January 4, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 153, Pt. 1 267 CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF EXPENDITURE OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES AND APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL BY MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. SENATE, UNDER AUTHORITY OF SEC. 22, P.L. 95–384—22 U.S.C. 1754(b), PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE FOR TRAVEL FROM AUG. 5 TO AUG. 13, 2006

Per diem Transportation Miscellaneous Total U.S. dollar U.S. dollar U.S. dollar U.S. dollar Name and country Name of currency Foreign equivalent Foreign equivalent Foreign equivalent Foreign equivalent currency or U.S. currency or U.S. currency or U.S. currency or U.S. currency currency currency currency

Senator Ted Stevens: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Senator Daniel Inouye: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,747.75 ...... 1,747.75 Senator Thad Cochran: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Senator Arlen Specter: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,386.54 ...... 1,386.54 Senator Norm Coleman: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Senator Patty Murray: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Senator Lamar Alexander: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,897.15 ...... 1,897.15 Senator Richard Burr: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Sid Ashworth: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,747.75 ...... 1,747.75 Charlie Houy: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,747.75 ...... 1,747.75 George Lowe: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,389.87 ...... 1,389.87 Jennifer Lowe: China ...... Yuan ...... 1,389.87 ...... 1,389.87 Claire Jolly: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Dr. John Eisold: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Kay Webber: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 Rick Desimone: China ...... Yuan ...... 2,054.75 ...... 2,054.75 * Delegation Expenses: China ...... Yuan ...... 19,068.26 ...... 19,068.26 Total ...... 29,799.43 ...... 19,068.26 ...... 48,867.69 TED STEVENS, Chairman, Presidential Pro Tempore, Nov. 28, 2006. * Delegation expenses include payments and reimbursements to the Department of State and the Department of Defense under the authority of Sec. 502(b) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended by Sec. 22 of P.L. 95–384, and S. Res 179 agreed to May 25, 1977. h

MEASURES READ THE FIRST ROBERT T. STAFFORD WHITE Born in Rutland in 1913, Senator TIME—S. 1, S. 2, S. 5, S. 113 ROCKS NATIONAL RECREATION Stafford attended his hometown’s pub- AREA lic schools. He completed his under- Mr. REID. Madam President, it is my graduate work at one of our Nation’s understanding there are four bills at Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask consent that the Senate proceed to the finest undergraduate institutions, the desk. I ask for their first reading, consideration of S. 159 which was intro- Middlebury College. He briefly at- en bloc. duced earlier today. tended the University of Michigan Law The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The School but ultimately earned his law clerk will read the four bills, en bloc, clerk will report the bill by title. degree from Boston University School for the first time. The assistant legislative clerk read of Law in 1938. as follows: The assistant legislative clerk read Bob was a remarkable person not as follows: A bill (S. 159) to redesignate the White only because of his service as a states- Rocks National Recreation Area in the State man but also for his service in the mili- A bill (S. 1) to provide greater trans- of Vermont as the Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area. tary. He is a prime example of what parency in the legislative process. has been so aptly named the ‘‘greatest A bill (S. 2) to amend the Fair Labor There being no objection, the Senate generation.’’ Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an in- proceeded to consider the bill. crease in Federal minimum wage. Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, it is Senator Stafford courageously with great sadness that I rise today to stepped forward to serve our Nation A bill (S. 5) to amend the Public Health during not one but two foreign wars. In Service Act to provide for human embryonic bid a final goodbye to one of Vermont’s 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and stem cell research. most distinguished public servants. On Saturday, December 23, just before served on active duty from 1942 to 1946. A bill (S. 113) to make appropriations for Christmas, former Senator Bob Staf- Again, when the Korean war began, he military construction and family housing served from 1951 to 1953 as an officer in projects for the Department of Defense for ford from Vermont passed away at the the Navy. Bob later became the first fiscal year 2007. venerable age of 93. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy of which he and his commander of the Navy Reserve Center Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask family and fellow Vermonters and all in Burlington, VT. The center later for a second reading in order to place Americans should be exceptionally moved to White River Junction in 1995, the bills on the calendar under the pro- proud. I take this opportunity to pay and I was pleased to recommend to the visions of rule XIV, and having done tribute to Robert Stafford, an extraor- Navy that the new facility be named that, I object to my own requests en dinary Vermonter, and especially a the Robert T. Stafford Naval Reserve bloc. very dear and close friend. Center. They happily obliged. Through- He will be greatly missed by me, my out his life, Bob remained extremely The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- wife Marcelle, and by so many other proud of his Navy career. I still remem- jection is heard. Americans all across our country. We ber that beautiful day when we opened The bills will receive their second send our condolences to his wife Helen the new Naval Reserve facility named reading on the next legislative day. and his family. in honor of his leadership.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 14:49 Feb 03, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00207 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\S04JA7.007 S04JA7 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 268 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 153, Pt. 1 January 4, 2007 Indeed, the recently completed Lake was kind enough even to offer to baby- tion’s most critical environmental laws Champlain Navy Memorial was dedi- sit our children when Marcelle and I for over two decades. cated in his honor by the unanimous were so new in town that we had no- As chairman of the Environment and recommendation of its founding com- where to turn for childcare while we Public Works Committee from 1981 to mittee, made up of Navy veterans, re- were house-hunting. This is a remark- 1986, Bob Stafford was instrumental in tirees, and reservists. able couple. persuading Congress to expand and Bob Stafford was an absolute giant in To this day, Marcelle and I hold enor- strengthen the Superfund toxic waste Vermont politics. He spent almost 30 mous gratitude for the friendship the cleanup law in the mid-1980s. It was in years representing our great State, Staffords offered during our early years large part due to Robert Stafford’s un- first in the U.S. House of Representa- in Washington. That friendship has wavering commitment to this bill in tives, and then in the U.S. Senate. continued throughout the years, and 1980 that the Superfund Act became Prior to his arrival in Washington in we have many fond memories of vis- law at all. As many of us know, this the early 1960s, he served his fellow iting their home on Sugar Hill Road. law has been indispensable in forcing Vermonters closer to home, holding a Even after Bob left the Senate, we industry polluters to contribute money number of prominent State positions. would drop by and visit. We had some to finance cleanup and restoration of He served as Rutland County State’s most remarkable conversations—some contaminated wastesites. attorney and deputy State attorney political, some family, and after all of Bob Stafford believed passionately in general, and finally as our State attor- them I would leave with a smile on my the Federal Government’s commitment ney general. From 1957 to 1959, Bob face. to improving the quality of our Na- Stafford held the post of Lieutenant Bob was an extremely well liked tion’s air. This was never more evident Governor. In 1959, he went on to be- member of the Republican Party. He than in his steadfast work to uphold come Governor. served at one time in the Republican the Clean Air Act when it was under In 1960, Bob Stafford was elected to leadership, but he also formed many attack during the 1980s. He did not Vermont’s sole seat in the U.S. House close friendships with Senators on the shirk from taking on his friend Presi- of Representatives. He won five succes- Democratic side. Always respectful, al- dent Reagan as well as auto manufac- sive reelections. In September of 1971, ways polite, Bob Stafford consistently turers and other industry groups in re- he resigned his House seat to accept an recognized the importance of modera- fusing to roll back this critical air pol- appointment to the U.S. Senate fol- tion and compromise. He, better than lution law. lowing the death of Senator Winston most, knew how to form bipartisan al- In fact, I remember talking to him Prouty. liances. once. They were so anxious to get him After he won a special election in In his quiet and unassuming manner, to change and let these rollbacks go January 1972, Bob proceeded to rep- Bob Stafford fought hard for the issues through that they invited him down to resent Vermont in the Senate during that mattered most to him. He believed the White House, to spend some one- the next 17 years. I had the distinct passionately that higher education on-one time with President Reagan. privilege of serving with him during all should be more accessible to all Ameri- The Reagan administration amazed but 2 of those years. He also had serv- cans, regardless of their socioeconomic many of their members afterward