October 31, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 153, Pt. 21 28803 ago—and authorizes full federal fund- number of gay people at the gas sta- ing up for their health and welfare as ing of necessary repairs and upgrades. tion, using antigay epithets. Some of they face health challenges that some- The Amtrak bill also authorizes the the man’s behavior is caught on sur- times last a lifetime. They do a very formation of a commission to oversee veillance tapes at the station. The vic- difficult job and we must do everything the operation and maintenance of the tim and his friend began to walk back possible to assure they have all the Northeast Corridor. The commission to the bar after a short stay at the gas support necessary so that they can will include Amtrak, the Federal Rail- station and were followed by the men continue to be there when the next road Administration, and each state in the vehicle. As they walked by the threat presents itself. along the route. I am pleased that bar, the man who appeared intoxicated f Rhode Island will have a voice in fu- shot at them four or five times, grazing SOMALIA ture planning for a resource so vital to the victim with a bullet that had rico- us. cheted off the building. While Georgia Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I In addition to funding operations and does not have a hate crime law, the have come to this floor many times capital improvements, the Amtrak bill shooting is being investigated as an over the years to urge increased U.S. also addresses the congestion experi- antigay incident. attention and resources to Somalia. enced on so many of the system’s I believe that the Government’s first Meanwhile, the United States and the routes. By law, Amtrak passenger duty is to defend its citizens, to defend international community at large have trains have the right of way over pri- them against the harms that come out continued to respond sporadically and vate freight trains, but this preference of hate. The Matthew Shepard Act is a clumsily to the steady deterioration of is often ignored. The bill the Senate symbol that can become substance. I Somalia’s security, humanitarian, and passed today permits the Surface believe that by passing this legislation political situations. In January, I said Transportation Board to assess fines and changing current law, we can that we had only a very limited win- against non-compliant freight rail- change hearts and minds as well. dow to establish the conditions nec- roads and to distribute damages to Am- f essary for stability in Somalia and the trak. Congestion has increased in re- volatile Horn of Africa region, but I FIRES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA cent years, especially along the North- fear that opportunity may soon be lost. 2007 east Corridor, and this provision should Events over the past few days suggest lead to fewer and shorter delays for Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, over the that strong but inclusive leadership is passengers. past 2 weeks, residents of San needed now if Somalia is to avoid the Finally, let us celebrate a piece of Bernardino, San Diego, Orange, Los worst descent into chaos of its tumul- good Rhode Island news—I have been Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, and Santa tuous history. informed that the escalators in the Barbara counties in southern Cali- This weekend saw a massive setback Providence train station, which have fornia have faced some of the most hor- in Somalia’s security and humani- been broken and covered with dust rific wildland fires in California’s re- tarian situation as a fresh outbreak of since early 2005, are scheduled to be re- corded history. At one point, as many fighting which aid workers describe as opened and in service by the week of as 1 million Californians were forced the worst violence in months—forced November 12. from their homes and communities by tens of thousands more Somalis from I congratulate Senators FRANK LAU- flames driven by Santa Ana winds of up their homes in Mogadishu. Most of TENBERG of New Jersey and TRENT to 100 miles per hour. these people are seeking refuge in com- LOTT of Mississippi on the passage of To date, 14 people have lost their munities whose coping capacities are this critical piece of legislation. I also lives, almost 3,000 structures, two- already at the breaking point due to want to recognize the contributions of thirds of them homes, have been de- the strain of providing food, water, pro- Rhode Island’s own Senator JACK REED, stroyed and more than 500,000 acres tection, shelter, and basic services to who has been a strong and constant ad- have burned. Over 100 people have been more than 300,000 existing internally vocate for Amtrak. The new resources injured, some seriously. The con- displaced persons. Some of the newly and clear development plan outlined in sequences to people’s lives will be long displaced have fled to areas where this bill reaffirm Congress’s commit- term, and we will do everything we can there is little or no access by humani- ment to passenger rail service in the to bring comfort to victims and regen- tarian agencies. United States. eration to affected communities. Forty of these aid organizations that f Throughout these fires, which are are operating against all odds in Soma- only now being subdued, thousands of lia released a statement yesterday MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT OF 2007 firefighters, mostly Californians, but highlighting the dramatic deteriora- Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I wish to some from other States, have been on tion