S3592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2009 are some other rosy scenarios in there Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I cial condition of our country. I think that the objective economists do not would just point out these numbers. the Republicans will be there trying to believe will occur. The public debt, which I think is prob- work with you on it. But without some When you score this budget without ably the clearest definition of what our leadership from the other side, this using those gimmicks or rosy sce- debt situation is—you can argue about budget will go into effect. narios, as the Congressional Budget Of- that, but the public debt, I believe, is I yield the floor. fice is required to do—they are re- correct—is now $5.8 trillion. In 5 years, f quired to make an independent anal- it will be $11.5 trillion, a doubling of ysis of the President’s budget, and they the debt; and in 10 years, another 5 CONCLUSION OF MORNING have done so. years, it will be $15.3 trillion, tripling— BUSINESS Let me just say that we are proud of that is the debt since the founding of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning the independence of the Congressional the Republic—$5 trillion right here. In business is closed. Budget Office. They are a talented 10 years, we are going to triple the group. They work for us here. The new total debt. That is not acceptable. And f Director was chosen in a bipartisan they are projecting not a recession in NATIONAL SERVICE REAUTHOR- way but clearly with the final power in the next 10 years after we get out of IZATION ACT—MOTION TO PRO- the hands of the substantial Demo- this one, they are projecting growth, CEED cratic majority in the Senate. They no wars, and it is still like this. The control the ultimate choice of the Con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under truth is, those of us who observed budg- the previous order, the Senate will re- gressional Budget Office. eting before don’t stay to the budget They come out not with a $712 billion sume consideration of the motion to totals; we usually go over them deficit for that year—not $912 billion proceed to H.R. 1388, which the clerk through some sort of gimmick or ma- but $1.2 trillion, $500 billion higher will report. neuver. The bill clerk read as follows: when they use numbers they believe How about another number that is are fair and honest and accurate, com- disturbing to me—very disturbing. The Motion to proceed to consideration of the ing out with $1.2 trillion in deficit, not bill (H.R. 1388) to reauthorize and reform the White House estimate on interest pay- $700 billion in deficit. There will not be, national service laws. ments in the budget is $148 billion for in this entire 10-year period, taking 2009. According to CBO, they estimate The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- President Obama’s own numbers, and it higher at $170 billion. ator from Maryland is recognized. certainly not the Congressional Budget The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I Office’s numbers, a single year that is ator’s time has expired. ask unanimous consent that the pre- close to as low as the $455 billion def- Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I viously scheduled 6 p.m. cloture vote icit of President Bush’s last year. Most ask unanimous consent to have 2 addi- now occur at 5:45 p.m., and that 10 min- of them are twice that or will average tional minutes. utes immediately prior to 5:45 p.m. be twice that. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there divided as previously ordered, and that So what I wish to say to my col- objection? all other provisions of the previous leagues is that this is not sustainable. Without objection, it is so ordered. order remain in effect. The President had a great meeting Mr. SESSIONS. It shows the interest The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without with the Republicans one day at lunch rate or payments on this tripling debt objection, it is so ordered. in the room right over here. He was reaching $694 billion, according to the Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank the Chair. very personable, open, and responded White House’s own estimate, in 2019, to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- to any questions asked. I thought he the people who buy our debt—the larg- jority leader is recognized. was very sincere when he said: Look, Mr. REID. Madam President, for the we are going to have to spend a lot of est foreign recipient of which is China. CBO says that is underestimated. information of Members, a number of money now, but when this economy They calculate it to be $806 billion. The Senators wanted us to start the vote comes back we are all going to have to entire general fund of the State of Ala- earlier tonight, and we are happy to do work together to reduce the systemic that. For those who aren’t going to ar- threat of out-of-control deficits. He bama, an average-size State, is about rive until 6 o’clock, we will drag the said that more than once. I thought he $7 billion for the counties, schools, vote out so they will not miss it. meant that. But when you propose a teachers, and roads. The highway budg- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- budget that has deficits increasing et for the entire United States of ator from Maryland is recognized. every year over the next 5 years and America is $40 billion a year, including Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I reaching, in his own numbers, $712 bil- interstate, all the money we send to am proud today to bring the legislation lion in deficit—and according to CBO, the States, and all of the pork money to the floor entitled Serve America $1.2 trillion—then I can’t take that we put on top of it. This is $806 billion Act. This bill is the result of extensive very seriously. There is not one act in in interest alone on a debt that we this budget plan of any significant have run up in previous years. That is bipartisan work by Senators KENNEDY evaluation of the out-of-control enti- why people are worried about it. and HATCH who have worked more than tlement programs we have or how to I will conclude with that and say, a year on this legislation but who have bring those under control. again, I know we all get caught up in devoted their lives to this bill. I know So that is not politics; that is re- politics, that is true. But this year, in a short time I will be joined by the ality. It is not acceptable. We have to this budget is not a normal budget. It distinguished Senator from Utah, Mr. say no to this budget. I know my is not a bigger budget or a lot bigger. HATCH, who was one of the prime spon- Democratic colleagues are uneasy It is a gargantuan budget, the likes of sors of the bill. Senator ENZI of Wyo- about those numbers. They tell me which we have not seen before. It re- ming, the ranking member of the they are uneasy about them. They sults in debt increases that are not sus- Health, Education Committee, was also want to support their President. They tainable. It has no projection of any going to be here. He is in a snowstorm want to pass this budget. But at some containment of spending. It does noth- in Wyoming. Senator ENZI will bring point, I think my colleagues are going ing to deal with the entitlement dif- his remarks to the floor tomorrow. to have to say no. I hope they will. Cer- ficulties that are driving much of the Let me just say that I want to, first tainly, the Republicans can’t say no; debt, and it cannot be passed in this of all, salute Senators KENNEDY and we don’t have enough votes. fashion. HATCH for designing this legislation be- Now, Senator THUNE made reference I urge my Democratic colleagues to cause it expands the opportunity to to this number. say: No, Mr. President, you have to go serve this country. At the same time, Madam President, what is our time- back and look at this some more. We Senator ENZI and Senator DODD worked frame? cannot pass this budget and not just assiduously to strengthen the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning take a few hundred billion dollars off, Senator ENZI brought very key legis- business expires at 4 o’clock p.m., in or something like that. We need to lative analysis to the bill, and his several minutes. have a serious discussion of the finan- background as an accountant gave us

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 23, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3593 very much needed reforms in the area munity Service Act. In 1993, we passed What is it we wanted to do? A social of greater accountability and steward- the AmeriCorps legislation. Since then, invention for the nineties? What did we ship. I want to, on behalf of our side of it has been a profound success. We took face? We saw two things: No. 1, stu- the aisle, thank him for his insight and that landmark legislation and, working dents had incredible debt—and they know-how. We have adopted every sin- with President Clinton, created a still do. Their first ‘‘mortgage’’ was gle one of the Enzi stewardship rec- framework for today’s national service not a home but what they owed in ommendations. programs. terms of their college debt. Also, we Our colleague, Senator DODD of Con- Let me be clear, Madam President. saw a new trend coming to America necticut, himself a former Peace Corps We were not in the business of creating called the ‘‘me’’ generation. Articles volunteer, has also brought additional another new social program. What we and books were being written about it. thinking to the bill to make sure that were in the business of was creating a There were those on both sides of the volunteers are rewarded by making new social invention. What do I mean aisle who wanted to change the ‘‘me’’ sure we could expand the summer of by that? In our country, we are known generation to the ‘‘we’’ generation. We service and the semester of service. for our technological prowess, the also wanted to say: How can we help Madam President, I have been no great technological inventions. From with student debt? That is when we stranger to this bill, and one of the the rocket ship to the microchip, thought about national community things I have done was be the appropri- America has been in the forefront of service, where you could give back to ator for appropriations from the time technology and science. your country, learn the habits of the of its inception, from 1993 to 2004, when But also often overlooked, and some- heart that de Tocqueville talked the VA–HUD and Independent Agencies times undervalued, is our social inven- about—neighbor helping neighbor, the Committee was dissolved by Mr. Delay tions—those things that the genius of signature of America, from barn rais- of Texas in the House, and the Senate America invents to create an oppor- ing to Habitat for Humanity, and hab- followed suit. That is a chatty way of tunity ladder for our country, to create its of the heart and Habitat for Human- saying that Senator KIT BOND, who empowerment opportunities for our ity. chaired that subcommittee as my constituents. We created national service as a ranking member, was able to keep na- Let me give a couple of examples, form. We didn’t want it to be service tional service functioning and also and you can see the American philos- only for idealistic, affluent kids who very much needed reforms. ophy at work in AmeriCorps. In terms could afford to take 2 years off to find In 2004, Senators HARKIN and SPEC- of our social inventions, what are themselves. We wanted them to find TER got the appropriations portfolio for some? Well, you know we are the coun- opportunity to be of service and also to national service, and they have done an try that invented night school. At the make an important contribution. outstanding job. I say all this to say turn of the old century, with so many That is how we created the original that when we bring up this bill, it is immigrants coming from Europe, with national service legislation. We wanted not a Democratic bill; it is a bipartisan Lady Liberty raising her hand saying: to strike a balance between precollege bill and an American bill. Ever since Give me your tired, your poor, your and postcollege to help pay for college, the framework for the underlying legis- yearning to be free—and they also get ready for college or to learn a lation was created more than a decade wanted to learn to read English, write trade. We also wanted to provide the ago, we have worked on both sides of English, and learn citizenship. But opportunity for retired people to be