that ing with him from the time he was status, and he was instrumental in cre- Bob didn’t back off at all. He came Governor through the House and the ating the student loan program which back and kept on protecting the envi- U.S. Senate a most remarkable Chief of today bears his name. The Stafford ronment. Staff, Neal Houston. He and Neal Hous- Student Loan Program has made high- I said to him: Bob, what happened ton were like brothers. They could al- er education more accessible for mil- when you went down there to talk with most complete each other’s sentences. lions of Americans, even for some who President Regan? When I spoke to Neal and heard the sad work in my office today. Bob was a He said: Well, the President had news about Senator Stafford’s passing, champion of vocational education. notes of what he was supposed to say I knew he felt that he had lost a mem- Today the Stafford Technical Center, and he said it. Then he looked at me ber of his own family. located in his hometown of Rutland, and he said: Bob, you’re probably not When I first came to Washington as a serves the needs of hundreds of stu- going to give in, are you? Bob said: No, young man in 1974, I was a 34-year-old dents in Rutland County. no, I’m not, Mr. President, but I cer- junior Senator from Vermont. We Bob showed tremendous leadership in tainly appreciate the time to be with didn’t have any kind of orientation for blocking President Reagan’s attempts you. new Senators at that time. Bob Staf- to slash health and education funding. I said then: What did you talk about ford was an indispensable mentor to Thanks to Bob Stafford’s hard work, the rest of the time? me. I will never forget the leadership programs for disabled Americans and Oh, we talked about our kids, we and friendship he offered me during legal aid were left largely intact during talked about sports, we talked about a that challenging time. much of the 1980s when other programs lot of other things. He said: I had a Interestingly enough, Senator Staf- were starkly scaled back. His chair- wonderful conversation with President ford was sort of the epitome of a manship made sure they were pro- Reagan. But he did not budge on the Vermont Republican in the proudest tected. environment, something no Vermonter tradition. I was the only Democrat Bob Stafford also played an impor- would do. ever elected. He took me under his tant role in another issue of enormous His concern about the contamination wing during those early years. He was relevance today, Federal emergency as- of our air was truly remarkable. The enormously helpful to me, his younger, sistance. In 1988, President Reagan consistent and clear manner in which far less experienced junior colleague. I signed into law the Robert T. Stafford he spoke about the danger of ozone de- will never forget that he even allowed Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist- pletion, acid rain, and the release of me the use of his office before I was as- ance Act, a bill which provides the greenhouse gases related to global signed a space of my own, where we statutory authority for Federal dis- warming, during a very difficult period, could interview people for positions in aster response activities pertaining to was a source of inspiration to so many my office and where telephone calls FEMA programs. of his colleagues on both sides of the could be answered. He brought me While his achievements in the areas aisle. It certainly was an inspiration to around and introduced me to both Re- of education and Federal disaster relief me. publicans and Democrats and basically were certainly superb, I believe his As EPW chairman, Senator Stafford vouched for me. most enduring legacy will be for the also led the fight to improve the qual- But Bob and his wife Helen’s kind- work he did in protecting the environ- ity of our water. Working closely with ness extended far beyond the confines ment and public health. He helped Senator John Chafee and others on of the Senate office buildings. Helen shape and strengthen some of our Na- both sides of the aisle, his leadership

VerDate Nov 24 2008 14:49 Feb 03, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00208 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\S04JA7.007 S04JA7 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD January 4, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 153, Pt. 1 269 was critical in reauthorizing the Clean not the foggiest idea but, boy, we had pay tribute to a former Member of this Water Act in 1987. Bob cited the pas- fun determining when it would start. esteemed Chamber. On December 23, sage of this act as the culmination of No Senator could have learned as 2006, Senator Robert Stafford passed one of the greatest bipartisan efforts in much from his fellow Senator as I did, away. This was a tremendous loss for protecting our Nation’s environment. nor could a senior Senator be so pa- both Vermont and the country. There It really was. Republicans and Demo- tient and understanding with his jun- is no doubt, however, that his accom- crats came together. It gave me enor- ior. Throughout our time together, plishments in many areas will continue mous pride to see him