of the humanitarian situation and speak about the need for hate crimes the front lines working around the their increasing inability to effectively legislation. Each Congress, Senator clock to defeat the fires. They have respond due to security and access con- KENNEDY and I introduce hate crimes been tireless and fearless. We owe these straints. They are calling on the inter- legislation that would add new cat- California firefighters, and those who national community and all parties to egories to current hate crimes law, traveled across the country, our deep- the present conflict to demonstrate a sending a signal that violence of any est thanks and appreciation. Whether commitment to protect civilians, to fa- kind is unacceptable in our society. it was saving the lives of people in the cilitate the delivery of aid, and to re- Likewise, each Congress I have come to path of the flames, or making a stand spect humanitarian space and the safe- the floor to highlight a separate hate to protect a neighborhood or a whole ty of humanitarian workers. I want to crime that has occurred in our coun- town, these brave men and women were take this moment to honor the coura- try. there selflessly doing their duty. geous individuals and their sponsoring In the early hours of October 19, 2007, CalFire, the California National Guard, organizations for their persistent serv- a 28-year-old man was shot at allegedly county and local fire agencies worked ice to the innocent civilians most af- because of his sexual orientation. The tirelessly to get the job done. fected by the ongoing instability in So- victim and a friend left a gay bar in Thankfully, there has been no loss of malia and to echo their appeal for con- Midtown Atlanta, GA, for a gas station firefighter lives, though several of our certed action to support their work and down the street at about 3 a.m. At that firefighters were injured, and to them I the broader objective of peace for So- time, a sport utility vehicle with three send my best wishes for a full recovery. malia. men inside pulled into the gas station’s I hope that today we all can recog- Amidst this dark backdrop there is a parking lot. One of the vehicle’s pas- nize our firefighters’ valor and stead- glimmer of hope for progress. On Mon- sengers was allegedly intoxicated and fastness in the face of the threat. We day, the embattled Foreign Minister of complaining to customers about the must also commit ourselves to stand- Somalia’s fragile transitional federal

VerDate Mar 15 2010 14:18 Aug 24, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0685 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\S31OC7.001 S31OC7 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with BOUND RECORD 28804 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 153, Pt. 21 October 31, 2007 government, Ali Mohamed Gedi, re- lege of hosting a reception in the Sen- the Nation’s foremost research centers signed amid feverish political infight- ate’s Mansfield Room to honor and wel- for established and emerging scholars ing. Since its formation 3 years ago, come Dr. Faust. A number of our col- in all disciplines, and still maintaining the TFG has suffered from a lack of leagues attended as well, and we all its special and long-standing role in public legitimacy due to its inability look forward to working with Dr. the study of women, gender and soci- to effectively represent and provide se- Faust, especially on higher education ety. curity and services to the Somali peo- issues, in the years ahead. As Dr. Faust has said, our shared en- ple. The appointment of a new Prime Dr. Faust is obviously an excellent terprise now, as people connected to Minister is likely to be the last chance choice by Harvard. She grew up in the Harvard, is to make the future of this for this transitional government to re- Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and at- extraordinary university even more re- store some credibility and move for- tended Concord Academy in Massachu- markable than its past. And with the ward with political reconciliation. I en- setts. After earning her BA from Bryn distinguished leadership of Dr. Faust, courage all parties to seize this oppor- Mawr College, she continued her edu- there is no doubt it will be. tunity for progress towards a solution cation at the University of Pennsyl- I still remember the old inscription to the country’s deepening crisis. vania, where she earned her M.A. and on the Dexter Gate in Harvard Yard: In January, I warned that without Ph.D. in American civilization and ‘‘Enter to grow in wisdom. Depart to concerted international and national served on the faculty there for 26 years, serve better thy country and all man- action, Somalia could deteriorate into earning wide renown as a leading histo- kind.’’ I am sure President Faust will what it has been since the early 1990s— rian of the Civil War and the American give new power to these words in our a haven for terrorists and warlords and South. In 2001 she became the first day and generation. a source of crippling instability in a dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Ad- I wish President Faust well as she as- critical region. But as tensions be- vanced Study at Harvard, and was ap- sumes this extraordinary responsi- tween Ethiopia and Eritrea rise once pointed as Harvard’s Abraham Lincoln bility, and I believe all of us in Con- again, the ongoing humanitarian needs Professor of History. gress will be interested in her eloquent of civilians in the Ogaden region of Her scholarship has been focused on and inspiring address on the historic Ethiopia reach international attention, the