of the aisle, with Presidents of both par- they were working night and day to be service and also, while being of service, ties, to give our young people an oppor- able to do that. to earn a modest voucher to pay down tunity to serve. Out of the great settlement houses— student debt. This has been an outstanding effort. primarily the great settlement houses We wanted to make sure we could do Today, the legislation I bring to the out of New York and Chicago—they this in a way that was sensible, afford- Senate floor on their behalf is the re- said: If you work during the day, we able, and also would involve the flexi- sult of considerable experience, lots of are going to give you an opportunity to bility and creativity of the local com- lessons learned, and also the recogni- learn at night. Out of that settlement munity. tion and knowledge that there is a new house movement came a new social in- We allow not only full-time volun- invigorated spirit in the United States vention called night school. It was teers but the opportunity for part-time of America. Some are calling it the never done anywhere else in the world. volunteers. Actually, the part-time ‘‘Obama effect’’ because there are so Look how night school changed the volunteer was my idea. Putting on my many people who want to give back to face of America. social work hat again, what I saw in the United States of America, to use Then, while our GIs went overseas our communities was not everybody their own sweat equity to be involved and then came back home, we had an- can go away and not everybody wants in our communities to make them a other social invention that said: We to go away. It could be someone dis- better place to be, for our schools to be want to thank you not only with words abled, where their whole support sys- able to be more effective, for there to but with deeds. So another empower- tem is in that community. And al- be structured afterschool activities for ment legislation was called the GI bill, though they have a physical challenge, children, and volunteer efforts to add which created one great, gigantic op- they can still give. How about that sin- to more housing for Habitat for Hu- portunity ladder for generations of gle mother who graduated from a com- manity—item after item, we could go men who would have never had the op- munity college and wants to reduce her on. There is this fantastic spirit, and portunity for either education or home debt as she is moving on with her ca- we want to be able to make use of that ownership to be able to move ahead. reer? This would give her a chance to energy, that passion, those good inten- Along the way, they knew they could do that. tions, and be able to help them truly to not go off to 4 years of college. They There were important lessons serve America. were adults. They had seen war and learned, and for more than a decade we Senator KENNEDY and I have worked they had liberated death camps. They worked on it. But not all was rosy, not on this legislation for some time. Way could not come back and go ‘‘bula all was smooth. What we then saw in back in 1990, Senator KENNEDY and I in- bula’’; they had to go to work. So we 2003, when I was the ranking member troduced the National Community invented something else, too, called on the appropriations subcommittee Service Act with then-Senator Nunn, the junior college, or the community funding national service, is they cre- and also with the help of Senator college, which in and of itself was a so- ated a debacle. God, did they get slop- MCCAIN, to establish a corporation for cial invention. py. One of their most colossal errors national and community service, and So you see, every generation comes was that they enrolled over 20,000 vol- also to create a demonstration project up with a new idea to build and add to unteers and could not afford to pay for that would then become the that important opportunity ladder it. That is how sloppy they were in AmeriCorps. where you can do something for your- their accounting. When President Bill Clinton came in, self and your country. But government I took to the floor and called them we worked to create the National Com- is on your side. the ‘‘Enron of nonprofits.’’ I called for

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE S3594 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2009 a new board, a new CEO, and new rules I heard of a very innovative approach do want a new direction. They want to of engagement. President Bush re- in Hawaii called Grannies for the rekindle the habits of the heart. There sponded, and he gave us the right peo- Troops. That is grandmothers in the are a lot of people out there, as we ple to right the ship of national serv- area who want to volunteer to help talked about bonuses, who might be ice. women whose husbands are deployed talking about ‘‘me,’’ but there are a lot I must say, in those 6 years since with some time off for themselves to go of young people who want to be part of then, they have worked to do so. They shopping, get other family business the ‘‘we’’ generation. have righted the ship, they have good done, whatever. You need a volunteer I yield the floor and suggest the ab- financial accounting, and people con- coordinator to make that happen. That sence of a quorum. tinue to volunteer. is the kind of innovation we are going The PRESIDING OFFICER. The But all that is history. What about to have. clerk will call the roll. the 21st century now? Wow, people We also have in this program help for The legislative clerk proceeded to want to volunteer like never before. Do retirees. We keep all our senior pro- call the roll. you know that last year 35,000 college grams and we provide something called Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I seniors applied for Teach America? an encore fellowship for an older gen- ask unanimous consent that the order There were only 4,000 slots. There were eration to serve. We also provide the for the quorum call be rescinded. 35,000 young people who wanted to do opportunity for professionals called The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without it. The Peace Corps got 13,000 appli- volunteers for prosperity to serve over- objection, it is so ordered. cants last year for 4,000 slots. People seas. Those two ideas from Senator Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I want to serve. HATCH were very helpful. ask unanimous consent that the time While we saw this new flourishment This bill takes AmeriCorps and fo- during the quorum call be charged of desire and passion to serve, Senators cuses it in a way that we think offers equally, and I suggest the absence of a KENNEDY and HATCH put their abilities greater efficiency and provides some quorum. and key minds and passion for this other new opportunities to serve, such The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without issue together and have come up with as the summer of service and the se- objection, it is so ordered. the Kennedy-Hatch Serve America Act. mester of service. It also concentrates The clerk will call the roll. It is a great bill. Let me tell you about on improving the capacity of our non- The legislative clerk proceeded to it. profit organizations in some other very call the roll. First of all, it improves the number innovative ways. Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask of national volunteers. Over a 7-year This is just a brief summary of the unanimous consent that the order for period, it would take the volunteers history that brought us to today and the quorum call be rescinded. from 75,000 slots to 250,000 slots. But the framework that will take us to to- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without this bill is more about creating oppor- morrow. objection, it is so ordered. tunities and for people to serve. It is In the last Congress, there was a lot Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, last about meeting compelling human of talk about bridges to nowhere. Na- May, then-Senator Barack Obama gave needs. tional Service is a bridge to some- a commencement address at Wesleyan We are going to also expand this bill where. I wish to note in the health University. Senator TED KENNEDY of with lessons learned on focusing some corps programs, we already have one Massachusetts had been originally of our AmeriCorps activity into spe- scheduled to speak to the graduates, cialized corps. These are what we that will continue to function under but Senator KENNEDY had taken ill and found: One, an education corps; an- this health umbrella in AmeriCorps. Senator Obama spoke in his place. other, a health futures corps; another, Not only do we help people get con- In a tribute to TED KENNEDY’s life- a veterans corps; and another called nected to the services for which they time of service to America, Senator opportunity corps. These are not out- are eligible, but 85 percent of the young Obama spoke to the graduates about side of AmeriCorps. They will be sub- people who work in the National Com- the importance of national service. It sets because we find this is where com- munity Health Corps Program go on was a remarkable speech. In fact, what pelling human need is and at the same themselves to health care jobs. Some he told the graduates was his life story, time offers great opportunity for vol- decide on a career in medicine. Some about how Barack Obama, after grad- unteers to do it. think: Wow, although I already have What does the education corps do? It my degree, I think I will go into an ac- uating from an Ivy League college, improves student engagement. It works celerated program and go into nursing, could have gone to law school or Wall with young people in schools in supple- where they have the accelerated pro- Street with many of his classmates. mental services, such as tutoring, field gram for people with degrees. Others But, instead, he took a job as a com- trips, and particularly in these struc- are looking at careers in public health munity organizer on the south side of tured school activities. We have found or in x-ray technology. They get Chicago. that where they have focused on edu- turned on. Many people know this story because cation, they have improved student For people who go into education, they have heard Barack tell it. They academic achievement and graduation they say: You know, I was going to do may have read about it when the Presi- rates. this for a stint. I want it to be my life’s dent published his autobiography, Also, we have something called the work. They then will go into the field ‘‘Dreams From My Father,’’ of how he clean energy service corps. This is of education as teachers and getting ended up with a broken down little car, going to work to weatherize more low- extra degrees and doing a good job. taking a job that didn’t pay very much income households to be more energy They are the reformers of the next gen- as a community organizer in a section efficient. eration. What we do in national service of Chicago that had been wracked by We have a health futures corps that serves the community immediately the closing of steel mills and all the will work to increase access to health today, but the impact on the volun- unemployment and hardship that fol- care among low-income and under- teers continues for the rest of their lowed. It wasn’t easy work for him. He served populations but at the same lives. went church to church trying to orga- time work on health promotion and I think this is a great social invest- nize people in the neighborhoods. The wellness, primarily in schools, to teach ment, and it is a public investment in pay wasn’t very good, but he knew he our young people the kind of cool, new, our young people to help our commu- was making a difference. He made edgy ways of doing those healthy hab- nities that I think will pay dividends friends and connections. He learned a its that will change their lives for a long beyond anything we can imagine. lot about life, and he learned a lot lifetime. I hope this bill is adopted by late to- about himself. He found direction in We also are working on a veterans morrow. I hope we can keep amend- his life from those moments that he corps to help create housing units for ments to a minimum. I do believe we spent volunteering and giving back to deployed soldiers and to help also with have had excellent help on both sides of his community. voluntarism to assist military families the aisle. We talk about changing di- President Obama—then Senator when a military family is deployed. rection in this country. I think people Obama—called on the graduates at

