S8652 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 28, 2007 body just gives out and drops. Do not back at their pursuers. At least one Catherine’s father, Bill Bittner, Sr., expect that to be anytime soon. round hit Ken’s cockpit, embedding was a close friend of Ken’s and his fish- I believe all ages and all occupations shrapnel in his arm and leg. ing partner. Bill and I often spent long should be part of a truly representative Determined to stay in the air as long summer days fishing with Ken and body. I also believe society works best as possible, Ken and George attacked a talking about World War II. when the energy and idealism of youth, group of bombers until they ran out of To this day, Ken’s family has strong youth, youth, pairs with the experience ammunition. The pair then landed at ties to Alaska. Ken’s son, Ken Jr., fol- and wisdom of age. Wheeler Field to resupply and refuel. lowed in his father’s footsteps and also America is the land of opportunities. While an air crew rearmed their became commander of the Alaska Air I don’t think our some 36 million citi- planes, the duo received a dressing National Guard. They remain the only zens over the age of 65 are disqualified down from a superior officer for taking father and son in our Nation’s history from participating in the life of the off without orders. The officer also in- to have achieved such an honor. Also, country that we—we—helped to build. sisted they stay on the ground, but Ken Sr.’s grandson, Eric Taylor, now Our country rejected those kinds of ar- when another attack forced airfield serves in the Alaska Air National bitrary barriers long ago, and this Sen- personnel to scatter, Ken and George Guard with distinction. ator loudly and proudly rejects them took the chance to get back into the The remarkable story of Ken Taylor now. fight. reminds me of a statement once made The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- With a fresh supply of .50 caliber am- by General George Marshall. Asked if ior Senator from Alaska is recognized. munition, Ken positioned himself on America had a secret weapon to help f the runway to take off just as a group win World War II, General Marshall re- of dive bombers flew overhead. He de- plied in the affirmative. He said we had BRIGADIER GENERAL KEN scribed his second takeoff to Army ‘‘the best darn kids in the world.’’ TAYLOR Times as follows: One can’t help but wonder if these Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, today I took off right toward them, which gave words were partly inspired by Ken Tay- I pay tribute to BG Ken Taylor, who me the ability to shoot at them before I even lor, who, at age 21, exemplified great will be buried at Arlington National left the ground. I got behind one of them and courage and bravery during the battle Cemetery later this afternoon. started shooting again. The only thing I that drew America into World War II. didn’t know at that time was that I got in From his service as a pilot during For those who remember, his was one World War II to his tenure as Com- the middle of the line rather than the end. There was somebody on my tail. They put a of the two planes that took off in the mander of the Alaska Air National bullet right behind my head through the can- movie entitled ‘‘Pearl Harbor.’’ Guard, General Taylor was always a opy and into the trim tab inside. So I got a It gives me great pride to have hero—in every sense of the word, and little bit of shrapnel in my leg and through known this man. On this solemn day to all who knew and loved him. the arm. It was of no consequence; it just when we put him to rest, let us all take As a young boy in Oklahoma, Ken set scared the hell out of me for a minute. a moment to reflect on the life—and his sights on becoming a pilot. After Before the last fires were extin- honor the memory—of this great Amer- completing high school and 2 years of guished from the remains of the Pacific ican hero. college, Ken fulfilled his dream by join- Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Ken Taylor and I yield the floor. ing the Army Air Corps. George Welch had shot down at least The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- In April 1941, newly commissioned as eight Japanese fighters. Many believe ator from Missouri is recognized for 10 a second lieutenant, Ken received his their decision to take to the air pre- minutes. first assignment. He was stationed at vented a full assault on Haleiwa, sav- f Wheeler Field, on the Hawaiian island ing the field from sure destruction. By of Oahu, as a member of the 47th Pur- the end of the day, the two lieutenants HOMAGE TO SENATOR BYRD suit Squadron. And it was there, during had become America’s first heroes of Mrs. MCCASKILL. Mr. President, one of the darkest days in our Nation’s World War II—all while wearing tuxedo first, let me pay homage to the senior history, that Ken’s bravery shined pants and a Hawaiian flower-print Senator from West Virginia who, in a brightest. shirt. typically eloquent way, spoke to the Early in the morning on December 7, For his tremendous courage under Senate about his long service to his 1941, after a long night of poker, danc- fire, Ken received the Distinguished State. Let me tell the people of West ing, and a little drinking at the offi- Service Cross and a Purple Heart. But Virginia, they don’t need to worry; cer’s club, Ken awoke to the sound of his service to this Nation was far from they have a very strong Senator in this low flying Japanese aircraft fighters finished. Ken went on to fight at Gua- body. Any comments about his age are and bombers on course to attack the dalcanal, where he was credited with