting. They have served brate and honor the great sacrifices all Not only are women answering the call our country honorably. We should veterans have made. It is because of to serve at unprecedented levels, they move this women veterans health bill their sacrifice that we can safely enjoy are also often serving in a very dif- so they get the care they support.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.036 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11322 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 To me and to the bipartisan group of The fact that this bill is now being lation, and apparently he is tied up in Senators who cosponsored the women held hostage by ideology is both a dis- some sort of meeting right now, so I veterans bill, these barriers to care service to our veterans and a troubling will just precede him and give my they face are unacceptable. So as we precedent for our future efforts to meet thoughts and my support for the legis- now have more women transitioning their needs. Providing for our veterans lation he has introduced. back home and stepping back into used to be an area where political af- MARINE CORPS 234TH BIRTHDAY their careers and their lives as mothers filiation fell by the wayside. But today, Before I do that, Mr. President, I and wives, this VA has to be there for because of an effort to score political would like to point out that this is No- them. So this bill in the omnibus bill points on issues that are far removed vember 10, and marines around the in front of us will help the VA to mod- from the struggles of families who are world stop on this day every year—no ernize to meet those needs. delivering care to their loved ones with matter where they are, no matter what Another way this bill meets the injuries or women veterans who are re- they are doing—to commemorate what changing needs of our veterans is in turning home to an unprepared VA or we call the Marine Corps birthday, the area of assisting caregivers in the the mounting toll of this economy on which is the celebration of the initial home. homeless veterans, we are faced with recruitment and organization of the As we have seen in Iraq and Afghani- delay on the floor. For our Nation’s Marine Corps, at a place called Tun stan, medical advances have helped veterans, it is a delay they cannot af- Tavern in Philadelphia in 1775. save the lives of many of our service- ford. Our aging veterans and the brave This is the 234th anniversary of the members who in previous conflicts men and women who are currently founding of the Marine Corps. As one would have perished from the severity serving in Iraq and Afghanistan need who has proudly served in the U.S. Ma- of their wounds. But these medical our help now. And how we treat them rines, who has a brother who was a ma- miracles mean that many of those who at this critical time will send a signal rine, a son who is a marine, and a son- have been catastrophically wounded to a generation of young people who in-law—three of us infantry combat now need round-the-clock care when might now be sitting at home consid- veterans—I would like to extend my they come home. ering whether they want to go into the congratulations to all of those who In many of our rural areas, where ac- military. served in the Marine Corps in the past cess to health care services is very lim- It is imperative that we keep our and to those who are doing such a fine ited, the burden of providing that care promise to our veterans—the same and difficult job today all around the often—and most often—falls on the promise Abraham Lincoln made to world. This is the finest fighting orga- family of that severely injured veteran. America’s veterans 140 years ago—‘‘to nization in the world, and I am very For those family members who are pro- care for the veteran who has borne the proud to have been a part of it at one viding care to their loved ones, it now battle, his widow and his orphan.’’ point in my life. becomes a full-time job for them. They Our veterans have waited long We all wish success and the best to often, I have been told, have to quit enough for many of the improvements our marines. their current jobs—forfeiting not only in this bill. We should not ask them to FRANK BUCKLES WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL ACT their source of income but also their wait any longer. So I urge our col- Mr. President, tomorrow is Veterans own health care insurance at the same league to withdraw his objection to Day, where we will stop as a nation time. It is a sacrifice that is far too consideration of this bill and to let us with a national holiday to commemo- great, especially for families who have move it quickly through the Senate so rate the service of all of those who already sacrificed so much. the families and the servicemembers have served our country throughout So this underlying omnibus bill we who are waiting for its passage— our history and to thank the 23.4 mil- are trying to bring forward provides whether it is a family taking care of a lion veterans in this country for the caregivers with health care and coun- veteran who has been seriously injured service they have given in war and in seling and support and, importantly, a or a woman veteran or anyone who has peace, extending all the way back, in stipend so they can take care of their served our country—can know we stand terms of living veterans, to World War loved ones when they come home. behind them when they serve our coun- I, which I am going to talk about in a This bill also takes steps to provide try. minute. I think we have one surviving dental insurance to veterans and sur- Mr. President, I yield the floor. veteran from World War I still alive. vivors and their dependents and im- Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I sug- We have some 2.6 million World War II proves mental health care services and gest the absence of a quorum. veterans who are still with us. And we eases the transition from Active Duty The PRESIDING OFFICER. The want to, as so many people have point- to civilian life. It expands outreach and clerk will call the roll. ed out today, do our best to take care technology so we can provide better The legislative clerk proceeded to of those who have served our country, care for veterans in our rural areas. call the roll. to honor that service. And it initiates three programs to ad- Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I ask With respect to the legislation Sen- dress homelessness among veterans, unanimous consent that the order for ator THUNE put together and on which which is especially troubling during the quorum call be rescinded. I am an original cosponsor, we should these economic times. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without stop today and think about those who This is a bill that is supported by nu- objection, it is so ordered. served in World War I. I think the me- merous veterans service organizations Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, may I ask morial he is proposing has three impor- and the VA. It is supported by many the Chair, are we in morning business? tant benefits to our country. The first leading medical groups. It was passed The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- is that it will help us remember a war in our Senate Veterans’ Affairs Com- ate is considering the appropriations that I think is not really appropriately mittee with broad bipartisan support bill. remembered in our own history—the after hearings with health care experts Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I ask importance of it, the incredible car- and VA officials and veterans and, im- unanimous consent to speak as in nage that took place, the way it portantly, their families. morning business. changed the face of the civilized world. Like other omnibus veterans health The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there The second is to think about our own care bills before it—bills that have objection? World War I veterans and the struggles often been passed on this floor with Without objection, it is so ordered. they went through and in terms of put- overwhelming support—it puts vet- FRANK BUCKLES WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL ACT ting together the right sort of care and erans before politics. It is a bipartisan Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I actually benefits for those who followed them. bill designed to move swiftly so its pro- came to the floor to join with Senator The third is to talk about the site grams can be implemented swiftly. It THUNE and to congratulate him on the itself that Senator THUNE has done is a bipartisan bill that is designed to effort he has undertaken to rededicate such a fine job in discovering and pro- make sure our veterans do not become a site in Washington, DC, to become posing. political pawns. Yet here we are today the National World War I Memorial. I We in this country did not get in- facing delays. am an original cosponsor on that legis- volved in World War I until the very

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.037 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11323 end of the war. I think that is one of still seeing the World War I veterans. erans Day tomorrow, it is important to the reasons, perhaps, we do not con- They felt a stewardship to those who recognize those veterans who served sider in enough detail how much of an served in World War II. They helped throughout our Nation’s history. Along impact that war had on the civilized push through the GI bill. They helped with Senator ROCKEFELLER, Senator world as it was then known, on the re- push through compensation packages WEBB and I have introduced legislation lationships particularly among the Eu- that were unheard of before. We owe that is known as the Frank Buckles ropean powers, and also the place of our World War I veterans a great deal, World War I Memorial Act, which rec- the United States in world affairs. not simply for what they did on the ognizes, once and for all, those vet- These numbers are rough, but they battlefield but for how they helped erans who served their country during are fairly close; I think they are accu- transform veterans law into today. World War I. rate enough that I can use them today: The site Senator THUNE proposed— Frank Buckles’s World War I Memo- In World War I, the German Army lost and with which I agree—for a World rial Act would rededicate the existing 1.8 million soldiers, dead; the French War I memorial, I believe, is perfectly District of Columbia War Memorial as lost 1.7 million soldiers, dead; the Brit- placed. We are all very sensitive in the National and District of Columbia ish Empire lost nearly a million sol- terms of putting additional memorials World War I Memorial on The National diers, dead. The impact on those cul- and monuments on The National Mall. Mall in Washington, DC. The act is tures and on the economy and the I was involved in the formulation named for Frank Buckles of West Vir- health of the communities was enor- stages of the Vietnam Veterans Memo- ginia who, at 108 years of age, is the mous. We came in at the end of the rial on The Mall. That was one of the last surviving American World War I war. The United States lost 55,000 sol- big push-backs in Congress, as well as veteran. diers on the battlefield in less than a from the National Capital Planning I appreciate the strong support of year. We lost another 55,000 to the Commission and other entities; that we Senator ROCKEFELLER who, of course, Asian flu epidemic that swept through don’t want to put so many memorials has Frank Buckles as a constituent, the world and had a very strong impact on The Mall that you impact the free and I appreciate also the strong sup- on those who were serving in the mili- flow of tourists and people visiting port of Senator WEBB for this bill. Sen- tary. We lost 110,000 people in uniform that area. ator BURR, the ranking member of the during that war. Right now, here is what we have on Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, is also The impact it had on the relation- The Mall. I wish I had a diagram, but a cosponsor, so it has strong and mean- ships among European countries was we have the Vietnam Veterans Memo- ingful support on both sides of the enormous, and it is much more fully rial, just down from the Lincoln Memo- aisle. understood in other countries than it is rial, and to its south we have the Ko- As I said, I think it is very fitting to speak on a bill seeking to establish a here in the United States. The Russian rean War Memorial and further to the national World War I memorial be- Revolution occurred during World War east, toward the Washington Monu- cause, as many know, Veterans Day I. The way we negotiated the settle- ment, we have the World War II Memo- was initially known as Armistice Day, ment after World War I brought about, rial. Almost in a diagrammatic dia- which marked the end of World War I within a short period of time, the rise mond there is an area presently where on November 11 of 1918. of fascism and, eventually, of nazism in the District of Columbia was allowed After America’s role in World War II Germany. The British Empire began to to place a memorial to those who had and the Korean war, Congress passed spend itself down in a way that finally served in World War I and were resi- legislation changing Armistice Day to had a fairly conclusive impact after dents of the District of Columbia. Veterans Day, and President Eisen- the additional carnage of World War II. What Senator THUNE has proposed, hower signed the change into law on All of those things impacted this and what I strongly also support, is to June 1, 1954. From initially being a day country in a way that pushed us to the take this existing memorial, which is to honor World War I veterans, Novem- forefront in many ways in terms of our in some disrepair at the moment, quite ber 11 became a day to honor all vet- place in the world because of the ex- frankly—I have been by there a number erans. haustion that had happened in these of times—and to upgrade it so it would We are rapidly nearing a century other societies. become the National World War I Me- since the beginning of World War I, Our World War I veterans had a very morial, so we would have on The Mall, which began for most of the world in difficult time in a transitional period in a very tasteful way, four sites dedi- July of 1914. While World War I has be- in terms of how we define veterans’ cated to the four major wars our coun- come a distant, fading memory of an- benefits themselves. Previous to World try was involved in, in the 20th cen- other era, it still profoundly shapes the War I, when soldiers left the military, tury. I can’t think of a better way world in which we live. they got what was called mustering- right now for us to recommend and re- As Oxford historian Hew Strachan out pay, and when they reached a cer- member the service of those who served concludes in his history of the first tain age, no matter what their service in World War I and for the rest of the World War, the war ‘‘forced a reluctant was in terms of disability or those people in this country also to be en- United States onto the world stage’’ sorts of things, they got a pension, an couraged to remember the impact that and began to ‘‘lay the seeds for the automatic pension, all the way through war had and the sacrifices the people conflict in the Middle East. In short, it our history until World War I. World who served in that war made. shaped not just Europe but the world in War I veterans didn’t get either of So I rise, as I mentioned earlier, to the 20th century.’’ those. commend the Senator from South Da- World War I began for the United Some of us who are fond of looking at kota for his recommendation, as well States when it entered the war in April American history in the 1930s will re- as, as I said, to remember the Marine of 1917 on the western front because of member the Veterans Bonus March, Corps today and to remember our vet- German submarine attacks on United where World War I veterans literally erans tomorrow. States shipping and because President camped out here in our Nation’s Cap- With that, I yield the floor. Woodrow Wilson concluded that the ital, saying they needed to get the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- United States had to wage war if it was same kind of bonuses that those who ator from South Dakota is recognized. to shape the future of international re- had preceded them received. They Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I wish to lations, as Hew Strachan states in his didn’t receive that bonus. They did join my colleague from Virginia in sup- history of World War I. fight hard and long and were able to port of this legislation and I thank him The United States was in World War bring about the creation of the VA for his leadership on this and on so I for only 18 months. Its Army grew medical system, but they didn’t get a many of the other issues and initia- from only 100,000 men to 4 million, with GI bill; they didn’t get so many things tives that recognize the service and 2 million men sent overseas, 11⁄2 million the other veterans who followed them sacrifice of America’s veterans. He has of whom arrived in Europe in the last received. Yet when I was much younger been a leader on that, and I appreciate 6 months of the war. Forty-two Amer- and working as a committee counsel in his leadership on this issue because I ican divisions were in the field by No- the House on veterans issues, we were think, as we prepare to observe Vet- vember 11 in 1918, and 29 of them had

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.038 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11324 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 seen action. Over 100,000 American sol- War I Memorial as the National and They had all but given up on Eric be- diers died in World War I. District of Columbia World War I Me- cause of his injuries and, at one point, Frank Buckles is the last surviving morial fits the narrative of The Mall, they told his father he would have to American World War I veteran. He was with its wonderful memorials to World be admitted to a nursing home at the born in Missouri and currently lives in War II, the Korean war, and the Viet- age of 27 because there was nothing West Virginia. He joined the Army at nam war. I think it only makes sense they could do. It appeared he was head- 16 and went to Europe to fight in 1917, to rededicate a memorial to this 20th ed in that direction until his father driving ambulances and motorcycles century war that established our Na- said: No, I won’t do this to my son. for a casualty detachment. He was dis- tion’s path to superpower status among What followed has been a heroic charged from the Army in 1919. Mr. the community of nations. story—heroism matching, I believe, the Buckles also was extraordinarily af- This Veterans Day will mark the 91st courage his son showed in volunteering fected by World War II. He was in Ma- anniversary of the end of World War I. to serve our country and risk his life— nila as a civilian on business in Decem- I can think of no better way to honor because Eric’s father, Ed, started his ber of 1941, when the Japanese at- Mr. Buckles and his departed comrades own personal effort to find the very tacked, and was captured by the Japa- than by quickly passing this bill to es- best place in America for Eric’s treat- nese and spent 4 years in a Japanese tablish a national World War I memo- ment. He came up with the Rehab In- prison camp in the Philippines. I rial. This bill would provide timely but stitute of Chicago. strongly urge everyone to track down long overdue recognition of all World I went to visit Eric at the Rehab In- his interview, where he talks about his War I veterans in our Nation’s capital. stitute, when he was there 2 years ago. war experiences in both World War I I look forward to working with my col- When I walked into the room, he was and World War II. Transcripts and vid- leagues to pass this bill as soon as pos- sitting in a wheelchair with a big eos of Frank Buckles’ interview can be sible. smile. He cannot speak. We talked a found on the Library of Congress’s Vet- I yield the floor. little bit about his treatment there. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- erans History Project Web site. The They invited me to come back. I came ator from Illinois is recognized. Veterans History Project is a great ini- back a few weeks later, about 6 weeks Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, let me later, and they said Eric had a gift for tiative. I have taken advantage of the join the Presiding Officer, the Senator Veterans History Project myself, to me. I didn’t know what they meant by from Virginia, Mr. WEBB, and Senator that. His mother and dad each grabbed interview my dad about his experiences THUNE in endorsing the concept of this as a pilot in World War II. an elbow, stood him up, and Eric took World War I memorial. I am a stu- four steps out of his wheelchair. It was Mr. Buckles is also the honorary dent—a minor, amateur student of his- chairman of the World War I Memorial an amazing moment. There wasn’t a tory, and I realize the dramatic impact dry eye in that hospital room that day; Foundation, which is seeking refur- that war had on the United States. It is bishment of the District of Columbia that he had made the progress where amazing to know there is still a sur- he could literally take four steps. His War Memorial and its establishment as viving veteran from that great conflict. the National World War I Memorial on father said he would be checking out of When I first got involved in politics, the Rehab Institute in Chicago a few The National Mall. The Frank Buckles I would go to rural counties in Illinois, World War I Memorial Act will help to weeks after that and invited me to and there would be a flatbed truck with come because, he said: Eric is going to make this vision a reality. five or six World War I vets on it. Of I had the opportunity to meet Mr. put on his dress uniform and he is course, they are gone. They were a going to walk out the front door of this Buckles last year. He is certainly an great generation that sacrificed and extraordinary individual. Mr. Buckles hospital. engaged in a war so far away at such I said: I will be there. So was the also traveled to South Dakota in July great peril. It is fitting that there be mayor of Chicago and every other poli- of 2008 to be honored at Mount Rush- an update of that monument. I have tician who heard about it, and every more during their magnificent Fourth walked by it. In its day, I am sure it TV camera in Chicago was there to see of July celebration. It is a great honor was a glorious monument, but it needs Eric make it out the front door, with for me to support this bill that carries attention today for it to be a fitting the help of two attendants by his side. his name. tribute to the men and women who There he was with a big smile on his I wish to briefly describe what the served our Nation during that great face in his dress uniform. bill does. In 1924, Congress authorized conflict. I heartily support it. I wish to Well, Eric returned to North Caro- the construction of a war memorial on thank Senator JOHNSON, the chairman lina, and because of the amazing gen- The National Mall near the Lincoln of this appropriations subcommittee, erosity of a lot of local people, they lit- Memorial to honor the 499 District of for entertaining this as part of his leg- erally built him and his family a home Columbia residents who died in World islation. that was wheelchair accessible. Be- War I. Funded by private donations I will tell my colleagues we had a cause of that generosity, he had a place from organizations and individuals, the press conference today on another to live but still with a very young wife memorial was dedicated by President issue involving veterans. It is one that and a baby girl. Herbert Hoover on November 11, 1931. means a lot to me, personally, because His mother and father decided they The Frank Buckles World War I Memo- it involves a family whom I have be- would quit their jobs and move in with rial Act would rededicate the District come very close to. It is the their son and become full-time care- of Columbia Memorial as the National Edmondson family. They live in North givers to Eric Edmondson, this veteran and District of Columbia World War I Carolina. I met them by chance when of the Iraq war, and that is what hap- Memorial. The legislation would also Eric Edmondson, who was a veteran of pened. His father basically cashed in authorize the nonprofit World War I the war in Iraq, was being treated at a all his savings, sold his home, sold his Memorial Foundation to make repairs hospital in Chicago. Eric was a victim business, took what he had and dedi- and improvements to the existing me- of a traumatic brain injury and in sur- cated himself to his son—totally dedi- morial, as well as install new sculp- gery after his injury there was depriva- cated himself to his son. tures to underscore the sacrifice of tion of oxygen and he has become a Over the period of time that Ed and over 4 million Americans who served in quadriplegic and cannot speak. When I Marybeth were taking care of Eric, World War I. first met him 2 years ago, he was 27 they lost their health insurance. But The bill would not require any tax- years old, a husband and father of a lit- Eric was still being cared for by the payer dollars because the World War I tle baby girl. I met his father Ed and veterans system. I went down to visit Memorial Foundation would raise the his mother Marybeth. They were peo- them in their home. It was clear they necessary funds through private dona- ple who came to a hearing I held on spent every minute of every day caring tions. veterans health care. They talked for their son. All the major wars our Nation has about the journey Eric had made from Mr. Edmondson asked me to take a fought in the 20th century are memori- Iraq to the United States and then to look at a bill that Senator Hillary alized on The National Mall. Rededi- Chicago to the Rehabilitation Institute Clinton had introduced called the Care- cating the District of Columbia World of Chicago. givers Assistance Act which said the