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 23, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3595 Wesleyan to find their own direction We know we need them. A student the fifth anniversary of the Peace through service to the country. Here is drops out of school every 26 seconds in Corps so many years ago, TED KENNEDY what he said: this country. City Year volunteers are asked a young volunteer why he de- There’s no community service requirement helping to keep Chicago students in cided to sign up, and the answer was in the real world; no one forcing you to care. school and on the road to success. simple. He said: ‘‘It was the first time You can take your diploma, walk off this When asked to share the impact of someone asked me to do something for stage, and chase only after the big house and the City Year corps members on their my country.’’ the nice suits and all the other things that classroom, teachers recently said: With the Serve America Act we are our money culture says you should buy. You All of my students who are being tutored asking again. We are asking Americans can choose to narrow your concerns and live are more interested in reading. They are of all ages to give back to their com- your life in a way that tries to keep your more confident in themselves as striving story separate from America’s. But I hope munities and to America. Each Amer- learners. you don’t. Because thinking only about ican has the power to make a small dif- yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants It works and it works in both direc- ference in the success of a child or the and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Be- tions. The students are better off; so health of the environment or the lives cause it’s only when you hitch your wagon to are the volunteers. of hungry neighbors. All those small something larger than yourself that you re- This week we are considering a bill differences, repeated over and over, can alize your true potential and discover the that will dramatically expand national add up to something truly powerful. role you will play in writing the next great service programs, giving more Ameri- Passage of this bill is a priority of chapter in America’s story. cans the chance to serve their country. our new President and should be a pri- President Obama repeated this call I thank Senator MIKULSKI for leading ority for every Member of the Senate. to service throughout his campaign us in this effort, bringing this to the I encourage my colleagues to support and now into his Presidency. He has floor. The original cosponsors of the this bill and I yield the floor. called on all Americans to find a way bill, of course, were Senator TED KEN- I suggest the absence of a quorum. to serve their neighbors and their com- NEDY and Senator ORRIN HATCH. I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The munity to make this Nation a better joined a long list of Democrats and Re- clerk will call the roll. place. publicans as cosponsors as well. Both The legislative clerk proceeded to Over the last few months, we have Senators KENNEDY and HATCH have a call the roll. heard too many stories about the so- long personal commitment to service, Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask called successful people who have fol- and this bill is a testament to their unanimous consent the order for the lowed their ambitions, and sometimes public legacy. Senator MIKULSKI is quorum call be rescinded. their greed, and the economy and coun- bringing this to the floor in Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. SHAHEEN). Without objection, it is so try have suffered. But there are so KENNEDY’s absence. I know she will many other stories to be told—commu- handle this bill well. She always does. ordered. nity organizations across this Nation The Serve America Act will triple Mr. DURBIN. I ask consent the time that are reporting record numbers of the number of national service partici- remaining under the quorum call be volunteers coming through their doors pants to 250,000 participants within 8 equally divided between both sides. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without as we face this troubling economy. years. Along with this dramatic expan- Many of these new volunteers have re- objection, it is so ordered. sion, the bill will also create new corps Mr. DURBIN. I suggest absence of a cently lost their jobs, but they still within AmeriCorps, focused on areas of want to answer the President’s call and quorum. national need that include education, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The give back to their communities. the environment, health care, eco- clerk will call the roll. That is the spirit that truly makes nomic opportunity, and helping our The legislative clerk proceeded to America great. Even in the most trou- veterans. call the roll. bling times, Americans think of those We are expanding opportunities to Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I ask who are suffering, those who have lost serve for Americans in every stage in unanimous consent the order for the their homes or can’t put food on the life. Middle and high school students quorum call be rescinded. table, and they want to help. There will be encouraged to participate in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without isn’t a community in America where service projects during the summer and objection, it is so ordered. you can’t find that spirit, and you can after school. By serving their commu- Mr. HATCH. Madam President, today find it on the street corners, in church nities early in life, these students will the Senate begins consideration of the basements, in afternoon and weekend be put on a path to a lifetime habit of Serve America Act, which is the title efforts of people just wanting to give a service. of what will be the Senate substitute little bit back and to help those less For working Americans who cannot for H.R. 1388. It is my hope this legisla- fortunate. commit to full-time service, the bill tion will help strengthen a culture of In my State of Illinois, each year 2.7 provides funding to community organi- service, citizenship, and responsibility million volunteers dedicate over 300 zations for recruiting and managing in America, and I am proud to join a million hours of service. The estimated part-time volunteers; retirees will be bipartisan group of Senators in support economic contribution of those hours given new opportunities to serve of this bill as it comes to the Senate is $5.9 billion annually. More than through the Senior Corps, as it exists, floor. 66,000 of these volunteers participate in and through new initiatives. The bill I am sure it goes without saying that national service programs through 144 also increases the education award for Senator TED KENNEDY’s absence is different projects. In Chicago, the City the first time since its creation. A lot deeply felt by all of us as we work on Year program is one of my favorites. It of the people in the AmeriCorps this particular piece of legislation. I, places young volunteers to work full projects, for example, at the end of personally, continue to pray for his full time in some of Chicago’s neediest their service, earn credits they can use and speedy recovery. schools. There they serve as tutors, to go on to pursue higher education. To begin, I would like to discuss the mentors, and role models for Chicago’s The education award in this bill will context in which this legislation has students. be raised to the Pell grant level, which moved forward to give us some perspec- They usually call me in once a year will make it easier for college students tive as to what is about to happen. to meet the new class—and I love with significant student loan debt to After months of discussion, negotia- them. They are just so bristling with consider national service—and the tion, debate, and flatout argument, energy and determination and commit- award will be transferable, so that Senator KENNEDY and I introduced the ment. Many of them are doing some- older volunteers can actually transfer original version of the Serve America thing in a communal sense that they the education award to their children Act last September in the middle of have never done in their lives. Some of or grandchildren. What a great gift to what was often a hotly contested cam- them are in Chicago for the first time, give to your family. paign season. Despite the overly par- dazzled by the city but dazzled as well There is a story Senator KENNEDY tisan atmosphere at the time, a bipar- by the people they are working with. often tells about national service. On tisan group of Senators offered their

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE S3596 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2009 support for this bill. Even though the roots of our tradition run deep. Ronald and police officers, and, yes, even by differences between the two Presi- Reagan put this powerful tradition of Senators and their staffs—to serve the dential candidates were played out on volunteer service in its appropriate public interest through their public in- news shows every night, both of them context when he said, speaking of the stitutions. I have to admit, I left my were willing to put their debates aside Mayflower Compact: own law practice, where we had just and become original cosponsors. That The single act—the voluntary binding to- started it a few years before. I had left pleased me. gether of free people to live under the law— Pittsburgh, moved to Utah, formed a I would like, once again, to thank set the pattern for what was to come. law firm. We were going like Senator MCCAIN for his continued sup- A century and a half later, the descendants gangbusters. My partner is worth a lot port, not only for this particular piece of those people pledged their lives, their for- of money today. I am not. But I made of legislation but for volunteer service tunes and their sacred honor to found this this choice to come and work for our in general. He has truly been a leader nation. Some forfeited their fortunes and country. It is made by all these good their lives; none sacrificed honor. Four score on this issue throughout his life and and seven years later, Abraham Lincoln people, to serve the public interests has rightly won the admiration of called upon the people of all America to through our public institutions. those on both sides of the aisle. renew their dedication and their commit- Service to country can take other In addition to the Kennedy-Hatch ment to a government of, for and by the peo- forms. Many Americans want to serve legislation, the Serve America Act, the ple. Isn’t it once again time to renew our for a full year or part of a year of na- Senate bill also includes legislation compact of freedom; to pledge to each other tional service. Others may want to vol- that will reauthorize the Corporation all that is best in our lives; all that gives unteer to serve in countries abroad for of National and Community Service. meaning to them—for the sake of this, our short-term or long-term assignments. The reauthorization effort has been led beloved and blessed land? We had two people come back last Together, let us make this a new begin- on the Republican side by the distin- ning. Let us make a commitment to care for night from a mission over in Africa. He guished ranking member of the HELP the needy; to teach our children the values served his whole working life as a chap- Committee, Senator ENZI, who has and the virtues handed down to us by our lain in the military. She is a beautiful worked tirelessly with both Senator families; to have the courage to defend those woman who has been married to him KENNEDY and Senator MIKULSKI to values and the willingness to sacrifice for for all these years. They, at their own reach a bipartisan accord on these them. expense, volunteered and went to Afri- much-needed provisions. Let us pledge to restore, in our time, the ca to work in Kenya and Nairobi with In addition to Senators KENNEDY and American spirit of voluntary service, of co- unfortunate people and to build esteem operation, of private and community initia- MCCAIN, I have to extend my thanks, tive; a spirit that flows like a deep and in the hearts of people over there. my deep-felt thanks to Senators ENZI mighty river through the history of our na- They came back last night and spoke and MIKULSKI for their outstanding tion. in our church. I was so proud of both of them—terrific people. work on the legislation before us President Reagan had a very good today. Both of them are outstanding Others may