misplaced, because his passion and his Navy’s Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. destroying another Japanese plane. intellectual heft and his knowledge of Ken and fellow pilot George Welch, After a broken leg ended his combat history and the Constitution far out- who was staying in a neighboring career, Ken returned stateside and weigh any considerations one would apartment, took immediate action. served for 27 more years. He served in have about his age. They called ahead to their air crew the Alaska Air National Guard. (The remarks of Mrs. MCCASKILL per- with instructions to load their P–40s In 1967, Ken became the Assistant Ad- taining to the introduction of S. 1723 with fuel and ammunition. jutant General for the Alaska Air Na- are located in today’s RECORD under Both pilots hurriedly pulled their tional Guard. Before retiring in 1971, he ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and evening wear back on, and sped off in was promoted to Brigadier General and Joint Resolutions.’’) Ken’s new Buick toward Haleiwa Field. served as the full Commander of the f Dodging Japanese strafing runs and Air Guard. driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles In this capacity, Ken quickly distin- PROGRESS ON S. 1 per hour, they soon arrived at the air- guished himself as an able and re- Mrs. MCCASKILL. Mr. President, field. The pair quickly strapped into spected leader. He worked closely with there are times since I have been here their P–40 Tomahawks, which were MG C. F. Necrason, then the Adjutant that I have been surprised and shocked. fully fueled but only partially armed. General of the Alaska National Guard, This week was one of them, when I saw Outnumbered, outgunned, and with- to save the Air Guard component in the leader of my party rise to ask the out orders, the two pilots taxied to the our State. Under Ken’s direction, the body to send S. 1 to conference. Keep in runway intent on engaging the over 300 reinvigorated Air Guard units provided mind what S. 1 is. S. 1 was the first unchallenged Japanese aircraft. rural Alaskans with access to health piece of legislation we passed in the Once airborne, Ken and George im- care, medivacs, and disaster relief serv- Senate this year. That is why it is mediately came under fire. Ken later ices. called S. 1. Keep in mind what the vote described the ensuing combat as As a Senator for Alaska, it was my was. It was 96 to 2. There are not going ‘‘shooting fish in a barrel’’—a definite privilege to work with Ken on many to be very many times that we do any- understatement, as the Japanese shot occasions during this period. My wife thing 96 to 2. That was months ago.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:29 Mar 13, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2007SENATE\S28JN7.REC S28JN7 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY June 28, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8653 Now, all this time we have been wait- So I guess I would say the failure of need. Let’s begin to create a lawful sys- ing to send this bill to conference so we the legislation today, despite the good tem at the border. can move ahead and make it law. This efforts of my esteemed colleagues who As the American people see that and is ethics reform. This is the essence of met together and wrote this bill—and gain confidence in us as a government, what we should be about. We are here they did not want anybody to change a then we begin to talk about some of to do the people’s business, not big jot or tittle of it—despite all of that, the more difficult problems: What do money’s business. We are here to pro- despite their good efforts, it did not do we do about 12 million people who are tect average people in these United the job. It did not shut off the water. here illegally? States, not the lobbyists in the hall- According to the Congressional Budget One of the things that very much way. Office, it would only have reduced ille- concerned me in this bill—and it shows Ethics reform should be at the top of gality by 13 percent, and in the next 20 the mindset that seemed to be driving our list. What happened when our lead- years we would have another 8.7 mil- the legislation and was an indication er asked for this bill to go to con- lion people here illegally. there was no real commitment to en- ference? The Republican leader ob- I think our Senators—after hearing forcement—was moving the date of the jected. What in the world is going on that and having it pounded in and see- people who would be allowed to go on a that we would pass a bill 96 to 2 and ing this is not an exaggeration but an path to legality and even citizenship to then the Republican leader would say, objective report by the Congressional even if you came into our country last ‘‘I object to it going to conference’’? Budget Office, and then we heard the year. The American people have been very promises: The only way to get a lawful Now, last year’s bill, which I vigor- engaged on the immigration issue for system in America is to vote for this ously criticized, said you could take weeks. That bill has come to its con- bill—they were not persuaded, espe- advantage of the amnesty or legaliza- clusion. I urge every American out cially because the American people saw tion process if you came into America there to use those same fingers and through it. before January 1, 2004. This bill said those same phones, to use those same Rightly, the American people have you could take advantage of the am- e-mails and those same letters, to im- grown to be cynical about the words of nesty—you would not be asked to mediately begin calling their Senator Congress on