S4400 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 12, 2013 that make them less effective in car- REMEMBERING OFFICER JASON REMEMBERING rying out their missions, including re- ELLIS Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise quiring additional fences in areas Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I today to pay tribute to a generous, where the fencing doesn’t make much rise today for the sad occasion of pay- genuine Illinoisan we lost this week. sense. In a lot of places, it does. There ing tribute to a brave and honorable Those of us who have watched and are 600 miles or so where it does, and police officer from my home State of listened to ’ games for there are more places that it does. But Kentucky who has fallen in the line of some time can easily recall Harry there are also some places where it duty. Officer Jason Ellis, a seven-year Caray. His booming voice was instantly makes more sense to resource a drone, veteran of the Bardstown Police De- recognizable as the voice of the Cubs— to have land-based radar and cameras, partment, was tragically killed on May and fans fondly remember his celebra- where it makes more sense to fly the 25. He was 33 years old. tions of their triumphs and his deeply 206s, to have helicopters with the right felt sorrow at more than a few of their Officer Ellis worked as a field-train- kind of surveillance equipment on disappointments. them and be able to move people along. ing officer and a canine officer; with Some of us may even recall his bright I want to mention some other cost- his police dog, Figo, he fought illegal voice welcoming one of his closest effective technology. We saw some drug use in Bardstown. Bardstown Po- friends to the broadcasting booth with really interesting hand-held devices lice Chief Rick McCubbin described Of- the words: ‘‘and here today, from Peo- that allow the border agents to see in ficer Ellis as one of Bardstown’s top of- ria, Pete Vonachen!’’ the dark. I also saw something at one ficers and credited him with making a I am sad to say that Pete Vonachen of the ports of entry. It was actually serious dent in the town’s drug prob- passed away—peacefully—this week. about the size of my Blackberry. I re- lem. Chief McCubbin also said these Pete was an enthusiastic, colorful, and member standing at the ports of entry words: ‘‘[He] paid the sac- memorable person. He loved Peoria, where they have literally thousands of rifice doing what he loved: being a po- , and the Cubs. You could tell cars and trucks and vehicles and pedes- lice officer.’’ that he bled Cubs blue—especially, as trians coming across a day. But before Jason Ellis, a native of Cincinnati, one friend explained, in 2005. That was the truck or vehicle ever got to the OH, attended the University of the the year that the White Sox won the border, the officer had a device that Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY, World Series. would tell her the truck that was com- where he was a star baseball player. He After running a successful restaurant ing through, the history of the truck set records for all time career hits, and making his name in the Peoria that was coming through, the driver doubles, home runs, and career games business community, he bought the who was in the truck and the history of played, the last of which is still a local minor league team and struck an that driver coming through, what record at the school. He played minor affiliation with his favorite Chicago should be in the truck, and what was league baseball in the Cincinnati Reds team. The soon had the the cargo in the truck in recent system. highest attendance of any team in the months. This was up in Detroit too. Even as a star on the diamond, how- . A decade later, they But one of the officers there said this is ever, coaches and teammates remem- renamed the ballpark they called home a game changer. ber Jason Ellis talking about becoming to Pete Vonachen Stadium. They even As I mentioned earlier, this bill we a law enforcement officer. His wife, put a statue of him just inside the are debating appropriates about $6.5 Amy, says: ‘‘He was always a go-get- main gate of their new stadium. billion to continue to build on the ter. . . He was dedicated to his job and That statue was surrounded with progress we have made and achieve the he wanted to clean the streets up. And flowers and placed by fans ambitious goals it sets for the Depart- that was the way to get the drugs off Monday night as the Chiefs took the ment. That is good news. My goal is to the streets.’’ field against the Quad Cities River make sure that much of this funding is On May 30, Officer Ellis was laid to Bandits. And, after a moment of si- devoted to these force multipliers to lence to honor his memory, the Chiefs help our boots on the ground work rest at Highview Cemetery in Nelson won. The Cubs held a moment of si- smarter and be more effective. I don’t County. Fellow law enforcement offi- lence for him as well at think we need to micromanage the cers from across the Commonwealth as well as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Monday. process. Pete Vonachen will be missed by his We have been joined by the majority came to pay their respects, and hun- family, his many friends and those who leader. I am happy to yield. dreds of police cruisers made up the fu- Mr. REID. Mr. President, I appreciate neral procession. Over a thousand peo- loved him in Peoria, and the entire Illi- my friend yielding. ple filled the church sanctuary, with nois baseball community. We will remember Pete and his tre- Mr. President, I read into the RECORD more standing along the aisles, to show in some detail today a letter that he their gratitude for Officer Ellis’s serv- mendous line, ‘‘Have a great day, and keep swingin’.’’ wrote with Senator LEAHY talking ice and sacrifice. about what has gone on in recent years It is incredibly moving to see the f with border security. Our country is broad outpouring of support from Ken- AMIR HEKMATI very fortunate to have this good man tuckians and the law enforcement com- Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, in Flint, leading our Homeland Security Com- munity for Officer Ellis, which I pray MI, a family anxiously awaits word of mittee. was of some comfort to Officer Ellis’s when their son and brother will return There are some Senators I don’t family at such a difficult time. Officer know as much about as I do about this to them. For more than 600 days, Amir Ellis leaves behind his wife Amy and Hekmati has been imprisoned in Iran, man, but we have been together since two sons, Hunter and Parker. 1982. He had a sabbatical for 8 years to accused of spying for the United run the State of Delaware as Governor, It can’t be stated enough, Mr. Presi- States. His capture, detention, trial but other than that, we have been dent, how deep our admiration and re- and sentencing have brought great anx- locked in arms, moving forward. spect is for every man and woman who iety to his loved ones here in the I appreciate very much his yielding. wears a police uniform and makes a United States. solemn vow to defend the lives of oth- Amir, who spent much of his child- f ers, even at the cost of their own. Po- hood in Michigan and whose family MORNING BUSINESS lice officers provide stability and jus- still lives there, was visiting relatives Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- tice in our civil society. I know my col- in Iran in August of 2011 when he was imous consent that the Senate proceed leagues in the U.S. Senate join me in arrested by Iranian police. In January to a period of morning business, with extending the deepest sympathies to of 2012, an Iranian trial court sentenced Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 the family of Officer Jason Ellis and him to death. But on March 5, 2012, minutes each. the members of the Bardstown Police Iran’s Supreme Court overturned that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Department. We are very sorry for sentence, ruled Amir’s trial had been objection, it is so ordered. their loss. flawed and ordered a new trial.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:47 Jun 13, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G12JN6.084 S12JNPT1 rfrederick on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with SENATE June 12, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4401 That was more than a year ago, and ally purchased food, which is an impor- and schools to meet our children’s yet Amir’s family still has little clue tant element of U.S. food assistance. needs and local communities’ indi- as to his fate. Amir has been held for There is no score because we are sim- vidual circumstances. much of his captivity in solitary con- ply increasing the authorization for As we know, the Senate HELP Com- finement. He has not been granted ac- this discretionary program. mittee has again begun to address the cess to his Iranian attorney and has The Local and Regional Procurement need to reform No Child Left Behind. A been allowed only limited contact with Program is based on a pilot program markup of the Strengthening Amer- family. Switzerland, which oversees authorized in the 2008 farm bill to test ica’s Schools Act began yesterday, U.S. interests in Iran, has not been projects that could help get food aid to Tuesday, June 11, 2013. I am hopeful the granted consular access to him. hungry populations faster and more ef- committee can come together to re- There is no evidence that Amir was ficiently by sourcing food in the com- duce, not expand, the Federal govern- engaged in any espionage activity munities and regions closest to those ment’s role in our local schools. I know while visiting his family in Iran. There in need. several of my colleagues share that is every reason to believe—including USDA and Cornell University have hope, including Senator ALEXANDER, the ruling of the Iranian Supreme studied the pilot program and found it who offered a substitute amendment to Court—that the information used has been able to provide aid quickly reduce the Federal mandates in the against Amir in his original trial was and efficiently