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.039 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11325 Veterans’ Administration should start Affairs Committee, recognizes that. such as California and Florida are now off on a demonstration basis to take a That is why this legislation is cur- coming to the Great Lakes Naval look at caregivers, such as the rently on the calendar of the Senate. It Training Center off Lake Michigan. Edmondson family, and give them a has been here now for over 6 weeks. I I talked with them about combining helping hand. I asked Senator Clinton had hoped we could pass this before these two facilities. Can we bring to- as she was leaving the Senate and this Veterans Day, tomorrow. But, un- gether a Navy hospital and a veterans heading for the State Department if I fortunately, it is being held by one hospital, put them in one facility and could take over the bill, and she said I Senator. coordinate their activities so they both could. The Senator and I debated it on the have the very best? I introduced it in this session of Con- floor yesterday. He said he doesn’t After years—literally years—of ef- gress. Senator DANNY AKAKA, the want us to even consider this bill. We fort, it is going to happen. I thank Sen- chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Af- cannot even debate this bill. He would ator CARL LEVIN and so many others fairs Committee, read the bill and not even offer an amendment to this for making it a reality. This was a called me and said: I want to move this bill. He wants to stop this bill, he said, dream that many of us had, and it is on bill. I want to make it a major piece of because I haven’t figured out a way to its way to completion. legislation to help veterans. That bill pay these caregivers. The amendment I have offered is one was considered by the Veterans’ Affairs We reminded him that during the that will name this first-of-its-kind Committee and was reported out course of this war, we waged this war medical facility in North Chicago the unanimously. and paid for it with debt. The former Captain James Lovell Federal Health What the bill would do is create a administration did not pay for any of Care Center. I think this is a fitting program in the Veterans’ Administra- the war expenses. They added them to name for this facility. tion for caregivers, such as Ed and the debt of the United States. That CAPT James Lovell was one of the Marybeth Edmondson. What it would Senator and others—myself included— first humans to travel in space. From give them is training so they would voted to continue that war, under- his humble beginnings in Cleveland, know how to take care of their son, a standing that it was not being paid for. OH, he loved flight. In 1944, a 16-year- disabled veteran—training in basic Now when it comes to caring for the old Lovell and his friends built a little first aid and health care. veterans and the casualties of that rocket that shot up 80 feet in the air Second, it would provide them with a war, we have a strict accounting stand- and exploded. But it hooked him. He monthly stipend which the Veterans’ ard, a deficit standard that was not ap- wanted to be a pilot. Administration would determine is ap- plied to waging a war. Why is it the He went on to graduate from the U.S. propriate so they would have some help cost of the war—the bullets and the Naval Academy in 1952 where he wrote in getting by with the expenses of bombs—does not have to be paid for, his senior thesis on the feasibility of keeping their family together and help- but when it comes to the care of our sending a rocket into space. He mar- ing their veteran. veterans who come home, we have this ried his high school sweetheart, It would also give them a respite for strict accounting; we cannot consider Marilyn Gerlach, the day he graduated. a couple weeks so at least they would helping them unless there is some spe- He went on to become a test pilot for be able to have some time off and oth- cific way of demonstrating how to pay the Navy. In 1962, NASA chose him as ers would come in and take care of the for it? one of our first astronauts. veteran while they went off and re- I believe we will pay for it, I believe He distinguished himself among his charged their batteries and came back we should have it, and I believe this space flight colleagues, including Neil and dedicated themselves again to the Senator for veterans in 2009 should lift Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and John veteran. his hold on this bill and let us consider Glenn. He will be remembered for It would provide basic health insur- it on the Senate floor. Let us have this launching America into the new age of ance for caregivers as well because that debate. Let us determine who will be space. He had success as an astronaut, is one of the first things they lose when covered by it and what kind of cov- serving on the early Gemini 7 and Gem- they give up a job or business to take erage they will have. ini 12 missions. In December 1968, he on this responsibility. These caregivers will not quit on us circled the Moon as a member of the This is just one family’s story from because they will not quit on their vet- Apollo 8 mission. our recent war that still goes on. There eran. Why should we quit on them? Today, the iconic image of the are others. I met another one in Chi- Why should we say we are not going to Earth—a world of greens and blues hov- cago on Sunday, Aimee Zmysly, who provide them help when every moment ering in the vastness of space—is a literally married her husband after he of every day they are helping a man or common sight. But in 1968, the Apollo 8 came home and became disabled from woman who literally risked their lives brought this image of Earth to the peo- an operation at a veterans hospital. for our country and paid a heavy price ple of the world in a way never before This 23-year-old woman married this in doing so? seen, in Captain Lovell’s own words, young man who had no family and now I also have two other amendments. ‘‘an oasis in the vastness of space.’’ is his full-time personal care attend- One of my amendments now pending Of all his accomplishments in space, ant. Because of it, he can stay home; before the Senate on this appropria- Lovell is best known as the commander he is not in a formal facility. tions bill is the capstone of a project of the Apollo 13 mission. In 1970, Lovell The cost of his care is a fraction of that I have been working on for a long and fellow astronauts, Fred Haise and what it would be otherwise, and he has time. John Swigert, launched what would be- the dignity of being where he wants to It seems that right outside of Chi- come one of the most storied flights in be—with someone who loves him very cago in Lake County, north of Chicago, NASA history. much, who spends every moment of is a great veterans hospital known as The Apollo 13 mission started as the every day helping him. the North Chicago Veterans Hospital. third attempt at a lunar landing by a This is the right thing to do. This It is modern. It serves thousands of manned spacecraft. It ended, in the caregivers bill is the appropriate thing veterans in the region. It was threat- words of author W. David Compton, as to do. For at least 6,000 veterans across ened with closure just a couple years ‘‘a brilliant demonstration of the America, there is a personal family ago, a few years ago now. human spirit triumphing under almost caregiver who makes the difference Then, coincidentally, not far away, is unbearable stress.’’ every day in their lives, a person who the Great Lakes Naval Training Cen- The crew’s mission started with little will be there for them every second ter, the training station for all of our difficulty, but a few days into the they need them. You cannot buy that new recruits in the U.S. Navy. There is flight, one of the fuel cells on the Apol- kind of help. Even the best medical a hospital in the center of the Great lo 13 short-circuited, causing a fire that professionals could not provide the love Lakes naval training base. It turned spread to the oxygen tanks. that comes with that care. out that this hospital needed to be Lovell radioed back to mission con- I think the Veterans’ Administra- modernized because all of these re- trol: tion, certainly the Senate Veterans’ cruits who once were trained in places Houston, we’ve had a problem.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:10 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.041 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11326 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 He knew that with the oxygen tanks the least we can do to make sure we Recruitment and retention of and the fuel cells compromised, their provide our veterans the very best. healthcare professionals to serve rural lunar landing could not be completed. I ask unanimous consent that Sen- populations is a nationwide problem. It Apollo 13 had been on a lunar landing ators ROCKEFELLER and TESTER be is not limited to the VA. And it is not course. NASA made a risky decision. It added as cosponsors of my amendment, limited to Illinois. set the spacecraft on a trajectory which I believe is amendment No. 2760. In February, the Director of VA’s Of- around the Moon. NASA engineers The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. fice of Rural Health testified that, hoped the Moon’s gravitational pull WEBB). Without objection, it is so or- ‘‘greater travel distances and financial would whip Lovell and his colleagues dered. barriers to access can negatively im- back toward Earth with the speed they Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I have pact care coordination for many rural needed to return. learned the hard way how important it veterans.’’ For days the crew suffered from cold, is for rural veterans’ hospitals to at- As far back as 2000, the VA recog- a lack of oxygen, and little nourish- tract good doctors and administrators. nized that the large proportion of rural ment. The world turned its attention The VA Medical Center in Marion, veterans has made it harder for those to the three American astronauts and IL, has had significant problems with veterans to access care. to our government’s effort to save quality management and patient safe- My amendment allows the VA to de- them and bring them home. ty. velop and test a pilot program to at- Seventy-two hours after Lovell and In an effort to help improve quality tract and retain high quality providers his crew had been in space, the Apollo at this rural medical center, I have and management to rural facilities 13 shot around the far side of the Moon spoken with two VA Secretaries, and across the country. It is one of many and lost contact with mission control. one acting Secretary, about these chal- efforts to address quality of care for But NASA’s bet had paid off and the lenges and potential responses. I have our veterans. spacecraft headed home for a success- also corresponded with numerous VA These incentives would only be avail- ful splash landing in the Pacific. officials, and met with the employees able to the employee for as long as With the safe return of Apollo 13, Cap- on the frontline of care at Marion. they were serving in the designated One thing I have taken away from all tain Lovell became a great American rural areas. these conversations is how important The amendment would allow the VA hero and a great story in American his- it is to have the best possible providers to spend up to $1.5 million to attract tory. He remained with NASA until he and administrators in our veterans’ qualified health care providers and an- retired in 1973. During his 11 years as medical facilities. And that is easier other $1.5 million to attract qualified an astronaut, he spent more than 715 for Hines Medical Center in Chicago health care administrators to our need- hours in space. iest, most underserved rural VA facili- Today, I am proud to say, he lives in than it is for Marion and other rural health centers throughout this coun- ties. my home State in Lake Forest, IL, just The amendment would also require a few minutes from this new health try. Many rural counties have the highest VA to report back to Congress on the care facility. concentrations of veterans according structure of the program, the number The story of Apollo 13 has been told to the 2000 census. The VA estimates of individuals recruited through such so many times as a testament to that 37 percent of all veterans reside in incentives, and the prospects for reten- human ingenuity in harrowing cir- rural areas. tion of these doctors, nurses, and ad- cumstances. Captain Lovell’s experi- In 2007, we were horrified to learn ministrators. ence reminds us of our excitement in that nine patients at Marion Veterans Just last month, the Kansas Health exploring the final frontier of space. Affairs Medical Center had died in Institute reported that financial incen- With this amendment, which I hope what turned out to be a terrible lapse tives are an important part of recruit- the committee will accept, and I hope in quality management and account- ing and retaining providers to rural the Senate will accept, his name will ability. areas in the civilian sector. embrace a new effort, not as glam- The hospital administrator, the chief We need to give the VA similar tools. ourous and exciting as space travel, surgeon, and others were relieved of Veterans in Marion and Chicago, IL, but an effort that honors his legacy, their duties, and the hospital stopped New York City and Niagara, NY, Dallas providing quality health care for Navy offering in-patient surgeries. and Temple, TX, deserve the same recruits, veterans, and military fami- Since then, we have been told time quality of care. As veterans of current lies. and again, that the VA has addressed wars leave active duty and return to The second amendment which I have quality management structures there their hometowns, we must be ready to pending is one which will allow rural and has been trying to restart a full serve them. It is simply the cost of VA centers to be able to offer incen- continuum of care at Marion. war. tives for recruitment and retention of Last week, we found out that these This amendment would give the VA medical personnel. A little over 2 years efforts have not been enough. The VA’s another tool to use as it works to im- ago, at the VA center in Marion, IL, we IG reported that patient safety and prove its rural health facilities. I en- had a tragic situation where nine vet- quality management at the Marion courage my colleagues to support it. erans lost their lives in surgery. We VAMC failed again on several meas- Mr. President, I yield the floor. found later it was the result of mis- ures. Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, management and medical malpractice. Many are repeats from what was along with my colleagues, Senators At that point, they closed down the found at Marion 2 years ago. It is clear THUNE and WEBB, I am in strong sup- surgical facilities in the Marion VA that Marion VAMC leadership did not port of the Frank Buckles World War I and started hiring new people to run right the ship. Memorial Act. This bill rededicates the the institution. Last week, members of the Illinois site of the District of Columbia War I am sorry to tell you that it still is congressional delegation met with Sec- Memorial on the National Mall as a not where it needs to be. Progress has retary Shinseki about this most recent National and DC World War I Memorial been made. A recent hygiene report has report on Marion. in recognition of the upcoming anni- given us pause. We realize more has to The Secretary talked about how im- versaries of America’s entry into World be done. We still are finding there is a portant quality leadership is at the War I, and of the armistice that con- difficulty in attracting the kinds of local level and how hard it is to recruit cluded World War I on November 11, medical professionals we need at this and retain talented, high-performing 1918. rural VA facility. This is not the only administrators and doctors to rural fa- The legislation is named in honor of facility facing it. Many others have as cilities. Frank Buckles of West Virginia, the well. This is not the first time we have last surviving American World War I What we are doing is taking existing heard this. In fact, the surgical pro- veteran. Mr. Buckles, born in 1901 in funds in the VA and allowing them to gram at the hospital has been shut Harrison County, MO, is a wonderful dedicate a small portion to recruit and down for two years because we don’t man and representative of his genera- retain medical professionals. This is have the personnel to restart it. tion. At the age of 108, he resides in the

VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:10 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.042 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11327 eastern panhandle of West Virginia, Memorial to honor the 499 District of There are many questions that need where he lives on his 330-acre farm Columbia residents who gave their to be answered, and as vice chairman of with his daughter. lives in the service of our country. the Senate Intelligence Committee and His personal story is similar to many Since then, national monuments to also as the father of a marine and as an young men of his era. As an eager 16- commemorate the sacrifice and her- American, I want answers about how year-old, Frank Buckles tried to enlist oism of those who served in World War this could have happened and whether in the Army several times and finally II, the Korean war, and the Vietnam we could have prevented it. What do we succeeded. He then pestered his officers war have all been built on the National learn from this? How do we take steps to be sent to France. Mr. Buckles drove Mall. to make sure it doesn’t happen again? motorcycles, cars, and ambulances in Yet no national monument has yet I want to find out the who, what, when, England and France, and during the been created to honor those who served where, if anything, our intelligence Occupation, he guarded German pris- in World War I. As our Nation prepares community knew and whether such in- oners. Following the war, he went to to celebrate the centennial of World formation was shared with the appro- work for the White Star steamship line War I, it is time for that to change by priate action agencies. and was in Manila on business in De- creating the National and DC World Whatever those answers turn out to cember 1941 when the Japanese at- War I Memorial. be, we must ensure that our Nation re- tacked the Philippines. Frank Buckles Mr. President, I urge my colleagues mains vigilant against the threat of spent over 3 years as a prisoner at the in the Senate to cosponsor this legisla- terrorism both from within and outside city’s Los Banes prison camp. On Feb- tion to rededicate the site of the Dis- of the United States; that our law en- ruary 23, 1945, a unit from the 11th Air- trict of Columbia War Memorial on the forcement and intelligence agencies borne Division freed him and 2,147 National Mall as a National and Dis- and our military have the tools and re- other prisoners in a daring raid on the trict of Columbia World War I Memo- sources they need to defend and protect Los Banes prison camp. Mr. Buckles rial. us here at home and abroad; and that was affected by and has memories of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- their vigilance is never hampered by both World War I and World War II. ator from Missouri. unreasonable restrictions on the use of After his liberation from Los Banes, Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unan- those tools that end up aiding only the Frank Buckles returned to the United imous consent to proceed as in morn- terrorists. In doing so, we will not only States. He married Audrey Mayo, a ing guess. honor the memory of those men and young lady whom he had known before The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without women who died on this horrible day, the war, and in 1954 they settled down objection, it is so ordered. in this unprovoked attack, but help on the Gap View Farm in West Vir- VETERANS DAY save future men and women from such ginia. On this same farm, Mr. Buckles Mr. BOND. Mr. President, tomorrow a fate. has remained mentally sharp and phys- our Nation will honor the thousands of It is fitting that we honor our vet- ically active. He worked on his farm men and women who have answered the erans and pause to recognize the hard- with tractors up to the age of 105. Now, call to support and defend the Con- ships and sacrifices they have endured he reads from his vast book collection stitution of the United States of Amer- throughout wars, conflicts, and many and enjoys the company of his daugh- ica against all enemies. Today I rise to difficult times. We remember espe- ter Susannah Flanagan who came to pay tribute to these veterans and their cially those men and women who gave live with him after his wife passed commitment to the cause of freedom. their lives so that others—whether away in 1999. These brave men and women are ones comrades, families, total strangers, or I had the privilege of listening to throughout ages who have made the the rest of us—could live in freedom. Frank Buckles’ compelling stories in contribution, who made the efforts, We owe these heroes and their families his home in West Virginia while sitting and some made the ultimate sacrifice our eternal gratitude and respect. with his daughter. He generously to keep our country free. We owe them As a Senator from Missouri, I offer shares his memories of working to en- no less than our heartfelt thanks. my very special thanks to the men and list and get to France, as well as meet- In Kansas City, MO, we are very women in uniform and the men and ing French soldiers and guarding Ger- proud to have a facility called the Lib- women who have served in uniform man prisoners. Everyone can hear his erty Memorial which was set up many from our State. In Missouri, the his- reflections by visiting the Library of years ago as the only memorial to tory of service is long and proud. My Congress’s special Web site for its Vet- World War I veterans. That facility great State is home to Whiteman Air erans History Project. It has personal continues today to be a very proud part Force Base, Fort Leonard Wood, and interviews of Mr. Buckles and thou- of the Kansas City heritage. We want many smaller Guard installations and sands of other veterans that have to make sure that as we look back and bases. I am particularly proud of the served our Nation both during times of honor the veterans of World War I, we work being done by the Missouri Na- war and peace. Visiting this Web site is recognize that this was the first, the tional Guard’s Agricultural Develop- an incredible resource for scholars, stu- best, and the most outstanding memo- ment Team, currently in Afghanistan, dents and every American, and it re- rial to the veterans of World War I. I where they are helping sow the seeds of minds us of the compelling personal ask my colleagues to work with us as peace and providing the security need- stories of bravery, commitment, and we appropriately recognize and elevate ed to ensure those seeds can grow. sacrifice made by our country’s vet- the Liberty Memorial to the status it We owe these heroes in Missouri and erans and how they shaped our world. deserves in honoring the men and across the Nation a debt too large ever The bill I introduced with Senators women who served in that very dif- to repay. At the same time, we recog- WEBB and THUNE is designed to honor ficult First World War. nize the many accomplishments and and remember over 4.35 million Ameri- But also as we mark this Veterans victories of our military forces. Since cans, like Frank Buckles, who an- Day, the massacre of 13 of our service- the September 11 attacks on our coun- swered the call of duty and served from members at Fort Hood Texas is in all try, we have witnessed their bravery 1914–1918 in World War I. What became of our hearts. and determination as they fought al- known as the Great War claimed the It is unthinkable that the brave men Qaida and other terrorists head-on. lives of 126,000 Americans, wounded and women in our military, who al- Even when naysayers here in Wash- 234,300, and left 4,526 as prisoners of war ready sacrifice so much when they go ington were predicting certain defeat or missing in action. forward on the battlefield to fend off in Iraq, these men and women soldiered At the end of World War I, numerous attacks, now find the attacks can come on and turned the tide toward victory. cities and States erected local and at home. But in the midst of this hor- Turning to the battle we fight today, state memorials to honor their citizens rific tragedy, our Nation has also wit- the battle in Afghanistan has been de- who answered the call and proudly nessed the courage, the heroism, and scribed by President Obama and many served the United States of America. the quick thinking we have come to ex- in this body as a war of necessity. The On Armistice Day in 1931, President pect from our military personnel and President has rightly said that we can- Hoover dedicated the DC World War I law enforcement. not retreat, we cannot fail, we cannot

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.043 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11328 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 be deterred from our efforts to counter hearing there are four other strategies, our heroes all shared the common bond the forces of evil in Afghanistan. But and what I want to know is: Who are of a desire to serve their country in the voices who advocated cutting and the other four generals with responsi- this time of crisis and need. running from Iraq, who predicted cer- bility for the troops on the ground, The Gospel of John, chapter 15, reads: tain defeat, have been peddling the with responsibilities for their success, Greater love hath no man than this: that a same pessimism with respect to Af- who are coming up with different strat- man lay down his life for his friends. ghanistan. egies? We should learn one thing: When No tribute could possibly express the Seven months ago, I was very encour- you are fighting a war, you need to lis- extent of my gratitude for what these aged when President Obama outlined a ten to the commander whom you have soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines strategy—a full-blown strategy—for selected and who is carrying out your have done for their country. achieving success in Afghanistan. I strategy as you announced it. But now, During Vietnam, the late Senator strongly supported this strategy, and as November goes by, months later, we Mike Mansfield carried a casualty card particularly the appointment of GEN are simply witnessing dangerous delay. in his breast pocket. In that same spir- Stanley McChrystal to lead our troops Unfortunately, those in Washington it, I, too, wish to honor their sacrifice on the ground. Yet here we are, on the whispering ‘‘delay, delay, delay’’ to the by reading Montana’s fallen heroes eve of Veterans Day, and the latest in- President are really whispering ‘‘de- into the RECORD. The following Mon- dications from the President are trou- feat.’’ tanans were killed while serving in Op- bling. Instead of a firm commitment to I urge the President to ignore the eration Iraqi Freedom: his own strategy, there is indecision. pundits peddling pessimism in Wash- Army SGT Travis M. Arndt, 23, Bozeman; Instead of trusting the judgment of his ington. Instead, as we honor our vet- Army SSG Travis Atkins, 31, Bozeman; my own hand-selected commander on the erans for their sacrifices today and in nephew, Marine Cpl Phillip E. Baucus, 28, ground, there are endless war councils the past, I urge the President to honor Wolf Creek; Army SSG Shane Becker, 35, and sessions with commanders who are our brave troops currently on the bat- Helena; Marine PFC Andrew D. Bedard, 19, not on the ground. Instead of one strat- tlefield. Mr. President, honor the com- Missoula; Marine LCpl Nicholas William egy, there are now five. Instead of cer- mander in chief you chose by giving Bloem, age 20, Belgrade; Army PFC Kyle tainty, there is only one possibility; him the resources needed to succeed in Bohrnsen, 22, Philipsburg; Army LTC Garnet Derby, 44, Missoula; Army SGT Scott that is, that a decision may be made by Afghanistan. Mr. President, please Dykman, 27, Helena; Army SPC Michael November 19. That is no way to run a honor our warfighters in Afghanistan Frank, 36, Great Falls; Marine LCpl Kane war, at least not if we want to win the by recommitting to your own strategy, Michael Funk, age 20, Kalispell; Army SSG war. Dithering and wavering are not ending this indecision in Afghanistan, Yance T. Gray, 26, from Ismay; Army SSG viewed with favor in any situation. and giving our troops the support they Aaron Holleyman, 26, Glasgow; Army PVT When the lives of our men and women need to succeed. That would be the Timothy J. Hutton, 21, Dillon; Navy PO2 are on the line and the threat from al- most fitting tribute to our veterans of Charles Komppa, 35, Belgrade; Army CPL Qaida and the Taliban grows stronger past, present, and future wars. I hope Troy Linden, age 22, Billings; Army CPT Mi- chael McKinnon, 30, Helena; Army SGT every day—as General McChrystal said, this opportunity will not pass. James A. McHale, 31, Fairfield; Army MSG they are growing stronger—these Mr. President, I thank the Chair, and Robbie McNary, 42, Lewistown; Marine LCpl delays are simply unacceptable. Yet I yield the floor. Jeremy Scott Sandvick Monroe, 20, Chinook; the delays continue, threatening to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Army PFC Shawn Murphy, 24, Butte; Marine undo the hard work by our military ator from Montana. LCpl Nick J. Palmer, 19, Great Falls; Army and intelligence professionals on the HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES CPT Andrew R. Pearson, 32, Billings; Marine battlefields of Afghanistan. Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise Cpl Dean Pratt, 22, Stevensville; Army SPC I have heard some congratulate the today to honor and pay tribute to Mon- James Daniel Riekena, 22, Missoula; Army President for ‘‘taking his time’’ on tana’s fallen heroes, the dedicated men 1LT Edward M. Saltz, 27, Bigfork; Army PVT Daren Smith, 19, Helena; Marine Cpl Raleigh such an important decision. As a father and women from our great State who C. Smith, 21, Troy; Marine Cpl Stewart S. of a marine who served two tours of have made the ultimate sacrifice in Trejo, 25, Whitefish; Army PFC Owen D. duty in Iraq, I agree that whenever we Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. Witt, 20, Sand Springs; Army SPC Donald M. send Americans into battle to risk and Montanans proudly volunteer for Young, 19, Helena; Army PVT Matthew T. possibly lose their lives, the decision military service at rates higher than Zeimer, 18, Glendive. must not be a hasty one. But it must any State in the country, higher per The following Montanans were killed not be unnecessarily delayed either. On capita. Unfortunately, this distinction while serving in Operation Enduring the eve of Veterans Day, the gravity of comes at a great price. To date, 40 Freedom: this decision is even more moving. Montanans have died and nearly 250 Navy aviation electronics technician, An- As I said earlier, the President has have been wounded in combat in Iraq drew S. Charpentier, 21, Great Falls; Army been advised by General McChrystal and Afghanistan. Montana has now suf- 1LT Joshua Hyland, 31, Missoula; Marine Sgt that every day we wait, the Taliban is fered more casualties per capita than Trevor Johnson, 23, Colstrip; Army SGT gaining momentum. Our allies are won- any other State in the Union. This is Terry Lynch, 22, Shepherd; Army PFC dering where we are going to come staggering. It illuminates just how Kristofer T. Stonesifer, 28, Missoula. down. Our troops are wondering if they much our State’s citizens have sac- The following Montanans died short- are going to be supported. The people rificed in the service of our country. ly after returning home from Operation of Afghanistan, who are and must be The famous World War II radio re- Iraqi Freedom: Army CPL Christopher the target, are wondering if they are porter Elmer Davis once said: M. Dana, 23, Helena; and Army SGT ever going to see the troops they need. This Nation will remain the land of the George Kellum, 23, Lame Deer. That is why I applauded the President free only so long as it is the home of the It pains me dearly to read this list for making the firm decision on his war brave. out loud and I cannot begin to imagine strategy in March of this year, months It is painfully apparent that Montana how many broken hearts each name after campaigning on what he called a is home to some of the bravest men and represents back home. Our fallen he- war ‘‘fundamental’’ to the defense of women of all. Who are these fallen he- roes fought and died for our great Na- our people, months after he was sworn roes? They range in age from 18 to 40. tion and all it represents. We owe them in as our Commander in Chief. They hailed from places far afield, such a debt of gratitude that can never be As I said earlier, I also applauded as Troy and Glendive, Billings and Mis- fully repaid. We must honor their leg- President Obama for wisely choosing soula, Lame Deer and Colstrip. They acies by remembering their sacrifice as General McChrystal to implement his grew up in cities and towns, on ranches we carry on with our lives. strategy for success in Afghanistan. and farms, and on the reservation. To all of Montana’s families staring The President was right to wait until Some heroes were Active-Duty war- at an empty bedroom or an empty hearing from his commander on the riors, others part-time citizen soldiers. chair at the dining room table: You ground on what resources were needed They held ranks from lance corporal to will always be in my thoughts and before moving forward—an assessment lieutenant colonel. It amazes me that prayers. I pledge to do all I can to that was delivered in July. Now we are with such a variety of backgrounds, honor your fallen loved ones.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.045 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11329 To Montana’s fallen warriors: We will did not get smaller but, amazingly tinue to get worse or betting on the never forget. enough, they got larger. Too big to fail. weather or whatever else can make I yield the floor. What do we do? Make them larger. If them a quick buck. Risky derivative I suggest the absence of a quorum. that makes sense to somebody, it schemes led to the $182 billion bailout The PRESIDING OFFICER. The doesn’t actually make sense to me, nor of AIG, the collapse of Lehman Broth- clerk will call the roll. do I think to a majority of Americans. ers, the downfall of Bear Stearns, and The assistant legislative clerk pro- Last year the Bank of America, the precipitated the largest bailout in the ceeded to call the roll. largest commercial bank in this coun- history of the world and the severe re- Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask try, which received a $45 billion tax- cession that millions and millions of unanimous consent the order for the payer bailout, purchased Countrywide, people are experiencing today through quorum call be rescinded. the largest mortgage lender in this their loss of jobs. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without country, and Merrill Lynch, the largest If any of these financial institutions objection, it is so ordered. brokerage firm in the country. So you were to get into major trouble again, Mr. SANDERS. I ask to speak as in had a huge bank—too big to fail. They taxpayers one more time would be on morning business. became larger through the consolida- the hook for another substantial bail- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tions of Countrywide and Merrill out. In fact, the next time it might objection, it is so ordered. Lynch by the Bank of America. even be bigger than we saw last year. THE ECONOMY Last year JPMorgan Chase, which re- Now is the time to say clearly we can- Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ceived a $25 billion bailout from the not allow that to happen. Not only are think, as most Americans understand, Treasury Department and a $29 billion too-big-to-fail financial institutions as a result of the greed, the reckless- bridge loan from the Federal Reserve, bad for taxpayers, the enormous con- ness, the illegal behavior of a rel- acquired Bear Stearns and Washington centration of ownership in the finan- atively small number of financial insti- Mutual, the largest savings and loan in cial sector has led to higher bank fees. tutions, the United States of America the country. Too big to fail? Well, what Every Member of the Senate has heard is currently in the midst of the worst happens if you are JPMorgan Chase? from constituents who pay their credit economic and financial crisis since the You become bigger. card bills on time every single month, Great Depression. Millions of Ameri- Last year the Treasury Department they then bailed out Wall Street, and cans have lost their jobs. Millions of provided an $18 billion tax break to what they get in return is interest other Americans are working longer Wells Fargo to purchase Wachovia, al- rates which have gone from 10 percent hours for lower wages. People have lost lowing that bank to control 11 percent or 15 percent to 25 percent or 30 per- their homes, people have lost their sav- of all bank deposits in this country. cent. That is what you get when four ings, people have lost, in many re- Too big to fail? If you are Wells Fargo, large financial institutions control spects, their hope. make it bigger. two-thirds of the credit cards in this On Friday we learned that the offi- Today these huge financial institu- country. cial unemployment rate is now 10.2 per- tions have become so big that the issue According to Businessweek, ‘‘Bank of cent, the highest in over 26 years. But now is not just too big to fail and tax- America sent letters notifying some re- the official unemployment rate tells payer liability, the issue becomes con- sponsible card holders that it would only half the story. If you add the centration of ownership. According to more than double their rates to as high number of people who are under- the Washington Post, the four largest as 28 percent.’’ employed, if you add the number of banks in the United States—that is the That is what we are seeing all over people who have given up looking for Bank of America, Wells Fargo, this country. Credit card interest rates work, what you find is we have 27 mil- JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup—now went up by an average of 20 percent in lion people in that category of unem- issue one out of every two mortgages. the first 6 months of this year, even as ployed or underemployed, which is 17.5 Half of the mortgages in America are banks’ cost of lending declined. We all percent of the American workforce. issued by four large financial institu- know this. Here are these guys on Wall That is an astronomical number. Obvi- tions. Two out of every three credit Street. We bailed them out. They be- ously there are areas of our country, in cards in this country are issued by the come bigger. And they say: Thank you, the Midwest and California, where the four largest financial institutions of America. Now we are going to raise the number is substantially higher than the country. These same institutions interest rates on your credit cards to that. hold $4 out of every $10 in bank depos- usurious rates—outrageous, unaccept- Over a year has come and gone since its in the entire country. able. Twenty-five percent or thirty per- Congress passed the $700 billion bailout What we are looking at here is not cent interest rates on hard-working of Wall Street. In addition, of course, just taxpayer liability for when huge people who pay their bills on time is the Federal Reserve has committed financial institutions collapse and the something that should be eliminated trillions of dollars in zero interest taxpayers have to bail them out; now and, in fact, on another issue we have loans and other assistance to large fi- what we are also looking at is con- legislation to do that. nancial institutions. Added together, centration of ownership where a hand- It seems to me if you add all of that this amounts to the largest taxpayer ful—four major financial institutions— together, the fact that the largest bailout in the history of the world. controls half of the mortgages, 2 out of banks that were ‘‘too big to fail’’ have President Bush, former Treasury Sec- 3 credit cards, and 40 percent of bank grown larger, that we have a very dan- retary Hank Paulson, and Fed Chair- deposits in the entire country. That is gerous concentration of ownership man Ben Bernanke told us we needed wrong from a competitive point of within the financial institution indus- to bail out Wall Street because we view, from a point of view that the con- try, the time is now to do exactly what could not allow huge financial institu- sumer has to have some choices and good Republicans, good Republicans tions and insurance giants to fail. They has to see some competition in order to such as Teddy Roosevelt and William said if any of these large institutions get a break. Howard Taft, did 100 years ago; that is, failed, it would lead to systemic dam- The face value of over-the-counter to start breaking up those institutions. age to the financial system and, in derivatives at commercial banks has That is what we have got to do. We fact, the entire economy. grown to $290 trillion—that is an astro- have got to start breaking up these in- One might think, if these institu- nomical sum of money—95 percent of stitutions. Last week I introduced S. tions then were too big to fail, it which is held in 5 financial institutions 2746, the Too Big to Fail, Too Big to doesn’t take a Ph.D. in economics to in the entire country. Five financial in- Exist Act that would do that. I think figure out maybe one of the important stitutions control 95 percent of over- the title of that legislation I have in- solutions would be to make them the-counter derivatives. Derivatives troduced says it all: If an institution is smaller. Too big to fail? Well, let’s re- are nothing more than side bets by too big to fail, it is too big to exist. duce their size. Wall Street gamblers that oil prices Let’s break it up. Yet in the last several years these fi- will go up or down or that the This legislation is all of two pages nancial institutions in many respects subprime mortgage market will con- long. It is not 2,000 pages like the