appear 3 years when I had been inclined to move im- to be felt across this great Nation for ago before the Senate in celebrating pulsively, it would be Bob Stafford who countless years to come. the act’s 30-year anniversary. Thanks would help me decide what was truly in A native of Rutland, VT, Senator to Bob’s leadership during those dif- the best interest of the country and Stafford was born in 1913. Before rep- ficult years of deregulation, our Nation Vermont. He was the most unflappable resenting Vermont in Washington, Bob was able to make great strides in re- person I have ever known. Stafford spent years serving the people ducing the levels of pollutants and con- I remember flying to Vermont with of our State, including as Attorney taminants in our water. him once on a commercial airline. The General. In 1960 he began service as Even after he retired from Congress, plane hit a tremendous amount of tur- Vermont’s single voice in the U.S. he served Vermont in many ways. He bulence. We suddenly dropped thou- House of Representatives, where he re- was a member of the University of sands of feet. At least one person was mained until 1971, when he became a Vermont’s School of Natural Resources airborne in the cabin, and things were Member of this hallowed body. During Advisory Committee and attended the flying around. I know my pulse raced his 17 years in the United States Sen- day-long hearings with his wife Helen ever so fast. When the pilot finally got ate, Senator Stafford was known for up to just a few years ago. He also lec- control of the plane with a shuddering, his commitment to bipartisanship and tured at UVM, Norwich University, and banging maneuver, I sat there stunned. congeniality. Castleton State College. In 2003, his old I had sweat soaking through my shirt. Senator Stafford left his mark on our alma mater, Middlebury College, hon- Bob simply folded his paper—which he country in more ways than can be men- ored both Bob and his wife Helen, also never stopped reading—turned to me tioned here today. He had an unwaver- a Middlebury graduate, by inau- and in a quiet voice said: Patrick, just ing dedication to making education gurating the Robert and Helen Stafford think if this plane had gone down. To- within reach of all our country’s citi- Professorship in Public Policy. Two morrow morning there would have been zens and today, countless Americans— people who had been together almost a long line outside the Governor’s of- maybe even some of the younger mem- all their lives are together in this pro- fice. Everybody would be saying what a bers in this Chamber—have benefited fessorship. terrible tragedy that we have lost our from the Stafford Student Loan pro- Also in retirement, Bob continued to Senators, but, Governor, I am willing gram. Additionally, his commitment to fight for clean air. In 1995, he joined to be appointed to either one of the the environment and public health was forces with his friend and former col- seats. I found that I was not so fright- unshakable. Bob Stafford, from his po- league, Senator Edmund Muskie, in in- ened, and I was able to laugh until it sition as Chairman of the Environment corporating the Clean Air Trust, a non- hurt, and I did laugh. and Public Works Committee from 1981 profit organization dedicated to up- Bob Stafford was a man who dedi- until 1986, worked tirelessly to address holding and enforcing clean air legisla- cated his entire adult life to public both air and water quality issues, even tion. service because he deeply believed in when it meant doing so against the He leaves so many impressive the value of public service. And no wishes of his own leadership, at the achievements for his lifelong work in matter where life took him, Bob stayed highest levels. His courage on all of public service. But outside these public close to his Vermont roots. He never these issues, and so many others, will accomplishments, Senator Stafford forgot the people he served. While never be forgotten. was also a man of many personal hob- many younger Vermonters and Ameri- Leaving the Senate did not stop Rob- bies and interests. It kind of reflects cans may not know much about Bob ert Stafford from contributing to the who he is. On weekends, he liked to slip Stafford, his public service and leader- common good. In fact, he remained ac- out of Washington with his wife Helen ship are examples for all of us. Our tive at the state level and continued to and enjoy time on his boat, a full country would do well to stop and take fight for protection of the environ- Moon, cruising down the Chesapeake notice of his life and reflect on how we ment. I can only hope that I will be as Bay. Marcelle and I were fortunate should all serve our Nation better with engaged for as long as he was. enough to join them on occasion. He his bipartisan leadership style. To honor Senator Stafford, Senator loved the water. He loved everything It is with tremendous sadness that I LEAHY and I, along with Representa- about sailing. You can tell why the say goodbye to this truly distinguished tive WELCH, introduced a bill today to Navy holds him in such high regard American, more importantly to an ex- re-designate the White Rocks National back home. ceptionally dear friend. To honor Rob- Recreation Area in our fine state as He took flying lessons as a young ert Stafford’s legacy, Senator SANDERS the ‘‘Robert T. Stafford White Rocks man. He eventually got his pilot’s li- and I, along with Congressman Peter National Recreation Area.’’ This is a cense in the early sixties. In fact, he Welch from Vermont, introduced a bill small, but fitting, tribute to his mem- would pilot a leased Cessna back and to rename the White Rocks National ory. forth between Washington and Recreation Area. This is an area Sen- Bob Stafford was a true public serv- Vermont. ator Stafford created in 1984. We are ant. I am humbled to be serving the It was a mark of this unique Senator naming it after him. White Rocks was State of Vermont in the seat he once that he welcomed and helped the first among his most beloved natural areas held. He dedicated his life to serving Senator of the other party to be elect- in our State. We know that he and others and to creating a better world. ed in Vermont. I will always remember Helen could actually see the towering My thoughts are with his family as and cherish the walks we took down white cliff face of White Rocks Moun- they mourn his passing. And may the the halls and the times we would sit tain from their home. This will remind example he set during his many years and talk at lunch. People thought we generations of future Vermonters of be emulated for many to come.∑ were talking so much about politics. Senator Stafford’s towering achieve- Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask We were talking about Vermont. We ments and the humanity of his spirits. consent that the bill be read the third were talking about whether the foliage I hope all my colleagues will support time, passed, the motion to reconsider season was going to start early or late, this legislation. be laid upon the table, and any state- and we would make a determined judg- ∑ Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, on ments related to the bill be printed in ment when it would be. Heck, we had this first day of the 110th Congress, I the RECORD.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 14:49 Feb 03, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00209 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\S04JA7.007 S04JA7 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 270 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 153, Pt. 1 January 4, 2007 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without to vote. Time will show what we will about looking a little bit backward as objection, it is so ordered. do, but votes will be a lot quicker than to what we did not get done in the last The bill (S. 159) was ordered to a they used to be. We will not wait Congress or the Congresses before so third reading, was read the third time, around for long times. Most of the we can pick up that work and move and passed, as follows: votes are not very close, and it is not forward. S. 159 fair to keep Members from their con- This initiative, Morganza to the Gulf, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- stituents and other work in their of- would fall into that category of a resentatives of the United States of America in fice. If some people are not here, they project that was actually approved not Congress assembled, will not be recorded within a reason- only by the last Congress, the 109th SECTION 1. ROBERT T. STAFFORD WHITE ROCKS able period of time after the vote is Congress, but the 108th and the 107th, NATIONAL RECREATION AREA . called. and started back actually decades ago. (a) REDESIGNATION.—The White Rocks Na- We hoped to proceed to S. 1. We do And because of just a few technical tional Recreation Area in the State of not have consent to move forward on glitches resulting in the U.S. Army Vermont, as established by section 202 of the that yet, but we are confident we will. Corps of Engineers’ failure to timely Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 460nn–1), is redesignated as the ‘‘Robert T. f complete its report, the contingent au- thorization of the Morganza project ex- Stafford White Rocks National Recreation ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT Area’’. pired. Eventually, the Corps submitted (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, Mr. REID. If there is no further busi- its report more than a year late and map, regulation, document, paper, or other ness to come before the Senate, I ask recommended authorization of the record of the United States to the recreation unanimous consent the Senate stand project. area referred to in subsection (a) shall be adjourned under the previous order, Madam President, this project when deemed to be a reference to the Robert T. following the remarks of Senator completed will protect 120,000 people in Stafford White Rocks National Recreation LANDRIEU for 10 minutes and Senator south Louisiana, many of whom were Area. COBURN for 15 minutes. devastated by two of the worst storms f The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and subsequent flooding in the history ORDERS FOR MONDAY, JANUARY objection, it is so ordered. of our country only 2 years ago, in 2005. 