past, but almost from the begin- occasion of her inauguration. It is an and the Comprehensive Peace Agree- ning she has been committed as well to auspicious new beginning for Harvard, ment in Sudan stands on extremely solving the problems of the present and and I ask unanimous consent that her fragile ground, I fear that our failure making the world a better place for the address be printed in the RECORD. to protect civilians, defeat extremists, future. and build conditions for stability in So- As a child in Virginia, she was ap- There being no objection, the mate- malia could result in an even more dis- palled by the racism in her own com- rial was ordered to be printed in the astrous outcome with consequences munity. At the age of nine, she wrote a RECORD, as follows: that extend far beyond the porous bor- letter to President Eisenhower oppos- UNLEASHING OUR MOST AMBITIOUS IMAGININGS ders of this besieged nation. We cannot ing segregation. (Inaugural Address of President Drew Gilpin afford to squander this chance for In high school, she went to Eastern Faust as President of Harvard University, progress towards peace. Europe one summer and spent week- Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 12, 2007) f ends volunteering in a program to help the poor. She was elected senior class I stand honored by your trust, inspired by INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF DREW president and was so widely respected your charge. I am grateful to the Governing GILPIN FAUST that the school’s new headmaster Boards for their confidence, and I thank all Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a sought her advice about the school. of you for gathering in these festival rites. I privilege to draw the attention of my In her freshman year at Bryn Mawr am indebted to my three predecessors, sit- colleagues to the inauguration earlier College, she was outraged when peace- ting behind me, for joining me today. But I ful protesters against segregation in am grateful to them for much more—for all this month of Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust as that they have given to Harvard and for the 28th president of Harvard Univer- Selma were brutally clubbed and what each of them has generously given to sity. gassed by the police—so she skipped me—advice, wisdom, support. I am touched Unfortunately, because of my recent her midterm exams to go there and by the greetings from staff, faculty, stu- surgery, I was not able to attend the join the protest. dents, alumni, universities, from our honor- ceremony, but I read with great inter- At the University of Pennsylvania, able Governor, and from the remarkable est the eloquent and inspring address she dedicated much of her time and en- John Hope Franklin, who has both lived and of Dr. Faust at that ceremony. ergy to the cause of women in aca- written history. I am grateful to the commu- Dr. Faust, an historian of the Civil demic life. She chaired the university’s nity leaders from Boston and Cambridge who have come to welcome their new neighbor. I War and former dean of the Radcliffe Women’s Studies Program, and worked am a little stunned to see almost every per- Institute, made history herself by be- skillfully to see that women candidates son I am related to on earth sitting in the coming the first woman to serve as for the faculty were considered fully front rows. And I would like to offer a spe- president of this outstanding univer- and fairly. cial greeting of my own to my teachers who sity. Through it all, Dr. Faust won well- are here—teachers from grade school, high Others who spoke on this occasion in- deserved renown for her scholarship. school, college and graduate school—who cluded our Massachusetts Governor, She became one of the Nation’s pre- taught me to love learning and the institu- Deval Patrick, historian John Hope eminent historians of the South, bring- tions that nurture it. Franklin, University of Pennsylvania ing new light to topics such as planta- We gather for a celebration a bit different tion agriculture and the life of south- from our June traditions. Commencement is president Amy Gutmann, where Dr. an annual rite of passage for thousands of Faust spent much of her brilliant ca- ern intellectuals. Her landmark 1996 graduates; today marks a rite of passage for reer, and author Tony Morrison. book, ‘‘Mothers of Invention,’’ made the University. As at Commencement, we Present also were three of Dr. Faust’s her the first to demonstrate that don robes that mark our ties to the most an- distinguished predecessors, Derek Bok, women had a significant impact on the cient traditions of scholarship. On this occa- Neil Rudenstine, and Lawrence Sum- outcome of the Civil War. For that pio- sion, however, our procession includes not mers, as well as distinguished rep- neering study, she received the Francis just our Harvard community, but scholars— resentatives of other major colleges Parkman Prize for the year’s best work 220 of them—representing universities and and universities in the United States of history. colleges from across the country and around the world. I welcome and thank our visitors, and throughout the world. For the past 7 years, Dr. Faust has for their presence reminds us that what we Last month, Senator DOLE, Congress- been the ‘‘mother of invention’’ at the do here today, and what we do at Harvard man PETRI, Congressman FRANK, Con- Radcliffe Institute, skillfully guiding every day, links us to universities and soci- gressman CAPUANO, and I had the privi- Radcliffe’s transformation into one of eties around the globe.

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