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.047 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 health care bill. It is two pages. That is where we are right now, even he, I That is Robert Reich. all. It is very simple. This legislation think, has recognized the error of his Sheila Bair, the head of the FDIC, would require the Secretary of Treas- ways. According to Bloomberg News on has said that: ury to identify within 90 days every October 15, 2009, former Chairman We need to reduce our reliance on large fi- single financial institution and insur- Greenspan said: nancial institutions and put an end to the ance company in this country that is If they’re too big to fail, they’re too big. In idea that certain banks are too big to fail. too big to fail. That should not be too 1911 we broke up Standard Oil—so what hap- Simon Johnson, the former chief hard to do. Which are the institutions pened? The individual parts became more economist of the International Mone- that are too big to fail? Tell us who valuable than the whole. tary Fund, the IMF, has said: they are. Then within the rest of the That is Alan Greenspan under- Banks that are too big to fail must now be year, within 1 year, start the process of standing the errors he made. considered too big to exist. breaking them up. I should note, I am grateful Mr. I am under no illusions that taking One of the further reasons we have Greenspan’s views on the subject have on Wall Street will be an easy task. got to break up these institutions is drastically changed. Because when I Generally speaking, Congress is never not just that they continue to be a li- was in the House, on the Financial In- successful or very rarely successful ability for taxpayers, not only that the stitutions Committee, he would come taking on big money interests. They concentration of ownership leads to before that committee. He and I used are too powerful, they have too much higher and higher interest rates, leads to have a little bit of a debate on the sway over this institution. to the fact that Wall Street remains an issue of deregulation. I remember, back As I mentioned earlier—this is quite entity unto itself, largely a gambling in 2000, I asked Mr. Greenspan the fol- incredible—the banking and insurance casino which makes huge amounts of lowing question. I asked him: industry has spent over $5 billion on money for the people on Wall Street Aren’t you concerned with such a growing campaign contributions and lobbying but ignores the credit needs of small concentration of wealth that if one of these activities over the past decade in sup- and large businesses in the productive huge institutions fails that it will have a port of deregulation, and they are economy, but there is another reason. horrendous impact on the national and glob- spending even more today to try to The other reason is I know some of my al economy? prevent Congress from seriously regu- friends here say: Well, you know, we Here is what Mr. Greenspan said in lating their industry. In 2007 alone—and if people want to have got to regulate Wall Street. That the year 2000: know why the rich get richer and ev- is what we have to do, not break them No, I’m not. I believe that the general erybody else gets poorer, they should up, regulate them. But it is not the growth in large institutions have occurred in understand—the financial sector em- Congress that is going to regulate Wall the context of an underlying structure of markets in which many of the larger risks ployed nearly 3,000 separate lobbyists Street, it is Wall Street that is going are dramatically—I should say fully— to influence Federal policymaking. Re- to regulate the U.S. Congress. hedged. member, we only have 100 people in the I think anybody who knows anything Well, unfortunately, Mr. Greenspan Senate, 435 in the House. They have about politics knows that is true. We appeared to be wrong, was wrong, and 3,000 separate lobbyists. So if anyone know that over a 10-year period, Wall we have spent $700 billion bailing out thinks it is going to be easy to reform Street has spent $5 billion on lobbying Wall Street and trillions more on low- the financial services sector, it clearly and campaign contributions. Despite interest loans. But it is not just Alan will not. their greed and the fiascos which they Greenspan who has changed his views. But if we are going to turn this econ- caused, what they are doing now is According to the Washington Post, we omy about, if we are going to try to spending millions more trying to make know this to be the case: prevent another disaster by which tax- sure that Congress allows them to go payers have to bail out some of the back to where they were. The British government announced Tues- day it will break up parts of major financial wealthiest and most powerful people, if I don’t think it is a question of us institutions bailed out by taxpayers . . . The we are going to create a situation regulating them, it is them regulating British government—spurred on by European where financial institutions provide us with so much wealth and so much regulators—is forcing the Royal Bank of capital to the productive economy so power. That is what they are capable of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and North- that we can create decent paying jobs, doing. What we are beginning to see, ern Rock to sell off parts of their operations. producing real products and real serv- The Europeans are calling for more and not only in the United States but all ices, we are going to have to finally over the world, are people saying: smaller banks to increase competition and eliminate the threat posed by banks so large stand up to these very powerful insti- Enough is enough. tutions. I find it interesting that John S. that they must be rescued by taxpayers, no matter how they conducted their business, in I think the issue is clear. I think all Reed, who helped engineer the merger order to avoid damaging the global financial over this country people, whether they that created Citigroup, Inc., apologized system. are progressive, whether they are con- for his role in building a company that In other words, what the United servative, understand that if an insti- has taken $45 billion in direct U.S. aid, Kingdom is beginning to say is, we tution is too big to fail, it is too big to and said ‘‘banks that big should be di- have got to start breaking up these in- exist. Let’s break them up. vided into separate parts.’’ stitutions. If they are too big to fail, I yield the floor. That is what John S. Reed said, the they are too big to exist. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. NEL- former CEO of CitiGroup. He was one of But it is not just Alan Greenspan, it SON of Nebraska.) The Senator from the people who engineered the deregu- is not just John Reed, former CEO of New Jersey is recognized. lation effort. He has apologized to the CitiGroup, it is Paul Volcker, the AMENDMENT NO. 2741 TO AMENDMENT NO. 2730 American people, and I respect that former Federal Reserve Chairman and Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I un- very much; one of the few who has had the head of President Obama’s Eco- derstand there is a pending amendment the guts to come before the United nomic Recovery Advisory Board. This before the Senate. I ask unanimous States and say: I made a mistake. I am is what he said: consent to set aside the pending sorry. I respect him for doing that. amendment and call up amendment No. Furthermore, we have Alan Green- Keep [banks] small, so that any failure won’t have systematic importance. People 2741. span, who probably more than any say I’m old fashioned and banks can no The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without other person in this country led the ef- longer be separated from nonbank activity. objection, it is so ordered. fort to deregulate, to do away with That argument brought us to where we are The clerk will report. Glass-Steagall, this philosophy that today. The bill clerk read as follows: said: If we deregulate, if we allow these Robert Reich, President Clinton’s The Senator from New Jersey [Mr. MENEN- titans on Wall Street to do anything former Labor Secretary, has said that: DEZ] proposes an amendment numbered 2741 to amendment No. 2730. they want, they are going to create No important public interest is served by wealth for the whole economy. allowing giant banks to grow too big to fail Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask But even Alan Greenspan, whose dis- . . . Wall Street giants should be split up— unanimous consent that the reading of astrous leadership helped lead us to and soon. the amendment be dispensed with.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.049 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11331 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Honoring America’s veterans is not S. 1407, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AF- objection, it is so ordered. solely reserved for Memorial Day and FAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, The amendment is as follows: Veterans Day. 2010—Continued (Purpose: To provide, with an offset, an addi- This commitment to State veterans’ [Spending comparisons—Senate-Reported Bill with Technical Amendment (in tional $4,000,000 for grants to assist States cemeteries reinforces America’s re- millions of dollars)] in establishing, expanding, or improving spect for its veterans and their fami- General State veterans cemeteries) lies. They have already given their Defense purpose Total On page 52, after line 21, add the following: service to this country; the least we SEC. 229. (a) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR STATE Outlays ...... 24,643 52,219 76,862 can do is give them a final resting Senate-reported bill with technical VETERANS CEMETERIES.—The amount appro- place with their brothers and sisters amendment compared to: priated by this title under the heading Senate 302(b) allocation: ‘‘GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STATE VET- who served. Budget Authority ...... 0 Arlington cemetery is an inspiring Outlays ...... 0 ERANS CEMETERIES’’ is hereby increased by House-Passed Bill: $4,000,000. place. We have all seen it. We have all Budget Authority ...... 55 145 200 (b) OFFSET.—The amount appropriated or been there. We are awed by its majesty Outlays ...... 52 ¥7 45 President’s Request: otherwise made available by this title under and what it says about America, about Budget Authority ...... 281 158 439 the heading ‘‘GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES’’ who we are as a Nation, and what we Outlays ...... 100 741 841 is hereby decreased by $4,000,000. stand for as a people. Note: The subcommittee’s 302(b) allocation has been adjusted to reflect Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, we Let us give every State an Arlington adoption of an amendment to designate $1.399 billion in budget authority as being for overseas deployments and other activities pursuant to Sec. are often reminded of the special sac- to inspire the next generations to live 401(c)(4) of S. Con. Res. 13, the 2010 Budget Resolution. rifice military families make in service up to the promise of America. We owe to our country. Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, the admin- our veterans the choice to be buried istration’s fiscal year 2010 defense Memorial Day and Veterans Day are with their families at a cemetery based just two occasions when we as Ameri- budget request included authorization on location and not economics. of an appropriation of $46.3 million for cans take a moment to acknowledge I urge my colleagues to support this our military men and women, those the dredging of the channel and turn- important amendment. ing basin at Naval Station Mayport, who have served in uniform. Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to FL. The Deputy Secretary of Defense We pause for a moment of silence. We offer for the RECORD, the Budget Com- and the Secretary of the Navy con- bow our head for the fallen. Family mittee’s official scoring of S. 1407, Mili- firmed that this dredging project is not members visit the final resting place of tary Construction and Veterans Affairs associated with the Navy’s proposal to those they have lost. and Related Agencies Appropriations We think of those hallowed grounds, homeport a nuclear-powered aircraft Act for fiscal year 2010. carrier, CVN, in Mayport. However, ad- those special places, the lines of The bill, as reported by the Senate vocates for the Navy’s homeporting crosses at Normandy, the graves at Ar- Committee on Appropriations, provides proposal continue to assert that the lington, the tomb of the unknown sol- $78.1 billion in discretionary budget au- dier, veterans cemeteries across Amer- dredging project is the ‘‘first step’’ in thority for fiscal year 2010, which will having a carrier homeported in ica, and we remember all those who result in new outlays of $48.4 billion. Mayport. It is time to set the record have served this Nation with honor. When outlays from prior-year budget One of the ways that we can honor straight. authority are taken into account, dis- There is no cause-and-effect linkage them and their families is by covering cretionary outlays for the bill will between the Navy’s homeporting pro- the cost of burial for veterans, their total $77.7 billion. posal with the authorization and ap- spouses, and their dependent children An amendment has been adopted to propriation of fiscal year 2010 military in Federal veterans’ cemeteries. designate $1.4 billion in budget author- construction funds to dredge the chan- Unfortunately, we have not ade- ity in the bill as being for overseas de- nel at Mayport. The Navy’s home- quately funded these cemeteries in the ployment and other activities. Pursu- porting scheme is being reviewed sepa- past and as the greatest generation ant to section 401(c)(4) of the 2010 budg- rately as part of the Department of De- ages, our ability to keep the promise of et resolution, adjustments to the Ap- fense’s Quadrennial Defense Review. a free resting place for each of them is propriations Committee’s section 302(a) Dredging Mayport’s channel will have becoming increasingly difficult to allocation and to the 2010 discretionary no influence on its evaluation. keep. spending limits were made for that Last April, when Secretary of De- Across America and in my home amount and for the outlays flowing fense Gates announced key decisions State of New Jersey, Federal ceme- therefrom. associated with the President’s fiscal teries are having problems keeping up The bill matches the subcommittee’s year 2010 defense budget request, the with requests for burial. As these revised allocation for budget authority Navy called me to confirm that its re- cemeteries become overcrowded, vet- and for outlays. quest for funds for dredging and pier erans and their families are turned The bill is not subject to any budget improvement projects at Naval Station away from a benefit they earned points of order. Mayport was not associated with its through their service. In fact, 10 States I ask unanimous consent that the homeporting proposal. The Navy said do not even have Federal cemeteries, table displaying the Budget Committee its military requirement for dredging but have managed to set aside State scoring of the bill be printed in the is to permit safer routine and emer- cemeteries. RECORD. gency port visits by an aircraft carrier The very least we can do is provide There being no objection, the mate- by lessening the current severe restric- funding for these State veterans’ ceme- rial was ordered to be printed in the tions associated with the existing teries which would be a cost-effective RECORD, as follows: water depth in Mayport’s channel and way for the VA to provide veterans basin. The Navy acknowledged that the with the burial benefits they were S. 1407, MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AF- Quadrennial Defense Review would promised. FAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, consider its carrier homeporting pro- Veterans who have lived their whole 2010 posal separately. lives in one place, a place with special [Spending comparisons—Senate-Reported Bill with Technical Amendment (in In August, Deputy Secretary of De- meaning to them and to their families millions of dollars)] fense Lynn wrote me to reconfirm this should have a final resting place based point. He said: Defense General Total on the veterans cemetery in their loca- purpose Secretary Gates has taken the prudent tion of choice, not the Veterans Ad- Senate-Reported Bill: step of seeking funding for the dredging of ministration’s funding choice. Budget Authority ...... 24,632 53,473 78,105 the Mayport channel within the fiscal year My amendment would simply in- Outlays ...... 24,743 52,960 77,703 2010 budget to provide an alternative port to Senate 302(b) Allocation: dock East Coast carriers in the event of a crease Federal funding for State ceme- Budget Authority ...... 78,105 Outlays ...... 77,703 disaster. As you know, the Secretary decided teries by $4 million so that we can have House-Passed Bill: that the larger issue of whether Mayport will the resources to keep our promise and Budget Authority ...... 24,577 53,328 77,905 be upgraded to enable it to serve as a home- Outlays ...... 24,691 52,967 77,658 provide our heroes with the dignity, re- President’s Request: port for CVNs should be objectively evalu- spect, and honor they deserve. Budget Authority ...... 24,351 53,315 77,666 ated during the Department’s Quadrennial

