Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION SENATE—Wednesday, April 21, 2010 The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY men bravely and with honor. He put his called to order by the Honorable TOM LEADER life on the line on many occasions to UDALL, a Senator from the State of The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- protect his men and to fight for free- New Mexico. pore. The majority leader is recog- dom against Nazi Germany and was nized. recognized with his squad’s admiration, PRAYER the Combat Infantry Badge and, be- f The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- cause he was wounded, a Purple Heart. fered the following prayer: SCHEDULE But he has not stopped serving his Let us pray. Mr. REID. Mr. President, following country. Bob came to Washington in 1965 and worked for Congressman Rob- Eternal God, thank You for being our leader remarks, the Senate will be in a ert Sweeney before starting a 27-year strength and shield, for we trust You to period of morning business for 1 hour. career with the Doorkeeper of the guide our steps. Bring unity to our law- During that time, Senators will be able House of Representatives. That is makers so they will be a force for good to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The where I first met him, as a young Mem- for the American people and the world. majority will control the first 30 min- ber of Congress. The Doorkeeper, Mr. Refresh their faith, renew their vision, utes; the Republicans will control the Molloy, and Mr. O’Malley, had a suite and rekindle their courage so that they final 30 minutes. of offices and it was kind of a hangout can find common ground and glorify Following morning business, the Sen- for Democratic Members of the House; You in the living of their days. Lord, ate will turn to executive session to de- stir their hearts with the presence of especially it was a way for new Mem- bate the nomination of Christopher bers of the Congress to become ac- Your spirit, preparing them to be in- Schroeder to be an Assistant Attorney quainted with what was going on over struments of Your will. General. There will be up to 3 hours for there. They were very caring about We pray in Your sacred Name. Amen. debate prior to a vote on confirmation new Members and always pointed us in of this nomination. f the right direction. I have always re- Upon disposition of the Schroeder membered those two men for all the nomination, the Senate will consider PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE good deeds they did on my behalf. the nomination of Thomas Vanaskie to His was a 27-year career with the The Honorable TOM UDALL led the be U.S. circuit judge for the Third Cir- Doorkeeper. As I indicated, that is Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: cuit. There will be 3 hours of debate where I met him. By the time the war I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the prior to a vote on confirmation of the in Afghanistan started in 2002, Bob had United States of America, and to the Repub- Vanaskie nomination. retired from service in the House of lic for which it stands, one nation under God, I suggest the absence of a quorum. Representatives. Most retirees are con- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tent to seek a well-earned life of lei- pore. The clerk will call the roll. f sure, but Sergeant O’Malley did not. He The assistant legislative clerk pro- signed up for a new and worthy mis- APPOINTMENT OF ACTING ceeded to call the roll. sion, waking every day to serve our Na- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- tion’s wounded warriors. When the war imous consent the order for the started, he went back to work as a vol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The quorum call be rescinded. unteer—again a volunteer—supporting clerk will please read a communication The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- and caring for the men and women of to the Senate from the President pro pore. Without objection, it is so or- the 10th Mountain Division, his old tempore (Mr. BYRD). dered. unit. He has made countless visits to The assistant legislative clerk read f Walter Reed, this great medical center the following letter: where these wounded warriors come to HONORING ROBERT J. O’MALLEY U.S. SENATE, recuperate. On all these visits to Wal- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Mr. REID. Mr. President, every one ter Reed, he spent countless hours Washington, DC, April 21, 2010. of our servicemembers deserves the un- talking and sharing stories about the To the Senate: qualified appreciation and admiration Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Division and taking his fellow veterans of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby of the Senate and our entire Nation. to ball games and other events, includ- appoint the Honorable TOM UDALL, a Senator Today, I wish to salute the service of ing the sharing of meals on many occa- from the State of New Mexico, to perform one such soldier, a man who first an- sions. When many of these wounded the duties of the Chair. swered his country’s call in World War warriors could not make it home for ROBERT C. BYRD, II and has not stopped. the holiday, Bob would reach into his President pro tempore. Bob O’Malley served our Nation with own pocket and pay for Thanksgiving, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico thereupon distinction in the 10th Mountain Divi- Christmas, and New Years dinners for assumed the chair as Acting President sion in combat in Europe. He was a ser- soldiers and their families at some of pro tempore. geant and a squad leader who led his the finest eateries in the Washington, ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a member of the Senate on the floor. 5887 VerDate Mar 15 2010 13:59 Jun 05, 2013 Jkt 089102 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0685 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR10\S21AP0.000 S21AP0 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 5888 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 156, Pt. 5 April 21, 2010 DC, area. Bob says that helping sol- Americans but also to talk about the late, was essentially picking out some diers recover from their war injuries urgency of bringing the issue of Wall representative mortgage funds and has added years to his life. We know it Street reform to the Senate for open then betting on them. Somebody took has added years to the lives of those he debate and final passage. We have the side that said they would still pay; helps. weathered and witnessed the worst fi- some would take the side that they Bob O’Malley would be the first to nancial crisis in the history of the would default. tell you this is not a one-man mission. country. We have seen wealth, trillions What did that add to our economic He has had help from many different of dollars of wealth, evaporate because capacity? In fact, one of the ironies of areas. When he decided to help those of this financial crisis. To hear people this whole crisis is there was such a wounded on the battlefield, for exam- now talking about, well, this is not a proliferation of these toxic mortgage ple, he enlisted the help of another vet- good bill—the question is not whether bonds that they no longer could sell eran, Dom Visconsi, Sr., an original we should delay further or go forward. them at a profit, so they started essen- member of the 10th Mountain Division The question is going forward with pur- tially creating virtual or synthetic se- in World War II. He asked Dom to help pose, amending the bill on the floor, if curities. and Dom was happy to help entertain necessary, in an open and transparent Again, what has it added to the eco- and support these troops. Many of way so the American public can see we nomic productivity of the United Bob’s friends soon joined the cause as are moving forward on perhaps their States? Not much. In fact, some would well, and they are a constant presence No. 1 priority related to the economy, argue nothing at all. We have to have for the soldiers, whether here or at and economic recovery and financial a financial sector which performs one home. Our Army would not be the best reform are integrated key elements. of the essential functions of any finan- place in the world without the work of We cannot have long-run economic suc- cial sector, the allocation of capital to veterans such as Sergeant O’Malley, cess without fundamental financial re- productive uses: highways, buildings, whose life has been synonymous with form. education support, all of those things service, sacrifice, and selflessness. We are here today essentially to urge that not only return a profit to the in- He is an inspiration to me, our that the anticipated vote on Monday to vestors but also build up our economic Armed Forces, and our country. He is a proceed to the bill be affirmed over- capacity and build up our wealth over hero, and I am proud to call him a whelmingly to send a message to the the long term.