want to volunteer to way of putting things. serve in countries abroad for short- legislators. They are both beloved peo- President Reagan was not alone in term or long-term assignments. Still ple in this body. I, personally, feel that his call for service. Presidents down others, in fact the vast majority of way toward each of them. the generations, Republicans and At the same time all this work has Americans, will perform services as Democrats alike—Teddy and Franklin been going on in the Senate, we have traditional episodic volunteers work- Roosevelt; Eisenhower and Kennedy; been working with both Democrats and ing in schools, houses of worship, work- Johnson and Nixon; Carter and George Republicans in the House of Represent- places, nonprofit institutions, and Herbert Walker Bush; and Clinton and atives to ensure that both Chambers neighborhoods. reach similar conclusions with their George W. Bush—have all worked to America is a generous nation and national service legislation. This has awaken the national consciousness to Americans are compassionate people, all been accomplished during a time their duties and responsibilities as citi- and our volunteer spirit knows no when, for the most part, partisan hos- zens, to light in every individual that bounds. In all these cases, everything tilities have done anything but subside. spark of voluntary service, the seed of is a choice. Service in our military is Since the beginning of the new Con- compassion that makes us serve causes voluntary as is service in our soup gress, we have seen debates on legisla- larger than ourselves. kitchens. Public service is not only a tion such as the SCHIP bill, the stim- They have done so particularly in voluntary activity, but for many of us ulus package and the Omnibus appro- times of crisis: during the Great De- subject to regular elections where the priations bill that, in many ways, have pression, during our world wars, and citizens get to exercise their own deepened the divisions between the two after 9/11. Times of trial have always choice of whether a particular can- parties. Here in a few weeks, as we summoned the greatness of our people, didate for office will exercise the privi- begin debate on the budget, we are sure and we are right now in a time of chal- lege of serving them. to see even greater clashes between the lenge today. Consistent with our All-Volunteer principled beliefs and ideologies be- Service can take many forms in a Army and volunteer opportunities and tween those on both sides of the aisle. free country, and we all have choices, individuals’ choice in communities, However, the bill we have before us not only as to whether we will serve nothing in this legislation is manda- today is the result of a bipartisan and but how we will serve. There is no tory. This bill simply provides more bicameral effort. In our opinion, this is greater example of service than those Americans more choices and opportuni- nothing short of remarkable, given the who put on the military uniform and ties to give back to their neighbor- current political climate. go into battle for our country. Many hoods and their country all through Once again, the Senate effort has men and women who choose military the means which they freely choose. been spearheaded by myself, Senator service make the ultimate sacrifice. With a backdrop of this rich history KENNEDY, Senator ENZI, and Senator They put their lives on the line for our of citizen service in America, Senator MIKULSKI. I doubt any other piece of country. Millions have lost their lives KENNEDY and I began discussions more legislation we consider this year will so we might be free. than a year ago about what we might be the product of such a diversity of There are more than 26 million do together to build on the tradition of views. Senator MIKULSKI has carried Americans alive today who have served service in America. I know part of this this matter on behalf of Senator KEN- in our armed services. They epitomize is because both of us love his sister, NEDY. I have nothing but tremendous American values, the values of duty, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. We have respect for her. honor, and country. They also inspire watched this woman year after year I will not be foolish enough to claim new generations to ask what they can after year give service to this country the credit for all this good will, but I do for their country. and to children all over the world; not am certainly grateful to be a bene- Other Americans may decide to go just through the Special Olympics—but ficiary. into public or Government service. especially through the Special Olym- Service has been one of the golden This is a choice that is made by State pics—but in so many other ways. I ad- threads of our Democracy, and the and municipal workers, by teachers mire her about as much as any woman

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 23, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3597 in our society today for what she has and Native Americans, failing to grad- ies. He has brought wonderful teachers been able to do with her life. She is a uate with their class. For each of these and others who could be making them- 90-pound dynamo who just keeps going. kids a decision to drop out is a million selves wealthy outside of this program, I think—well, I will not say it because dollar mistake, since they will earn who are teaching these kids how to live I know it can be embarrassing to her. that much less over a lifetime than in a modern world. He has had an But the fact is, she is a terrific human their college graduate friends. amazing transformational change in so being. For our country, this is a multibil- many children. I have chatted with all kinds of other lion dollar mistake in increased wel- These are the types of things we have people who are giving tremendous serv- fare, prison, and health care costs, and to encourage. The idea behind service ice to their fellow human beings, men lost revenues from the lack of produc- clearly has always been about trans- and women, children, throughout our tive workers. Service learning has been forming the person who serves. I saw society. You know, Senator KENNEDY shown to keep students engaged in how it changed my own life when I and I and others drew on ideas from school, and to boost student academic served a 2-year mission for my church Republicans such as my friend Senator achievement. So we will offer competi- in the Great Lakes mission. That was JOHN MCCAIN, who introduced his own tive grants to local and State partner- Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. A lot of bill almost a decade ago and, as I men- ships to carry out these efforts in our our young missionaries serve all over tioned, endorsed the Serve America schools. the world, such as the young couple I Act in the midst of his Presidential Again, all of this will be voluntary mentioned last night. They came back campaign. activity, and it holds the promise of from Kenya and Nairobi, where they We drew on ideas from Democrats, keeping so many of our young people served I think about a year and a half. such as the godmother of national and engaged in school. In addition to ele- Their main job was humanitarian, to community service, that is Senator mentary and secondary schools, col- help people to be able to know there is BARBARA MIKULSKI. We hear of god- leges and universities can play a crit- a better way; to find water for people, fathers; she is the godmother, a great ical role in the culture of service, so we to help them with food, to help them woman who has a great heart, and who will authorize the Corporation for Na- with so many of their problems, to help worked as a social worker for many tional Community Service to recognize them to know there is a future. They years, and for whom I have deep affec- and provide additional funding to did that voluntarily, at their own ex- tion, no question about it. ‘‘campuses of service’’ that do an out- pense. Think about it, at their own ex- From the outset, Senator KENNEDY standing job in engaging their students pense. and I talked about marrying two for- in important community work. I did my voluntary 2-year service at merly competing visions of service: The U.S. Census Bureau tells us that my own expense. I actually presided first, by supporting traditional volun- nearly 61 million Americans volun- over congregations, and I helped out teering, in the tradition of President teered through or for an organization thousands and thousands of people who Reagan’s Private Sector Initiative; last year. Most Americans did so had problems, and in the process, the George H. W. Bush’s Points of Light; through religious organizations, fol- one who was helped the most was my- and George W. Bush’s USA Freedom lowed by nonprofits, related to edu- self. It was a great blessing in my life. Corps; and, second, by supporting full- cation and youth. While many char- I would not change it for being a Sen- time national and international service ities believe volunteers are essential to ator, as a matter of fact. It was 2 years in the tradition of Presidents Kennedy, meeting their missions, only a small out of my life, but the most important Nixon, for senior service, Clinton and percentage of them actually invest in 2 years, outside of marriage to Elaine again George W. Bush for both domes- recruiting, training, and utilizing vol- and raising a family with 6 kids, now 23 tic and international service. unteers to meet those missions. grandchildren, and 3 great-grand- We have the attention of our new There are always waiting lists of vol- children. That was an important time President. He has talked to me about unteers who want to use their time and in my life. My folks were poor. They this. I know he has talked to Senator talents, but too often they are turned were not wealthy. They helped me and KENNEDY about this. He completely away or they do not come back after a assisted me on my mission. We paid for supports this. He knows how important bad experience. So we will invest in a it all ourselves, and I gave 2 solid years it is. I have respect for him for jumping new volunteer generation fund, which every day, 18 hours a day. I was very right in and helping us with this. will include matching funds by the pri- dedicated. We decided we wanted to create more vate sector to increase the capacity of But service is also about solving opportunities for Americans to serve organizations to use volunteers to problems in our Nation, and bringing over their lifetimes, so schoolchildren meet local needs, especially among the real hope and impact on the ground in can learn the importance of giving poor and disadvantaged. our communities with real account- back at a young age, for tapping into America is known for its innovation ability for results. Some people have the talents of the longest living, in business and the power of its mar- written off this bill as promoting ‘‘paid healthiest, best educated, and most kets. This bill will fuel the spirit of en- volunteerism.’’ This mistaken view is highly skilled generations of older trepreneurship in America’s nonprofit as a result of a fundamental misunder- Americans in our history. sector by creating a social innovations standing about these programs. Na- We wanted to tap the ingenuity of fund to foster and support the next tional service programs give Ameri- our people working through schools, generation of great ideas in the social cans opportunities for us to serve for a faith-based institutions, workplaces, marketplace, such as Teach for Amer- full year or more to tackle tough prob- and communities in America and ica, City Year, Habitat for Humanity, lems, and that they, in turn, can lever- across the world to tackle challenges and the U.S. Dream Academy, which age Federal investment in them to mo- large and small. are some of the many innovative ideas bilize more traditional volunteers to So today I am very pleased to be here of our day. help. as this legislation makes it over what Having mentioned the U.S. Dream When you look at the numbers, you I hope will be the final few obstacles Academy, that was started by a won- can see it is a very smart return on in- before becoming law. With this bill, our derful African-American man named vestment. Let me illustrate how this efforts to expand service will begin Wintley Phipps. Wintley is a Seventh works. Today about 75,000 people par- early in our schools all across America, Day Adventist minister. But he decided ticipate in national Federal service and where we can marry learning in there were too many of our young Afri- programs every year. I am not count- classrooms with service in our commu- can-American kids and others who ing the State programs at this point, nities, for those who choose such serv- were children of prisoners, children of although I know some of these work in ice learning. people who had been sent to prison, and the States as well. But on We have a high school dropout epi- that a high percentage of them would AmericaCorps and programs such as demic in America, with almost one- wind up in prison themselves unless we this, Peace Corps, et cetera, the cur- third of all students, and nearly 50 per- did something about it. So he has rently existing programs, there are cent of African Americans, Hispanic, brought computers into the inner cit- about 75,000 volunteers who participate