VerDate Nov 24 2008 00:45 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.049 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11332 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 Defense Review (QDR). We continue to be- Hampton Roads is ‘‘small.’’ Dredging would not exceed 8 percent, and here lieve that the QDR will provide the best Mayport’s channel and turning basin so we are today at 10.2 percent the way it forum to asses the costs and benefits associ- that it can accommodate a nuclear- is officially reported, but taking all the ated with a strategic move of this scale. powered aircraft carrier for an unlikely other people into consideration, 17 per- Also in August, the Secretary of the emergency port visit clearly obviates cent. Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the need to invest up to $1 billion to So people kind of wonder why there and the Commandant of the Marine build duplicative nuclear-support infra- is some question about all the debt we Corps wrote the chairman of the Sen- structure for carrier homeporting. Dur- are piling on our future generations ate Committee on Armed Services re- ing the Department of the Navy’s budg- through the national debt. Particu- garding conference action on the Fiscal et testimony last June, Admiral larly, it is a legitimate question when Year 2010 National Defense Authoriza- Roughead, the Chief of Naval Oper- people were told the stimulus bill had tion Act. Their letter specifically ad- ations, stated: ‘‘Future shore readiness to be passed ‘‘right now’’ or unemploy- dressed the reasons why it was nec- . . . is at risk.’’ In fact, the Navy’s ment, then under 8 percent, might ex- essary to dredge Mayport’s channel and shore readiness is at risk today. In ceed 8 percent. basin. They stated the military con- January, the Navy acknowledged it So there are a lot of questions out struction project was necessary regard- had a $28 billion backlog in shore facil- there, and some of it carries over into less of a final decision on aircraft car- ity restoration and modernization. the health care reform issues before rier homeporting at Mayport. The need to sustain Naval Station Congress right now because it is kind The three senior leaders of the sea Mayport is clear. Before investing what of like people were not really con- services stated dredging was needed for could be up to $1 billion to support a cerned about health care legislation in the following reasons: nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, how- the Congress of the United States even Mayport is currently used as a transient ever, the Navy should first properly costing $1 trillion or more until they dock for nuclear aircraft carriers, and the maintain its existing shore facilities. found out all these other trillions of current Mayport Channel and turning basin depths impose undesirable restrictions on As the Navy’s own studies reveal, there dollars that were being spent to get us the safe navigation of an aircraft carrier. are other more fiscally responsible and out of a recession were not working. Operational readiness is degraded because a strategically sound homeporting op- Then it is kind of like the health care nuclear aircraft carrier cannot enter the tions for Mayport, including the as- reform was kind of the straw that port with the embarked air wing and full signment of a large-deck amphibious broke the camel’s back to cause people stores and only during certain high-tide con- ship or Littoral Combat Ship, LCS, to lose confidence in Congress using its ditions. It is prudent to remove these oper- surface combatants. own good judgment to solve this prob- ational limitations. The dredging provided in I yield the floor. lem of the recession. this project is therefore required irrespective I suggest the absence of a quorum. of the final decision on aircraft carrier So we have 10.2 percent unemploy- homeporting at Mayport. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ment officially, more otherwise. That clerk will call the roll. Conferees for the fiscal year 2010 de- equates to about 7 million lost jobs The bill clerk proceeded to call the fense authorization bill from the House since the stimulus bill was passed, and roll. despite the stimulus bill’s failings, the of Representatives and Senate Armed Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask Services Committees met in September White House is pinning its hopes on yet unanimous consent that the order for another trillion-dollar effort. Now they and October to reconcile differences be- the quorum call be rescinded. tween each Chamber’s bill. During are using their ‘‘back of the envelope’’ The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without calculations to say health care reform their consideration of military con- objection, it is so ordered. struction projects, the conferees recog- is going to save the economy. This Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask picked up about 6 months ago, back in nized that confusion could exist regard- unanimous consent to speak as in ing the dredging project owing to the March, when the White House chose to morning business. focus on health care reform rather erroneous assertions that it would pave The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the way for homeporting a carrier in than the economic crisis. objection, it is so ordered. I would like to quote President Mayport. THE ECONOMY As a result, a manager’s statement Obama: Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, last accompanied the Fiscal Year 2010 Na- Healthcare reform . . . is a fiscal impera- week, we learned that the Nation’s un- tional Defense Authorization Act tive. If we want to create jobs and rebuild employment rate has risen to 10.2 per- our economy, then we must address the signed into law by President Obama cent. That is 1 out of every 10 working crushing cost of healthcare this year, in this last month. It states, in part, that the Americans being out of a job. But the administration. conferees authorized funding for the real number is even higher than that. That is a quote from President project based on assurances provided It is really closer to 1 in 6 workers. Obama. by the Secretary of the Navy and the When you add in people who are under- I want to say, to some extent I agree Chief of Naval Operations that the employed or have stopped looking for with him. It is true health care costs dredging is needed for current oper- work, the unemployment number is al- are rising at twice the rate of inflation, ational considerations irrespective of a most 17 percent. straining family budgets, and making final decision on carrier homeporting According to a weekend article in the it difficult for American businesses to at Mayport. Of note, the manager’s New York Times, that is the highest remain competitive. Congress should statement says: this country has seen in unemployment absolutely enact legislation that ad- The conferees emphasize that the inclusion since 1982. The Times also noted: ‘‘If dresses these issues. of an authorization for dredging at NS Mayport is not an indication of conferee sup- statistics went back so far, the meas- But, unfortunately, the pending port for the establishment of an additional ure would almost certainly be at its health care reform proposals in the homeport for nuclear aircraft carriers on the highest level since the Great Depres- House and Senate not only ignore the East Coast, or intended to influence the on- sion’’—the Great Depression 80 years primary issue of cost, they also put in going Quadrennial Defense Review, which ago. place policies that are going to cause may include a recommendation on the estab- After all the bailouts and a $1 trillion more Americans to lose their jobs and lishment of a second East Coast homeport stimulus bill, there are still 16 million further damage our struggling econ- for nuclear aircraft carriers. Furthermore, of our constituents who want to work omy. the conferees note that this funding is pro- but are unemployed. In fact, despite So now to the main point of my com- vided solely to permit use of Mayport as a transient port, and that any potential des- the White House’s fuzzy math, the real ing to the floor to discuss this issue: ignation of Mayport as a nuclear carrier statistics show that the unemployment Whether it is the $500 billion in tax in- homeport will require future authorizations rate has more than doubled since the creases or the growing list of Federal from the Committees on Armed Services of President signed the stimulus bill in mandates in these pending health care the Senate and House of Representatives. February. And, you remember, that reform bills, the pending bills will take Last year, the Navy said that the bill was supposed to be passed very our economy in the wrong direction, risk of a catastrophic event closing quickly so the unemployment rate contrary to what the President said in

VerDate Nov 24 2008 02:13 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.048 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE November 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11333 that speech several months ago when that brings it up almost another 2 per- the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. he said that if you want to fix the centage points to 41 percent. Then we We have that quote right here. I am economy, you have to do something have the last big bar that has every- going to quote a small part of that ar- about health care reform. Maybe if the thing in the previous two, plus the 5.4- ticle: President had proposed his own bill, percent surtax that is in the House bill. Small, lower-wage firms could be among maybe he would have proposed some- It is these increased taxes on individ- the most affected— thing that did it, but what we see uals—because a lot of small businesses Meaning most affected by the pay-or- evolving in the Congress of the United file individually, they don’t file cor- play mandate. States is not going to solve that prob- porate tax returns—that kills small Firms might respond by firing or declining lem. business, the engine that creates 70 to hire workers. Several studies projected Back in March, again, when the percent of the new jobs in America. the loss of anywhere from 224,000 to 750,000 President turned his attention to So we have a situation with these po- jobs. health care reform, the head of his tential tax increases, where any busi- That analysis doesn’t even take into Council of Economic Advisers, Chris- ness looking to the capital markets account the impact of the tax increases tina Romer, said—and I have a chart will probably find sources of capital and the new Federal mandates. The that has the quote: chilled by the 70-percent increase in people who don’t lose their jobs, of We know that small businesses are the en- marginal rates on capital gains that course, face lower wages because it gine of growth in the economy, and we abso- occurs under the House bill. We have doesn’t matter whether you are an lutely want to do things to help them. this chart over here that shows when economist to the far right or an econo- Well, I am not sure how the White you add in the capital gains as well mist to the far left, there is agreement House defines the word ‘‘help,’’ when it what happens. Because capital gains that as health insurance costs increase, comes to getting small businesses back has a great deal to do with capital for- wages go down. on track and turning the economy mation in America, and higher mar- As all the new Federal mandates and around, but I do know President ginal tax rates tend to discourage that. the regulatory requirements drive up Obama came up to Capitol Hill this Some Members might say the Na- premiums, businesses will be forced to past weekend to pressure House Mem- tional Federation of Independent Busi- respond by lowering wages. All of this bers to vote for a bill that will have a nesses’ statement was about the House doesn’t sound like a recipe for getting devastating impact on small business bill, and it was, but bills we have be- the economy back on track. in America. If this is what the adminis- fore the Senate aren’t much better. I wish to review what the pending tration means when they want to The HELP Committee bill has a simi- bills mean for the average worker and ‘‘help’’ small