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Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

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Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 154 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 No. 152 Senate (Legislative day of Wednesday, September 17, 2008) The Senate met at 9:30 a.m., on the U.S. SENATE, Treasury and the Chairman of the Fed expiration of the recess, and was called PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, will be over in the House around 2 to order by the Honorable BENJAMIN L. Washington, DC, September 24, 2008. o’clock this afternoon. Democrats are To the Senate: CARDIN, a Senator from the State of holding a caucus at 4:30 p.m. to talk Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Maryland. of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby about this issue. The Secretary is com- appoint the Honorable BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, ing to that caucus at 5 o’clock. PRAYER a Senator from the State of Maryland, to I hope we can make more progress. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- perform the duties of the Chair. We have not only the Jewish holidays fered the following prayer: ROBERT C. BYRD, coming up next week, but a very im- Let us pray. President pro tempore. portant event is this Friday. I was told Gracious, loving God, let Your light, Mr. CARDIN thereupon assumed the and heard on the radio this morning Your wisdom, Your righteousness, and chair as Acting President pro tempore. that as much as 85 percent of the Your love fill our minds and hearts f American people will watch the debate this Friday. That is a stunning num- today. Lord, You have promised Your RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY ber. It will be the most widely viewed wisdom for all who need it. This week, LEADER more than ever, Your Senators need Presidential debate in history. I as- Your wisdom. Illuminate their minds The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- sume, if we are still in session, we can with more than human insight. Lord, pore. The majority leader is recog- take a brief recess for an hour and a close the doors You don’t want them to nized. half and work through it. I am sure enter and open the gates that will lead f there is not one of the 100 Senators who them to the path of Your way. Remind SCHEDULE will want to miss that debate. them of their weakness and fallibility I will be back later to talk about the Mr. REID. Mr. President, following as You give them the grace to listen to so-called Coburn package. I am not the remarks of the leaders, the Senate those with whom they disagree. Bring going to do it now. will proceed to morning business. We from the crucible of conflicting views f are going to go to morning business for truth and justice that will bless our an hour. I alert Members that we may RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY land. be in morning business for longer than LEADER We pray in the Name of Him who that time. We will come back at a later gave His life for all. Amen. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- time. The first 30 minutes will be con- pore. The Republican leader is recog- f trolled by the majority, and the Repub- nized. licans will control the last 30 minutes. f PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Following that time, we will continue HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES The Honorable BENJAMIN L. CARDIN to have Senators limited to 10 minutes led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: each. If that is not the order, I ask that SPECIALIST SERGIO S. ABAD be the case. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, this I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Repub- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- morning I pay tribute to a fallen sol- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, pore. That is the case. dier from my home State. SPC Sergio indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. REID. The legislation we have Abad was tragically killed in Wanat, this week is the Department of Defense Afghanistan, from wounds suffered by f authorization. We have a continuing small-arms fire and rocket-propelled resolution. We have the stimulus. We grenades fired by the enemy on July 13, APPOINTMENT OF ACTING have the economic recovery program. 2008. Army records listed Morganfield, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE And, of course, the most important KY, as Specialist Abad’s home, and he The PRESIDING OFFICER. The thing on everyone’s mind is what we do was 21 years old. clerk will please read a communication about the bailout of the financial insti- For his valor on the battlefield, Spe- to the Senate from the President pro tutions. cialist Abad received several medals, tempore (Mr. BYRD). I think we made progress yesterday. awards, and declarations, including the The legislative clerk read the fol- Certainly, it appears there were a lot of National Defense Service Medal, the lowing letter: questions asked. The Secretary of the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S9349 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:13 Sep 25, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A24SE6.000 S24SEPT1 rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE S9350 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2008 Commendation Medal with Combat gally changed her name to Abad so MORNING BUSINESS Distinguishing Device ‘‘V,’’ the Purple their daughter would have Sergio’s The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Heart, and the Bronze Star. name,’’ Marilyn says. Sergio ‘‘died pore. Under the previous order, there Specialist Abad’s adoptive mother, without knowing they were having a will now be a period for the transaction Marilyn Popko, relates a tale of his girl—he always wanted a daughter.’’ of morning business, with Senators heroism in his final moments that ex- Sergio leaves behind many loved permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes plains just how such a young man ones, and our thoughts are with them each, with the first hour equally di- earned that many medals and more. At today. This includes members of both vided and controlled, with the majority a memorial service for Sergio at Ar- the Popko and Pitts families, including controlling the first 30 minutes and the lington National Cemetery, a friend Marilyn, Stephen, and Catherine Republicans controlling the second 30 and fellow soldier of Sergio’s who was Popko, and Lori, Paul, Zachery, and minutes. at the battle told her Sergio kept fight- Leo Pitts and Krystine Pitts Flagg, as The Senator from Florida is recog- ing even after taking hits to his arms well as Sergio’s fiancee, Christina nized. and thigh. With his brother soldier Abad, and their daughter, who will Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- there to reload his gun for him, Sergio grow up knowing their father was a dent, I know under the previous order kept firing until he finally succumbed hero. this side of the aisle has the time first, to his wounds and could fight no more. Everyone who knew and loved him but I see the Senator from Oklahoma ‘‘It was his dream to be in the mili- should also know our Nation is honored standing, and I wonder if he wanted to tary, and he was living his dream when to have men like SPC Sergio S. Abad respond to the majority leader. he was killed,’’ Marilyn says. defend our country. Today, this Senate Mr. COBURN. I did. Sergio was born and grew up in Flor- honors him for his immense sacrifice Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- ida. At the age of 7, he was removed and for his life of service. dent, I ask unanimous consent that the from an abusive home and placed with Mr. President, I yield the floor. Senator from Oklahoma be allowed to relatives. By middle school, young Ser- Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a speak, but that time not be taken out gio had become part of not just one quorum. of the 1 hour set aside for the two sides Florida family but two: the Popkos and The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- of the aisle. the Pittses, both of whom already had pore. The clerk will call the roll. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- children around his age. The legislative clerk proceeded to pore. Without objection, it is so or- ‘‘He would stay with us a while, then call the roll. dered. go to stay with Lori Pitts’s family,’’ Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- The Senator from Oklahoma is recog- Marilyn recalls. imous consent that the order for the nized. Thanks to the support of the Popkos quorum call be rescinded. Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, I want- and Pittses, a child with an unhappy The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ed to thank the majority leader and to start in life received plenty of support pore. Without objection, it is so or- spend a few minutes talking about an and love. He called both Marilyn Popko dered. individual who was key to—— and Lori Pitts ‘‘Mommy.’’ Paul Pitts The majority leader is recognized. Mr. REID. Would my friend withhold and Stephen Popko were both ‘‘Dad.’’ f for a second? The staff said they didn’t Growing up, Sergio participated in hear me read all this on Emmett Till, DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN Junior ROTC and studied karate at a even though I did.
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