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE S3598 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2009 in national service programs every Having said all that, I am pleased our church alone, we have some 55,000 year. that President Obama sees the value of serving all over the world. That is just Now, as a result of their efforts, 2.2 this bill and wants to support it and missionaries. If we go beyond that to million traditional persons every year will support it and has supported it. It humanitarian service, there are a lot of come out to work on the same projects has been a matter of great uplift to me. people serving in those areas. Almost without pay. That is nearly 30 volun- So it is with these particular chal- every major national disaster in the teers who get nothing from Govern- lenges in mind that we drafted the world, the first two churches in there ment, for every 1 participant in a na- Serve America Act. Gone are the days with food, clothing, pharmaceuticals, tional service program, who receive a when national service participants will et cetera, happen to be the Mormon below-poverty stipend and a small edu- be able to go about their work without Church and the Catholic Church. They cation award to defray the cost of high- direction or accountability. Under our work together. We have worked to- er education. bill, their efforts will be directed at gether all these years to do this type of Let’s do the math. If we assume that these specific areas of national need. In work. as we expand national service, as this all of these efforts, State and local or- Volunteers for Prosperity, working bill does, the same ratio of participants ganizations will lead the way. Volun- together with the Peace Corps, could to leveraged volunteers holds, we will teers will be leveraged and urgent help fulfill the dreams of so many and eventually be seeing roughly 7.5 mil- needs will be met not by distant Gov- would show the world the compassion lion new unpaid volunteers every year ernment bureaucracies or Government of our people, leading to a more in- serving throughout our great Nation. programs but by people working on the formed foreign policy. In all cases, we My gosh, that is something worth- front lines of our communities and must promote accountability for re- while doing. Personally, I think it neighborhoods. sults and be mindful—very mindful—of would be more than that. Because with Americans can also spread American cost. the bill we are also improving the effi- compassion around the world. There As investments are made in service ciency and the accountability of these have been good efforts over the last 7 efforts, programs that are achieving programs. Far from promoting paid years and good bills in the Congress to real results should continue, and those volunteerism, this bill is all about en- fulfill the promise of President Ken- that are not working should be couraging traditional volunteerism. We nedy’s Peace Corps and expand its defunded. find that people, once they get into numbers. It has been a bipartisan ef- We also need to do a better job col- this, will love it and want to continue. fort. Two former Republican Presi- lecting data on the results of these pro- We will be targeting national service dents, Ronald Reagan and George W. grams and our civic health as a nation. opportunities to build upon this multi- Bush, grew the Peace Corps during The Nation collects good data about its plying effect in order to tap the power their 8 years in office. As a com- economy, but it can do a better job col- of our Nation’s greatest asset, our peo- plement to the growth in the Peace lecting information about our coun- ple, to take on some of these large Corps, the Serve America Act will au- try’s civic health. This bill will address challenges. those needs by establishing a civic Now, some have argued that the pri- thorize and fund Volunteers for Pros- health index, building on the good orities outlined in this bill are specifi- perity, which last year alone mobilized work of the NationalConference on cally designed to advance the Presi- 43,000 doctors, nurses, engineers, and Citizenship and the Corporation for Na- dent’s domestic agenda or his priorities other skilled Americans to meet urgent with the recent stimulus bill. Well, needs abroad, such as HIV/AIDS and tional and Community Service, to col- quite honestly, these people must as- malaria, such as medical procedures to lect regular data on volunteering, char- itable giving, and other indicators of cribe to Senator KENNEDY and me abili- help children who have cleft palates or ties that neither of us would claim to helping kids to see again. our civic life, so Americans can work have, including psychic powers and pre- I could go on and on about what is to strengthen these platoons of civil cognition. It was more than 2 years ago being done by volunteers all over the society that have always been the that I began a dialogue with former of- world. This cost-effective program puts backbone of our democracy. I truly ficials from the George Herbert Walker skilled Americans in the field for flexi- think that this data collected for this Bush and George W. Bush administra- ble term assignments often ranging index will inform our decisionmaking tions and other leaders of the national from a few months to more than 1 year throughout the policy spectrum. and community service field regarding and at extremely low cost to the Fed- Those of us supporting this bill—Re- this proposal. eral Government. publicans and Democrats alike—be- At that time, we agreed we wanted to President Kennedy said that his lieve an investment in the ingenuity harness the power of our citizens to Peace Corps would be truly serious and entrepreneurial spirit of our people solve urgent national problems. It was when 100,000 Americans were working is one of the best investments our then, 2 years ago, that we identified abroad every year. Well, Volunteers for country can make. At a time wroth five specific areas in which citizens Prosperity, working together with the with economic uncertainty, we should could make a significant difference in Peace Corps, could help fulfill that be all too willing to tap the greatest addressing needs. We looked at edu- dream and would show the world the resource at our nation’s disposal—the cation, and particularly the high compassion of our people and lead to a American people. Our citizens are the school dropout crisis, in the aftermath more informed foreign policy. most generous, energetic, and innova- of the 2006 report, ‘‘The Silent Epi- Having mentioned the Peace Corps, tive people in the world. I believe this demic.’’ why don’t I mention Eunice Shriver’s bill will inspire them to do much of the We identified clean energy, oppor- great husband. Sargent Shriver, when heavy lifting in their own commu- tunity, health and disaster response as he fought for the Peace Corps, it wasn’t nities. At a time when many people key areas in which citizens could make an easy job. By gosh, he had to take on would argue that what we need is more a significant difference and we dis- his own administration and everybody Federal Government bureaucrats going cussed specific indicators of progress else. But he did. What a wonderful, de- into neighborhoods to fix things up, that would bring new accountability cent, honorable leader and human this bill will help private groups and for results. being that man really is. If you want to individuals to continue their good These five areas were identified long read a great biography, read his, how work and to inspire other people to before there was even discussion of an ebullient he always was and how he join in their efforts. economic stimulus and well before the kept being positive about life and what The Serve America Act has strong bi- Presidential campaign got in full he was trying to do. I feel fortunate partisan support because it advances a swing. Since that time, we have added that I have become very good friends of good American idea that has echoed veterans assistance as a key area of na- the Shrivers and their children who down the ages. You see, when Ameri- tional need for the bill. But that is now are giving volunteer service, and cans want to solve problems, they hardly an issue on which President so many others. don’t first look to government or the Obama has cornered the market. I hope I don’t mean to center on this one State—they look to themselves and this clarifies the record on this point. family because there are so many. In their communities. The innovation and

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 23, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3599 enterprise of the American people will ator KENNEDY’s leadership as chairman They are sending us a signal, telling always have a comparative advantage of the Senate Health, Education, us why this is a good moment to create over big government solutions. I know Labor, and Pensions Committee that a new corps of 175,000 volunteers who this from my own personal experience, this bill was crafted. are going to be organized and assist in serving as a Mormon missionary when This is nothing new for Senator KEN- their efforts to do the things we need I was only 20 years old, 20 to 22. I am NEDY. In 1990, Senator KENNEDY worked to do in America. That means that in proud to be associated with this effort with the first President Bush to pass addition to the other volunteer pro- to remind Americans of their duties to the original National Community Serv- grams, we will have as many as a quar- their country, to provide them more ice Act, the Thousand Points of Light ter of a million Americans serving full opportunities to serve it, and to fulfill Foundation. President Bush called that time or part time working to meet the promise of the American experi- particular effort, helped by Senator some of our most pressing challenges: ment, which is truly based on their KENNEDY, the hallmark of his Presi- modernizing schools, building homes, participation in making it all work. I dency. When President Clinton needed serving as mentors or tutors in schools, have faith in the American people that a champion for the proposed Corpora- helping with the sick in hospitals and they will make this work, and we will tion for National Community Service, clinics. And with the Serve America all be very happy when they do. he didn’t have to look any further than Act, it is going to be a lot easier for I yield the floor. TED KENNEDY. professionals and retirees, the baby As Senator KENNEDY notes, ‘‘Service The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- boomers, the people who were first is a bipartisan goal.’’ Indeed, Members ator from Massachusetts. challenged by President Kennedy’s call Mr. KERRY. Madam President, let of Congress from across the political spectrum have pledged their support to service in 1961, it is going to be me begin by thanking the Senator from much easier for them to get involved Utah, whose leadership on this effort for this measure, which is a clear indi- cation that the ethic of service is once again. has been absolutely spectacular and So we face great challenges. We who obviously, from the words he just spawned not by faithfulness to party but by devotion to country and com- should have no illusion about the mag- spoke, has a deeply personal and his- nitude of those challenges. But we also torical understanding of the impor- munity. The Serve America Act is also the have extraordinary opportunities star- tance of this kind of service. We are all work of our colleague from Utah, Sen- ing us in the face. With the Serve very grateful to him for his partnership ator ORRIN HATCH. Senator HATCH has America Act, with more Americans in- with my colleague, Senator KENNEDY, on many occasions been TED KENNEDY’s volved, with Americans pulling to- and for the leadership he has offered partner in these kinds of bipartisan ef- gether, I am confident that is going to along the way. I would concur with forts. Senator HATCH points out that be the definition of America’s future, every word he has spoken about it, all volunteer service is the lifeblood of our and it will be a definition we will all be of the good things he said it would do. Nation and that it benefits the volun- proud of. I couldn’t agree more. It will do all teer as much, if not more, than the So I urge my colleagues on both sides those things and more. This is one of country the volunteer is serving. We of the aisle to support this important the better moments and better bills for just heard those words a moment ago piece of legislation. I pay tribute, which we get an opportunity as Sen- from Senator HATCH when he talked again, to my colleague, TED KENNEDY, ators to vote. about his own experience as a young and his partners in this effort, Senator May I also thank Senator MIKULSKI. person, about the mission for faith that MIKULSKI and Senator HATCH, who have She has been tenacious and unbeliev- he called the greatest of his life. Serv- brought us to this time. Thank you. ably engaged and enthusiastic and ice is what has always made America, I yield the floor and reserve the re- wonderful in her commitment to help America. mainder of our time. bring us to this moment. I know how Many times in 2004, when I was run- Madam President, I suggest the ab- much Senator KENNEDY and Senator ning for President, I talked about de sence of a quorum. HATCH both value the contribution she Tocqueville’s visit to our country and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The has made. We all value it. We are how he found something special here. clerk will call the roll. grateful to her for stepping in. She has He wrote about it. He wrote that The assistant legislative clerk pro- been a tiger. Perish the thought for ‘‘America is great because Americans ceeded to call the roll. anybody who has wanted to run are good.’’ What he meant by that was Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I counter to her intent to get this done. he had observed this extraordinary ask unanimous consent that the order I want to speak for a couple mo- spirit of voluntarism, a kind of patriot- for the quorum call be rescinded. ments. I yield myself perhaps 5 min- ism that was defined by Americans who The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without utes. I think we have about 71⁄2 remain- would voluntarily give back to their objection, it is so ordered. ing. community or help other people or do Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, This effort we will vote on is going to something openly on behalf of their we are only minutes away from voting generate the largest expansion in na- country and that community. He clear- on the cloture motion to proceed to the tional service since President Kennedy ly had not seen or witnessed that kind bill. I really urge all of my colleagues inspired the creation of VISTA and the of giving in his experience in Europe. to vote yes on this motion so we can Peace Corps. For many of us in public Just as it was in de Tocqueville’s proceed to this excellent, dynamic, bi- life today, that was the formative mo- day, Americans in many ways, big and partisan bill called the Serve America ment. That was the demarcation point small, are looking for opportunities to Act. that excited many of us about public do more for their country. Last year, 62 Madam President, in November, peo- service and brought a lot of us into this million Americans gave 8 billion hours ple voted for us to change the tone in arena. of service to the country. Last month, this country and change the direction It is particularly fitting that this AmeriCorps had tripled the number of and to work on a bipartisan basis to legislation comes at a time when a new applications over the same month as a find that sensible center that Colin President is inspiring a whole new era year ago. I note that my own kids who Powell has so often talked about, to of volunteerism, much as President graduated recently from college com- meet America’s compelling needs and Kennedy did nearly half a century ago. mented to me how so many of their challenges. It is equally fitting and appropriate classmates in college were all engaged Now, we are not going to turn the that this legislation bears the name of in some kind of local activity, not nec- economy around quickly, and we are our friend and beloved colleague, my essarily fighting on the national stage, not going to solve some of our great senior Senator from Massachusetts, but they were involved mentoring kids foreign policy challenges immediately. TED KENNEDY. As President Obama ob- or helping in a homeless shelter. In- But we can embark upon a major ini- served in his first address to Congress, deed, many of our colleges and univer- tiative to be able to meet compelling Senator KENNEDY is ‘‘an American who sities across the country boast unbe- human needs in our society. has never stopped asking what he can lievably high percentages of volunta- We have a bipartisan effort, crafted do for his country.’’ It was under Sen- rism. by Senators KENNEDY and HATCH, to do

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:55 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\S23MR9.REC S23MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE S3600 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 23, 2009 exactly that. It is a bipartisan measure Madam President, I yield the floor. Senate the pending cloture motion, to strengthen service and volunteer op- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- which the clerk will report. portunities. It expands opportunities ator from Utah. The bill clerk read as follows: Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I for individuals of all ages to serve. Its CLOTURE MOTION passage is important now, when so thank the distinguished Senator from Maryland. She has played such a piv- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- many communities are struggling with ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the so many pressing problems and so otal role on this bill, she and Senator Standing Rules of the Senate, hereby move many people want to serve. ENZI in particular. And, of course, Sen- to bring to a close debate on the motion to This act invites many more Ameri- ator KENNEDY and I both feel very proceed to Calendar No. 35, H.R. 1388, a bill cans to give a year of service to solve deeply toward her and Senator ENZI. to reauthorize and reform the national serv- specific challenges in the areas of edu- I also want to thank Pastor Rick ice laws. cation, healthy futures, clean energy, Warren. A little over a year ago, he Harry Reid, Barbara A. Mikulski, Bar- even helping our veterans. When they came to see me in my office. He heard bara Boxer, Tom Harkin, Daniel K. I was interested in doing a service in Akaka, Tom Udall, Patty Murray, Pat- come back from overseas, they are rick J. Leahy, Bernard Sanders, Shel- going to have somebody to be with America bill, and he came and went over it with me and was very inter- don Whitehouse, Christopher J. Dodd, them to get connected to the services Jon Tester, Mark R. Warner, Robert P. and to help those military families ested and has done a great deal to in- Casey, Jr., Benjamin L. Cardin, while they are serving abroad. spire a number of us on both sides of Blanche L. Lincoln, Kent Conrad. the floor to be able to do some things We can do this by passing this legis- The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- lation. It expands the number of na- in this area. I also want to thank JOHN MCCAIN. I imous consent, the mandatory quorum tional service corps participants to call is waived. 250,000 a year. But we do that over a 7- have mentioned President Obama and Senator MCCAIN, both of whom are sup- The question is, Is it the sense of the year period. We will be able, through porters of this bill. And you talk about Senate that debate on the motion to prudent pacing of both recruitment and bipartisanship—I think it shows the proceed to H.R. 1388, a bill to reauthor- funding, to do it over a 7-year period. great character of Senator MCCAIN ize and reform the national service It also increased the Eli Segal Edu- laws, shall be brought to a close? cation Award from $4,725 to $5,350, peg- that he would come and support this type of legislation and, as he is want to The yeas and nays are mandatory ging it to Pell grants, helping those do, in so many ways. I have such re- under the rule. who want to serve be able to reduce spect for him and for the President The clerk will call the roll. their student debt or to get a voucher himself. He has been nothing but a The bill clerk called the roll. to be able to pursue higher education. It supports increased service opportu- great help to us in this matter. Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Like I say, this is an opportunity for nities for students, particularly very Senator from Alaska (Mr. BEGICH), the all of us to vote for a program that will young people in the Learn and Serve Senator from California (Mrs. BOXER), get people involved from teenage years the Senator from Iowa (Mr. HARKIN), Program, and middle and high school through senior citizen years, the vast students through a summer of service the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. INOUYE), majority of whom will not be paid a the Senator from Louisiana (Ms. and a semester of service. dime, the vast majority of whom will It also recruits retirees. Many retir- LANDRIEU), the Senator from Florida be leveraged into working because they ees are ready, able, and willing to be (Mr. NELSON), the Senator from Arkan- want to serve the communities. They involved through Senior Corps pro- sas (Mr. PRYOR) are necessarily absent. want to serve these organizations. I further announce that, if present grams—RSVP, Senior Companions, and They want to be part of doing good. Foster Grandparents. and voting, the Senator from Iowa (Mr. Like I say, with 75,000 for HARKIN) would vote ‘‘yea.’’ We have a program called Encore AmeriCorps, and some of the others we Fellowships to help retirees participate Mr. KYL. The following Senators are have mentioned, we estimate there are necessarily absent: the Senator from in longer term public service. It also 2.2 million people, extrapolated out, Texas (Mr. CORNYN), the Senator from supports international service opportu- who basically are leveraged out, to Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), the Senator from nities. Senator HATCH is too modest to where they want to get involved, and Florida (Mr. MARTINEZ), and the Sen- talk about his own fine hand in this not one of them is paid for doing it. ator from Louisiana (Mr. VITTER). bill, but he has offered an excellent If we figure it out mathematically, in suggestion that has been incorporated. just real terms, with this bill, calling Further, if present and voting, the It strengthens the current Volunteers for 175,000 new workers, at low pay, sti- Senator from Texas (Mr. CORNYN) for Prosperity Program, which enables pends for school, we believe we will would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ people who are retired, who have skills have upwards of 7 million-plus people The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there in business, public works, engineering, who will be giving voluntary service to any other Senators in the Chamber de- et cetera, to provide short-term inter- their fellow human beings, fellow siring to vote? national service opportunities in devel- women and men, in their communities The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 74, oping nations. and children in their communities. It nays 14, as follows: This is what America is all about. De will do so much good for our society. [Rollcall Vote No. 108 Leg.] Tocqueville, when he studied our Na- Madam President, I have worked on a YEAS—74 tion, said: What is unique about this lot of legislation in my 33 years here, a Akaka Dorgan Lincoln new country called America? Well, he number of which happen to be land- Alexander Durbin Lugar called it the ‘‘habits of the heart,’’ mark pieces of legislation. We should Barrasso Feingold McCain where neighbor helps neighbor, wheth- pass this, and I hope we can with a Baucus Feinstein McCaskill Bayh Gillibrand er it was the barn raising of another large majority. Should we pass this? I Menendez Bennet Graham Merkley era, to also building Habitat for Hu- don’t know anything that will do more Bennett Grassley Mikulski manity here. good in a general way for our society Bingaman Gregg Murkowski Bond Hagan We need to harvest all of that good- Murray than this particular bill. Brown Hatch Nelson (NE) will and good intention to help turn I hope everybody will vote for cloture Burr Hutchison Reed our country around. I believe the Serve tonight. I also hope we can pass this Burris Isakson Reid America Act does this. We will be de- bill in a relatively short period of time, Byrd Johanns Cantwell Johnson Rockefeller bating this legislation further tomor- and I hope we can make it truly bipar- Cardin Kaufman Sanders row. I encourage people to vote yes on tisan in every way. We have endeav- Carper Kennedy Schumer the cloture motion to proceed. I en- ored to do that. I think we have done a Casey Kerry Shaheen Snowe courage all who have amendments to good job on it. Chambliss Klobuchar Cochran Kohl Specter come forward tonight and tomorrow I yield the floor. Collins Lautenberg Stabenow morning so we can move it and get the CLOTURE MOTION Conrad Leahy Tester job done. That is what the people want The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Corker Levin Udall (CO) us to do. to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Dodd Lieberman Udall (NM)