8, 2007 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- However, these people are left vulner- ator from Louisiana. able without this project being com- Mr. REID. Madam President, it is my f pleted. It was part of a major WRDA understanding that there are a couple bill, the Water Resources Development AUTHORIZATION OF MORGANZA of Senators who wish to speak. We will Act, of which this Congress worked to- TO THE GULF OF MEXICO HURRI- take care of that in a minute. gether in quite an extraordinary bipar- CANE PROTECTION PROJECT I ask unanimous consent that when tisan effort, as the Presiding Officer the Senate completes its business Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, I knows. You have been a part of that ef- today, it stand adjourned until 11:30 come to the floor briefly to speak fort. a.m., on Monday, January 8; that fol- about a bill I introduced today on the It comes out of the EPW Committee, lowing the prayer and the pledge, the first day of this 110th Congress to sig- the Environment and Public Works Journal of proceedings be approved to nify its importance to our State and to Committee. Democrats on that com- date, the time for the two leaders be speak about that for a moment. mittee and Republicans worked very reserved for their use later in that day, But before I do, I want to give my hard, into the late hours of the night, and that the time until 12 noon be public congratulations to the new lead- trying to get that bill through. But for equally divided and controlled between ership of this Chamber, to thank the a number of reasons, this massive bill, the two leaders or their designees; that Senator from Nevada and the Senator with billions of dollars of projects, at noon, the Senate proceed to the con- from Kentucky, the majority leader could not pass in the final hours. sideration of S. Res. 19, a resolution and the minority leader, for their gath- But this one project, of all of the celebrating the life of the late Presi- ering together of the Senators today, projects in the Nation, I believe de- dent Gerald R. Ford; that once the res- as the Presiding Officer also attended— serves special attention, not because it olution is reported, the Senate then a quite historic meeting of almost 100 is in Louisiana, not because Senator vote, without intervening objection or of us in the Old Senate Chamber—and VITTER and I represent this, and not debate, on adoption of that resolution; their commitment to us and to the Na- only because our State received devas- that upon the adoption of the resolu- tion, although it was a private meet- tation from Katrina and Rita but be- tion, the preamble be agreed to and the ing, to work in a more collegial, coop- cause this is the one hurricane protec- motion to reconsider be laid on the erative way as this Congress begins and tion project that actually had been ap- table. to try to forge the bipartisan solutions proved in the last WRDA bill. But be- I further ask consent that notwith- I think our country called for as a re- cause of untimeliness on the part of standing the adjournment of the Sen- flection of the outcome of the last elec- the Corps of Engineers, we could not ate on Friday, January 5, S. 1 be con- tions. get it authorized in the last bill, and it sidered to have received its second I, for one, publicly want to commit should be first to be approved now. reading. myself to that endeavor and to work I do not know what is going to hap- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without toward that end, as I continue to work pen with our WRDA bill. I am certain objection, it is so ordered. across the aisle with many in the other the Senator from California, who has f party, and even Members such as the pledged her support, and the ranking Presiding Officer in our own party, in member of that committee, Senator PROGRAM the Democratic Party, to get the job INHOFE from Oklahoma, who is familiar Mr. REID. Today was a good day in done for our States. with this, understand the special na- the Senate. The spirit of bipartisanship In that regard, I introduced this bill ture of this issue. Whether we can is in the air. I look forward to working today to authorize a project and to ask move this independently, I do not with the Republican leaders and Mem- for special consideration for this very know. But I am going to ask. Until we bers of Congress as we move ahead and important levee and hurricane protec- are told no, we are going to try. Sen- forward in this Congress, the 110th Con- tion project in the State of Louisiana ator VITTER is not here to speak for gress. called Morganza to the Gulf. As today himself, but I know he feels very For the information of Members, the we look forward into what we are going strongly about this, as indicated by his first vote next week is Monday, Janu- to do with this new hope and new own actions and strong words he has ary 8, at 12 noon. Therefore, Members spring and new era of cooperation, that put in the RECORD. Our House Mem- should be prepared to be here and ready is terrific. But we also need to think bers, both Republicans and Democrats,

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