immigration. They have leave—and you could become an Amer- and say to them: Why in the world grown to be cynical about that. For 40 ican citizen if you broke into our coun- would you be blocking ethics reform in years, Presidents and Congresses have try before January 1, 2007, this year. the Senate? There is no good excuse— promised we are going to make a law- So after the President has called out except politics. If we cannot get beyond ful system: We are going to do this. the National Guard, after we have said politics to reform ethics, then I think Don’t worry, I voted for that bill last the border is closed—and it has not the people have a right to give us an year. It was going to do this and do been closed; we made some improve- approval rating in the cellar. that, double Border Patrol—but noth- ment, but it has not at all closed the il- So I call on the Republican leader, I ing ever happens. legality at the border—but if you could call on our Republican colleagues: Stop We arrested a million people trying get past the National Guard last De- playing games with ethics reform. to enter our country illegally last cember 31 and get into this country, Let’s move forward. Let’s make this year—a million people. Why do we have this bill would have put you onto a happen on behalf of the people we came that many people arrested? One reason citizenship path. here to represent. If we cannot do this, is because the border is known, world- But that is not what our colleagues we ought to put our tail between our wide, to be insecure and that you have told us who supported the legislation. legs, be ashamed, and go home. They said it was going to help those Mr. President, I suggest the absence a very good chance of being able to enter the country illegally. people who have deep roots in America of a quorum. who have children here and ones we The PRESIDING OFFICER. The If we can change that and we create cannot ask to leave. I am sympathetic clerk will call the roll. a clear message around the world that The legislative clerk proceeded to our border is secure and if you come to that. I am prepared to work on call the roll. you are going to be apprehended and something like that. But the idea that Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask you will be prosecuted if you come some single person who broke across unanimous consent that the order for across the border illegally, we could the border last December, past the Na- the quorum call be rescinded. see a dramatic dropoff in that and a tional Guard, is being given all the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- dramatic increase of people applying, benefits of citizenship, all the benefits pore. Without objection, it is so or- waiting in line to come legally. That is we would give to somebody who waits dered. what it is all about, and this bill did in line to come legally makes no sense to me and indicates the mindset we f not do it. Now, somebody was saying to me and have here. IMMIGRATION asking me recently about President The mindset is confused is all I am Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I Bush and his legacy. I have to tell you, saying. The President, the executive thank the Presiding Officer for his in- I like President Bush. He is a friend of branch, and the Congress have not yet sight into the legislation we consid- mine. I believe his heart is good. I be- gotten the message. The message is: ered. I guess the Presiding Officer un- lieve he wanted to do something good We don’t want talk. We don’t want derstands, when you have completed a about immigration. I have the highest promises. We want you to get busy and tough campaign and you have talked to regard for him. create a lawful system of immigration, voters, you learn some things. Hope- What I would ask President Bush to and then we can begin to talk about fully, our Senate has learned some do with regard to his legacy on immi- how to deal with people who are here things: That the heart of the American gration would be to carry on at a much illegally and what our future flow of people is good, that they are not mean more effective and aggressive rate than immigration would be. They had some spirited, but they are concerned about he has with a movement toward en- good ideas in the bill about how to im- a lawful system of immigration. forcement. He has done things in the prove the future process by which we I was on an Alabama-based radio last several years to improve immigra- select for admission immigrants who show ‘‘Rick and Bubba.’’ They are ex- tion enforcement more than the pre- desire to come. We know we can’t ac- panding out around the country and do vious four or five Presidents, but it has cept everybody. Eleven million people an excellent job and are very fair about not been enough. applied for the 50,000 lottery slots we immigration. One told me the other So I would suggest to the President: had in the year 2000. It just indicates morning: Senator, let me tell you my Make it your legacy to leave a secure that the number of people who would philosophy. My philosophy is that if border for America. Enforce our cur- like to come here vastly exceeds our you have a broken pipe in your attic, rent laws. Utilize every effective and ability to admit them all, so we must and there is water on your floor, you appropriate tool we now have, which select some way for those who come. I don’t go spend all your time mopping would make a huge difference. Ask the believe that a touch, a bit, in this bill up the floor, you fix the leaking pipe. Congress for what additional tools you that tended toward a Canadian-type

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