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So don’t be sur- NOT VOTING—11 just a few chains that are speaking prised that this is the nature of Amer- Begich Harkin Nelson (FL) publicly against the price increases Boxer Inouye Pryor ica’s farmers, ranchers, and entre- pushed on them by Kellogg’s, General Cornyn Landrieu Vitter preneurs. They do things because of the Mills, Kraft, Nestle, and others. An ar- Enzi Martinez intrinsic value to our country and to ticle in the Los Angeles Times as re- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. WAR- our economy, whether it is a fad on the cently as March 2 stated: NER). On this vote, the yeas are 74, the east coast or not. Our large grocery companies operating in nays are 14. Three-fifths of the Sen- I happen to think it is great that Southern California have seen the wholesale ators duly chosen and sworn having there is a newfound zeal for creating price for a carton of Kellogg’s Corn Pops rise voted in the affirmative, the motion is renewable resources here at home. I about 17 percent since June, despite a 52 per- agreed to. have been supporting our domestic re- cent plunge in corn prices from their peak Mr. REED. I move to reconsider the newable fuels industry for nearly 30 this month. vote, and I move to lay that motion on years as a means to reduce our depend- The chief executive for Safeway was the table. ence on volatile nations for our energy, quoted as saying: mostly for petroleum. I have been pro- The motion to lay on the table was It is disingenuous to consumers that all agreed to. moting clean wind energy since I fa- commodity costs are coming down, interest Mr. REED. Mr. President, I suggest thered the wind energy tax credit back rates coming down, everything is coming the absence of a quorum. in 1992. I am pleased to see the success down, and the national brands are taking The PRESIDING OFFICER. The and the support wind energy now re- their prices up. clerk will call the roll. ceives because of my tax incentive. The chief executive of SuperValu de- The bill clerk proceeded to call the I hope my colleagues who tout the scribed the situation as a ‘‘battle- roll. benefits today of the so-called green ground’’ with manufacturers right now Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask jobs fully realize the contribution the over prices. unanimous consent that the order for domestic ethanol and biodiesel indus- I am pleased to see others in the food the quorum call be rescinded. tries have been making for years in chain call on these food producers to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without this area. Farmers across this country lower prices in light of the large drop objection, it is so ordered. produced more than 9 billion gallons of in commodity prices, but this isn’t the Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask homegrown renewable fuels last year. reason I came to speak today. I would unanimous consent to speak as in Ethanol production displaced 321 mil- like to take just a few more minutes to morning business. lion barrels of oil last year. That is the share with my colleagues another as- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without equivalent of our imports from Ven- sault that is taking place on biofuels. objection, it is so ordered. ezuela for 10 months. The use of 9 bil- GREEN JOBS lion gallons of ethanol saved American In the 2007 Energy Independence and Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, in re- consumers $32 billion last year. Security Act, Congress enacted and ex- cent weeks and months, a new phrase Yet even with this success, our farm- panded a renewable fuels standard to has been born that has gained in popu- ers and the biofuel industry have been greatly increase the production and use larity and support. The new phrase under constant attack—at least con- of biofuels. A component of that renew- that is so in vogue in the Halls of Con- stant attack over the last 2 years. In a able fuels standard was a requirement gress and at the other end of Pennsyl- high-priced public relations smear that various biofuels meet specified life vania Avenue is ‘‘green jobs.’’ campaign, the food manufacturers and cycle greenhouse gas emission reduc- I have no fault with the term. Every- the Grocery Manufacturers Association tion targets. The law specified that life one wants to create green-collar jobs. have tried tirelessly to denigrate the cycle greenhouse gas emissions are to Green jobs are believed to be a critical efforts of our farmers. In a baseless include direct emissions and signifi- component of getting us out of the eco- campaign, they tried to blame the eth- cantly indirect emissions from indirect nomic doldrums in which we find our- anol industry for raising food prices, land use changes. This means that the selves. A new White House middle-class even though corn makes up about a emissions from planting, growing, and task force recently focused on the cre- nickel of the cost of a box of Corn harvesting the feedstock to the produc- ation of green jobs as a means of fuel- Flakes. The grocery manufacturers tion of biofuels must be included in the ing our economy and creating jobs for thought they found a weak link in the calculation. It also means that the En- the middle class. Vice President BIDEN food chain that they could target and vironmental Protection Agency must has defined a green job as one that pro- scapegoat as a culprit behind the rising determine and must measure the vides products and services that use re- cost of food. It was clearly proven that greenhouse gas impacts if there is a newable energy resources, reduces pol- the cost of energy had a significantly significant conversion of forest or prai- lution, and conserves energy and nat- greater impact on food prices than did rie-to-tillable land because of our ural resources. other commodity costs. biofuel policies. I don’t disagree that the creation of The fact is, the ones responsible for For the past few months, the Envi- these types of jobs is a very worthy the high cost of food are the companies ronmental Protection Agency has been ambition. This newfound desire for so- whose names stare back at us as we go working on what we call a rule- called green jobs has led me to remind through the grocery stores and super- making—notice of proposed rule- my colleagues of an existing industry markets, and they have never hidden making—to implement the updated re- that is making great strides to reduce their motive during this smear cam- newable fuels standard. While it hasn’t pollution, conserve natural resources, paign. It was stated clearly at the time been finalized or made public, there are and contribute significantly to our the smear campaign was started that it great concerns about this rule within economy. was about ‘‘protecting our bottom the biofuels industry surrounding the The U.S. renewable fuels industry line.’’ science behind indirect land use has been creating good paying jobs in Consumers are still seeing the impact changes. And, of course, when you rural America for years. It has been 30 of that pocket lining by big food com- think of the Environmental Protection years since a tax incentive for ethanol panies while commodity prices have Agency, isn’t science what EPA is all was passed and 17 years since I fathered dropped by half since their highs last about? the wind energy tax credit. These al- summer. But food prices are still at President Obama, during his Presi- ternative energies have been producing record highs. Even the price of oil has dential campaign and as President

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Special interests have overshadowed com- should not result in new forests or Several of us in the Senate are trying mon sense. grassland conversion in the United to get the Environmental Protection Well, I would encourage President States or abroad. Let’s look at the Uni- Agency to wake up and reconsider Obama and his staff to take a close versity of Nebraska. A peer-review some of their thoughts. Last week I look at what the EPA is doing in this study conducted there and published in had the opportunity to join my Iowa rulemaking process called a notice of the Yale Journal of Industrial Ecology colleague, Senator HARKIN, as well as proposed rulemaking on renewable found similar conclusions. They con- 10 other Senators, in appealing to EPA fuels standards. There are a couple of cluded that corn ethanol emits 51 per- Administrator Lisa Jackson to be cau- people in the EPA’s Office of Air and cent less greenhouse gases than gaso- tious on this issue and as doctors would Radiation who firmly believe—do you line. A third study, conducted by Glob- say about medicine: First do no harm. believe this?—they can quantify the in- al Insight, found that it is virtually Because of the incomplete and lim- direct land use changes that result impossible to accurately ascribe green- ited science, we urge in our letter from our biofuels policies. I am afraid house gas impacts on indirect land use against any premature and, of course, that the bureaucrats at the Environ- changes to biofuels. inaccurate conclusions on indirect land mental Protection Agency are going There are a number of assumptions use changes. Instead, the EPA should down a path of blaming our biofuel pro- that can affect the conclusion about in- move forward by allowing for public re- ducers for land use changes around the direct land use changes. With any view and refinement of the method- globe, and specifically even outside of model, if you put garbage in, you will ology that they have developed. I am the United States. get garbage out, and I want to make afraid the climate folks at EPA are The fact is, measuring indirect emis- sure the EPA isn’t putting garbage in. heading in the wrong direction on this sions of greenhouse gas reduction is far I want to make sure they know yields issue. I do not think they are bad peo- from a perfect science, and dozens of per acre for corn have doubled between ple, but I am afraid they do not under- credible scientists agree. There is a 1970 and today. I want EPA to know stand much about American agri- great deal of complexity and uncer- that nitrogen fertilizer used per acre culture. I do not think they are aware has been declining since 1985. The Envi- tainty surrounding this issue. One of the significant crop yield improve- ronmental Protection Agency also study last year claimed that biofuels, ments we have seen in recent years or needs to know that the ethanol indus- as a result of these indirect impacts, the great potential for the next 20 try today is vastly more efficient than actually led to greater emissions and years. it was just a few years ago. Ethanol greenhouse gas emissions than did gas- I will just give my own farming oper- producers use one-fifth less energy oline. This conclusion defies common ation as an example. In 1959, when I today than they did just 8 years ago. sense. Under careful scrutiny, credible started farming, we were raising, on More fuel is being produced from the scientists on the other side disproved average, about 60 bushels of corn per same amount or even less land. acre. It happened that the first year I these conclusions, and I want to quote The California Air