businesses, the old lar pay-or-play mandate that will cost our struggling economy: higher unem- phrase, ‘‘With friends like these, who American jobs, as does the House bill. ployment, more than 750,000 jobs lost; needs enemies’’ comes to mind. The Finance Committee bill is filled increased health insurance premiums, The President and Democratic lead- with tax increases that will directly af- maybe by as much as 70 percent; lower ership twisted arms and bought sup- fect small business owners and their wages, less money in your paycheck; port for a bill that the National Fed- employees, including families who $500 billion in higher taxes for individ- eration of Independent Businesses—and make less than $250,000 a year, which uals and businesses; more government that organization tends to be the voice would obviously be a violation of the spending and higher deficits. of America’s small businesspeople—ac- President’s campaign promise that he The administration and the Demo- tively opposed. After the bill passed, wasn’t going to increase taxes for those cratic leadership can make all the the National Federation of Independent earning under $250,000. promises they want, but facts are the Businesses released the following state- So here we have another chart: facts. Congress needs to address health ment about the administration and Health care reform raises taxes on fam- care. We need to bring down costs, im- Congress’s efforts to help small busi- ilies with more than $75,000 in income. prove quality, and create a more com- ness. This is a long quote, so let me That is because $75,000 is below $250,000, petitive market for insurance, but we read it, but we also have it on a chart so the President violates his campaign should do it in a way that makes our here: promise. Further analysis by the Con- economy stronger. Unfortunately, the Small business owners are outraged. gressional Budget Office has shown health care reform bills we have seen Let me start over again. This is from that small businesses could also face so far are bad for the economy and par- the National Federation of Independent significantly higher health insurance ticularly bad for an American worker Businesses’ comments on what hap- premiums as a result of the new insur- and particularly bad at a time when pened in the House of Representatives: ance market reforms. We have the con- there is, at least officially, 10.2 percent of people unemployed and, if you take Small business owners are outraged. This sulting firm of Oliver Wyman con- bill will actually make things worse, not bet- cluding that the insurance reforms other factors into consideration as I ter. With unemployment at a 26-year high, could raise premiums by as much as 20 have already spoken about, maybe the punitive employer mandates and atro- percent. As more American businesses, around 17 percent unemployed. As the cious new taxes will force small business big and small, face higher premiums New York Times said, maybe the high- owners to eliminate jobs and freeze expan- and more taxes, workers will end up est rate of unemployment going back sion plans at a time when our Nation’s econ- suffering. to the Great Depression. This is bad. omy needs small business to thrive. The Congressional Budget Office has So I can only end by saying, as we It doesn’t sound like the National concluded that pending Senate legisla- look to the debate on health care re- Federation of Independent Businesses tion could force about 3 million people form and the analyses of these bills and the thousands of members they out of their employer-based coverage, that are done by economists, done by have throughout the United States ap- and that doesn’t even include the po- advocates for small business, and the preciate the administration’s efforts to tential impact of a new entitlement impact it is going to make on the econ- help. With the marginal tax rate on program, a government-run program omy, I think we ought to take a second some small businesses, especially those we call the public option. look and not make this situation of the likely to expand, rising by 33 percent All of this doesn’t sound like it is economy worse through a bill that under the House bill, it is no wonder. helping small businesses or letting peo- ought to be helping the economy. Ev- Here we have a chart that says this. ple keep what they have, which was an- erybody agrees we may have the best The green, present level of taxation; other Presidential promise. The bills medical care in the world. We don’t the red, how the President proposes to also make our unemployment situation have a perfect system, and that system increase taxes to 39.6 percent in his worse. We are talking about another $1 needs to be changed, but in the process budget; and then we have other things trillion in spending—$1 trillion we of doing it, we have to make sure we do that are still in the President’s budget can’t afford—that will end up costing not make a bad situation worse for our that are kind of hidden. I will not go Americans jobs. economy. into what PEPs and Peases are, but I wish to quote from a recent article Thank you. I yield the floor and sug- they are a hidden additional tax rate jointly published by Health Affairs and gest the absence of a quorum.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 02:13 Nov 11, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10NO6.052 S10NOPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with SENATE S11334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 10, 2009 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The description of the funding available for fiscal second degree to Inouye amendment clerk will call the roll. year 2010 for each program intended to ad- No. 2754; Inhofe No. 2774; Coburn mo- The legislative clerk proceeded to dress a need of veterans specified in sub- tion to commit with instructions; call the roll. section (b). DeMint No. 2779; Menendez No. 2741; (b) PROGRAMS.—The programs specified in Mr. DEMINT. Mr. President, I ask this subsection are the programs of the De- Akaka No. 2740; Johanns No. 2752; War- unanimous consent that the order for partment of Veterans Affairs to meet needs ner/Webb No. 2738; Bingaman No. 2749; the quorum call be rescinded. of veterans for the following: Levin No. 2755; Feingold Nos. 2746, 2747, The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. (1) Health care. and 2748; Webb No. 2756; Gillibrand No. KAUFMAN). Without objection, it is so (2) Rehabilitation and reintegration into 2762; Mikulski Nos. 2750 and 2761; ordered. the community of veterans suffering from McConnell No. 2773; Cochran Nos. 2751 Mr. DEMINT. Mr. President, I ask traumatic brain injury (TBI). and 2763; Ensign No. 2771; Burr No. 2743; unanimous consent to temporarily set (3) Rehabilitation and reintegration into that upon disposition of all amend- the community of veterans suffering from aside the pending amendment so I may post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ments, the substitute amendment, as call up two amendments. (4) Specially adapted housing for disabled amended, be agreed to; the bill, as The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without veterans. amended, be read a third time and the objection, it is so ordered. (5) Counseling and treatment for service- Senate then proceed to vote on passage AMENDMENTS NOS. 2774 AND 2779 TO AMENDMENT connected trauma, including trauma associ- of the bill, as amended; that upon pas- NO. 2730, EN BLOC ated with sexual assault. sage, the Senate insist on its amend- Mr. DEMINT. Mr. President, I wish to Mr. DEMINT. Mr. President, I yield ment and request a conference with the call up Inhofe amendment No. 2774 and the floor, and I suggest the absence of House on the disagreeing votes of the DeMint amendment No. 2779. a quorum. two Houses and the Chair be authorized The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The to appoint conferees on the part of the clerk will report the amendments en clerk will call the roll. Senate, with the subcommittee, plus bloc. The assistant legislative clerk pro- Senators LEAHY and COCHRAN ap- The assistant legislative clerk read ceeded to call the roll. pointed as conferees; provided further as follows: Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that if a point of order is raised and The Senator from South Carolina [Mr. that the order for the quorum call be sustained against the substitute DEMINT], for Mr. INHOFE, for himself, and Mr. rescinded. amendment, then it be in order for a BARRASSO, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. new substitute amendment to be of- DEMINT, Mr. ENZI, Mr. JOHANNS, Mr. KYL, SHAHEEN). Without objection, it is so fered, minus the offending provision Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. THUNE, Mr. VITTER, Mr. ordered. but including any language which had BOND, and Mr. HATCH, proposes an amend- been previously agreed to; that the new ment numbered 2774 to amendment No. 2730. f The Senator from South Carolina [Mr. RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF substitute be considered and agreed to, DEMINT] proposes an amendment No. 2779 to THE CHAIR and no further amendments be in amendment No. 2730. order, with the provisions of this agree- Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask The amendments are as follows: ment after adoption of the original unanimous consent that the Senate be substitute amendment remaining in ef- AMENDMENT NO. 2774 in recess subject to the call of the fect; further that on Monday, Novem- (Purpose: To prohibit the use of funds appro- Chair. priated or otherwise made available by this ber 16, after a period of morning busi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ness, the Senate resume consideration Act to construct or modify a facility in the objection, it is so ordered. United States or its territories to perma- of H.R. 3082, with the time until 5:30 nently or temporarily hold any individual There being no objection, the Senate, p.m. equally divided and controlled be- held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) at 7:46 p.m., recessed subject to the call tween the two managers or their des- On page 60, after line 24, add the following: of the Chair and reassembled at 7:57 ignees; that at 5:30 p.m., the Senate SEC. 608. (a) None of the funds appropriated p.m. when called to order by the Pre- proceed to vote in relation to the fol- or otherwise made available by this Act may siding Officer (Ms. LANDRIEU). lowing: Coburn No. 2757 and the Coburn be used to construct or modify a facility or f motion to commit; further that prior facilities in the United States or its terri- to these two votes, there be 2 minutes tories to permanently or temporarily hold MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VET- any individual who was detained as of Octo- ERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED of debate equally divided and con- ber 1, 2009, at Naval Station, Guantanamo AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS trolled in the usual form; that no fur- Bay, Cuba. ACT, 2010—Continued ther debate be in order to the bill, ex- (b) In this section, the term ‘‘United cept any time specified for debate prior States’’ means the several States and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- to a vote in relation to any amendment District of Columbia. jority leader. on the list. Mr. REID. Madam President, first, I AMENDMENT NO. 2779 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without appreciate very much the Presiding Of- (Purpose: To prohibit the use of funds for the objection, it is so ordered. ficer coming to the Chamber and help- transfer or detention in the United States f of detainees at Naval Station Guantanamo ing us at this time of night. Bay, Cuba, if certain veterans programs for I ask unanimous consent that other EXECUTIVE SESSION fiscal year 2010 are not fully funded) than the Johnson substitute and pend- At the end of title II, add the following: ing amendments, which are listed in SEC. 229. (a) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS this agreement, the following list be NOMINATION OF DAVID F. HAM- FOR TRANSFER OR DETENTION IN UNITED the only first-degree amendments re- ILTON TO BE UNITED STATES STATES OF DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO BAY maining in order to H.R. 3082, the Mili- CIRCUIT JUDGE FOR THE SEV- WITHOUT FULL FUNDING OF CERTAIN VET- tary Construction, Veterans appropria- ENTH CIRCUIT ERANS PROGRAMS.— tions; that relevant second-degree Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask (1) LIMITATION.—None of the funds appro- priated or otherwise made available by this amendments be in order to the first de- unanimous consent that the Senate Act may be used to support, prepare for, or gree to which offered; that a managers’ proceed to executive session to con- otherwise facilitate the transfer to or the de- amendment, which has been cleared by sider Calendar No. 184, the nomination tention in any State or territory of the the managers and leaders, also be in of David F. Hamilton to be a U.S. cir- United States of any individual who was de- order; and that if offered, the amend- cuit judge for the Seventh Circuit. tained as of November 1, 2009, at Naval Sta- ment be considered and agreed to, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tion Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, until 15 days the motion to reconsider be laid upon objection, it is so ordered. after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs cer- the table, with no other amendments The clerk will report the nomination. tifies to Congress that the programs speci- fied in subsection (b) are fully funded for fis- in order: Johnson No. 2733; Udall of The legislative clerk read the nomi- cal year 2010. New Mexico No. 2737; Franken No. 2745; nation of David F. Hamilton, of Indi- (2) CERTIFICATION.—The certification sub- Inouye No. 2754; Coburn No. 2757; Dur- ana, to be United States Circuit Judge mitted under this subsection shall include a bin Nos. 2759 and 2760; McCain No. 2776, for the Seventh Circuit.

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