Resource Board is some. farmed I produced considerably less also trying to grasp this issue. They than that amount, but eventually, Dr. Wang of the Department of Ener- are developing a low carbon fuel stand- gy’s Argonne National Laboratory re- within 15 years, this farmer, as well as ard which is penalizing biofuels with an the Iowa average, had gone to about 90 plied to these assertions by stating: indirect land use change. On March 2, There has also been no indication that the bushels of corn per acre. 2009, to counteract this, 111 scientists Last year, in my county, we raised United States corn ethanol production has so sent a letter to California Governor far caused indirect land use changes in other 175 bushels of corn per acre. During countries, because U.S. corn exports have Schwarzenegger on this very matter. that period of time, we went from till- been maintained at about 2 billion bushels a The scientists are from leading re- ing the field probably six or seven year, and because U.S. distillers’ grain ex- search labs such as Sandia, Lawrence times over to produce a crop to now a ports have steadily increased in the past 10 Berkeley, and the National Academy of point where we are only tilling the years. Sciences, as well as leading edu- field once or twice before harvest. In May I add that really what EPA— cational institutions, including MIT, each of these processes, we are pro- through indirect land use—is talking UCLA, Michigan State, and Iowa State. ducing more corn, we are producing it about here, in the most common de- Scientists criticized the California Air more efficiently, and at the same time nominator, is they figure that because Resource Board for proposing a regula- we have an abundance. Iowa or Missouri or Minnesota or Illi- tion that alleges an indirect price-in- When I started farming, farmers were nois corn producers are growing corn, duced land conversion effect around producing about enough food for 44 and some of it is going into ethanol, the globe caused by a demand for agri- other people. A family farmer today that someplace down in Brazil, farmers cultural production and biofuels. produces enough food for 140 other peo- are just sitting around trying to cal- In other words, they said in this offi- ple. culate and are going to plow up acre cial report what I just said: There isn’t I think we have made great progress, for acre the amount of land that is some Brazilian farmer just sitting but I am not sure EPA understands the maybe being used for production of around nervously awaiting whether he efficiency of the American farmer ethanol at this point. Well, I think the can plow up another acre of grassland today and for sure they do not under- practical matter is that just isn’t hap- in Brazil just because some more eth- stand that people in Brazil are not just pening, and that is exactly what Dr. anol is being used out of products we sitting around, seeing how they can Wang is saying here. And if that were grow here. take advantage of the fact that Amer- the case, what can the farmers of our The letter of these 111 scientists sent ican farmers might be producing some country do about it? Are we going to be to Governor Schwarzenegger stated: of their crop for sustainable energy at the point where something that hap- The ability to predict this alleged effect production in this country as opposed pens in some other country is going to depends on using an economic model to pre- to importing more oil. affect our policy here in the United dict worldwide carbon effects, and the out- comes are unusually sensitive to the assump- I also do not think these people fully States as to what we can grow and tions made by the researchers conducting understand the benefits of valuable what we can use that crop for? I don’t the model run. In addition, this field of ethanol byproducts, which further re- think that is a credible position to science is in its nascent stage, is controver- duce the effective land used for fuel take. sial in much of the scientific community, production. Now, I quoted one study, but there and is only being enforced against biofuels. Along this line, do they understand are a number of credible studies that The two primary conclusions of these that when you take a bushel of corn to have demonstrated that our biofuel scientists are that science surrounding make 3 gallons of ethanol that corn is

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Given my background on oversight, I bill contains an appropriations rider To me, it defies common sense that was supportive of some of the state- that states that no appropriation shall the EPA would publish a proposed rule- ments President Obama made as a can- be available to pay the salary of any making with harmful conclusions didate with respect to transparency officer or employee of the Federal Gov- about biofuels based on incomplete and openness in Government. A docu- ernment: science and inaccurate assumptions ment on the Obama campaign Web site Attempts or threatens to prohibit or pre- and especially in light of President titled, ‘‘Restoring Trust in Govern- vent, any other officer or employee of the Obama’s commitment to use sound ment and Improving Transparency,’’ Federal Government from having any direct oral or written communication or contact science in decisionmaking by the bu- outlined ethics and contracting reform, with any Member, committee, or sub- reaucracy carrying out the laws we and included a statement that: committee of the Congress. pass. The Environmental Protection Obama will sign legislation in the light of This rider was first included in appro- Agency’s action, if based on erroneous day without attaching signing statements priations bills in 1997 and has been in- that undermine legislative intent. land-use assumptions, could hinder cluded in appropriations bills since. It biofuel development and extend Amer- Candidate Obama further discussed is a strong signal to all agencies that ica’s dependence upon dirtier fossil signing statements during a campaign efforts to block federal employees from fuels from parts of the world that are speech where he said that his adminis- coming to Congress won’t be tolerated. not very stable. tration was ‘‘not going to use signing However, the applicability of this Agricultural practices and land-use statements as a way of doing an end rider is now in question given the sign- decisions in other countries are not run around Congress.’’ A video of that ing statement issued by President driven by U.S. biofuel policies. In other speech is available online for all to see. Obama. His signing statement, in perti- words, there is no Brazilian farmer sit- I was also encouraged by candidate nent part, stated that this provision ting around in Brazil, waiting to see Obama’s promises to protect employees does not: what Iowa farmers are going to do with in the Federal Government who blow detract from [his] authority to direct the their corn—for food or export or for the whistle on fraud, waste, and abuse. heads of executive departments to supervise, fuel. Even if they were, we have no ac- In yet another campaign document, control, and correct employees’ communica- curate way to measure it scientifically candidate Obama stated that he would tions with Congress. and we need to ensure that in that ‘‘strengthen whistleblower laws to pro- This statement is shocking. It ac- measurement, biofuels get credit for tect Federal workers who expose waste, knowledges that President Obama en- these increased efficiencies of produc- fraud, and abuse of authority in gov- visions a scenario where he would order tion—of the basic commodity as well as ernment.’’ That statement was posted a Cabinet Secretary to supervise, con- the increase in efficiency producing the on the Change.gov Web site of the trol, and correct statements made by ethanol. Obama Transition Team for all to see. employees to Congress. President Obama was, and as far as I It was a welcome message to the em- Worse yet, the signing statement know is still, a strong proponent of our ployees of the executive branch that goes further to add that this authority domestic biofuels industry and he espe- risk their careers and stick their necks would be used when employee commu- cially was during his time in the Sen- out to alert Congress, inspectors Gen- nications would be ‘‘unlawful or would ate. I know he recognizes the benefit of eral, and the public about fraud, waste, reveal information that is properly producing homegrown renewable fuels, and abuse in Government agencies and privileged or otherwise confidential.’’ I want to emphasize that word ‘‘con- and I doubt he would agree with the programs. fidential,’’ because you will hear about conclusion that biofuels emit the same These employees, also known as whistleblowers, often do nothing more that in just a minute. or more lifecycle greenhouse gas emis- While other Presidents have objected sions as does gasoline. than ‘‘commit truth,’’ and for it they are shunned by their agencies, cowork- to this appropriations rider in the past, I hope the EPA will reconsider its President Obama’s signing statement conclusions on this or not hastily draw ers, friends, and government. My col- leagues have all heard me say time and is even more problematic than those conclusions. because it states that he has the au- again that whistleblowers are as wel- f thority to not only restrict privileged come as a skunk at a Sunday picnic. material, but also ‘‘confidential’’ infor- WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS These patriot individuals believe that Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, dur- mation. Government can do better for its citi- By failing to define ‘‘confidential,’’ ing the height of the Presidential cam- zens. They risk everything to make President Obama has given a blank paign, President Obama made a num- sure that laws are faithfully executed check to executive branch agencies to ber of high profile statements and as they were intended and let Congress block communications with Congress promises about what actions he would know when something is not working related to an undefined, broad category take once he was elected and sworn in. and needs fixing. Some of the most im- of information. These promises outlined a number of portant reforms to our laws have come Understand, it is a constitutional important issues such as closing the re- from whistleblowers, be it reforming power and responsibility of this Con- volving door for lobbyists in the execu- our national security and law enforce- gress to oversee, as part of our checks tive branch, ending the use of no-bid ment coordination following the tragic and balances of our Constitution, the contracts, and curbing the influence of events of 9/11, or ensuring we have agencies of Government to make sure special interests, to name just a few. clean water to drink. laws are faithfully executed, as the Over the years, I have been an out- Given Candidate Obama’s promise to Constitution requires, and as money is spoken supporter of legislation that not use signing statements to cir- spent according to Congress. would make the Government more cumvent the legislative intent of Con- Even the New York Times noted transparent and open. I have authored gress and his pledge to support whistle- President Obama’s signing statement and supported a number of bills that blowers, I was shocked to read the includes ‘‘one somewhat unclear objec- would open the Government up and signing statement he issued on the Om- tion’’ that ‘‘could be read as bumping make it more accountable to the citi- nibus apprropriations bill that was up against the rights of executive zens. In particular I have been strong signed into law on March 11. Not only branch whistle-blowers.’’ Because, in advocate for whistleblowers. Most im- did President Obama’s action run con- our constitutional responsibility, we portantly, I have always pushed the trary to his promise not to use signing have to rely upon people in the execu- Government to be accountable by con- statements to circumvent the intent of tive branch to tell us when the job isn’t ducting vigorous oversight of the Fed- Congress, he also appears to have bro- being done according to the Constitu- eral bureaucracy regardless of which ken his promise to strengthen whistle- tion or according to law. party controls Congress or the White blower laws by singling out an impor- So I want to go further than what the House. I have been an equal oppor- tant whistleblower protection provi- New York Times said and say: It does

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