while also supporting Strengthening America’s Schools Act. deeply flawed. A videotaped ‘‘confes- development of food markets in low-in- I voted for that amendment and others sion’’ broadcast on Iranian television come countries. This amendment like it. Since the Alexander amend- was obviously edited. Iranian officials would simply increase the authorized ment and several similar amendments have yet to make clear what charges, if funding level so we can invest addi- failed, I hope my colleagues will review any, Amir faces, or when he might be tional resources in this successful pro- my Educational Accountability and re-tried on those charges, even though gram. School Flexibility Act. It is intended more than a year has passed since his My amendment is supported by 20 to offer some ideas for continuing the original sentence was overturned. Hu- groups, including American Jewish conversation. manitarian and human rights groups World Service, Bread for the World, My bill would amend the Elementary including Amnesty International have CARE, Catholic Relief Services, and Secondary Education Act—also called for Amir’s release. So have a Church World Service, Columban Cen- known as No Child Left Behind—to do number of U.S.-based Islamic organiza- ter for Advocacy and Outreach, Evan- the following: No. 1: Eliminate ade- tions, including Islamic Circle of North gelical Lutheran Church in America, quate yearly progress—AYP; No. 2: America, Islamic Society of North Institute for Agriculture and Trade Allow States to stick with an approved America, Muslim Public Affairs, Coun- Policy, InterAction, Lutheran World waiver plan if that is their choice; No. cil, Council on American-Islamic Rela- Relief, Mennonite Central Committee 3: Require States, not the Federal gov- tions of Michigan, the Council of Is- U.S. Washington Office, Mercy Corps, ernment, to determine each school’s lamic Organizations of Michigan, Is- Modernizing Foreign Assistance Net- level of success in helping kids succeed lamic House of Wisdom, the Muslim work—MFAN—ONE, Oxfam America, based on broad, flexible parameters, Center of Detroit and the Michigan Partners in Health, Save the Children, publish the results, reward what Muslim Community Council. United Church of Christ Justice and schools are doing right, and help the Recently, Amir’s family has received Witness Ministries, United Methodist schools that need help; No. 4: Require some limited communication with him. Church-General Board of Church and States to diagnose why a school is not He has been able to send them letters, Society, and World Food Program improving to help fix what is wrong in and an uncle in Iran has been given USA. a way that will work for that school permission to visit Amir in prison. I wish to thank the cosponsors of this and community—not implement a This limited contact has been welcome, amendment—Republicans and Demo- school turnaround model mandated by but has only increased the family’s de- crats—for supporting this effort, in- the Federal government; No. 6: Pro- sire to secure Amir’s return. This de- cluding Senators JOHANNS, DURBIN, hibit the Secretary from prioritizing or sire is all the stronger because Amir’s ISAKSON, and LEAHY. mandating any school turnaround father, a college professor in Flint, has f strategy; No. 7: Prohibit the Secretary been diagnosed with terminal cancer. of Education from approving or dis- NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND REFORM Ali Hekmati faces his illness won- approving a State’s decisions about dering if he will ever again be able to Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I standards, tests, and accountability see his son. Islamic and universal prin- rise today to speak briefly about two while making sure the public can ac- ciples of compassion and mercy argue pieces of legislation that I have intro- cess experts’ opinions on the plans; No. for his release. duced. They are the Educational Ac- 8: Eliminate the Federal ‘‘highly quali- Our two nations have wide dif- countability and State Flexibility Act fied teacher’’ requirements and let ferences of opinion, many of them and the Early Intervention for Gradua- States decide what makes teachers longstanding, others which have tion Success Act. I intend to speak highly effective; No. 9: Continue to ask emerged more recently. But innocent with my colleagues about these bills in the low-performing schools to tutor citizens of both our nations should not the coming days and weeks, but I students who are not succeeding in be caught up in matters of state. I urge would like to take a moment now to schools; No. 10: Continue to allow pub- the Iranian government to recognize provide an overview of my thoughts. lic school choice as long as a higher the humanitarian necessity of releas- We have all heard from our constitu- performing public school is available ing Amir Hekmati and returning him ents—teachers, principals, superintend- and kids would not have to ride long to the Michigan family that has missed ents, school board members, and par- hours on dangerous roads to get there; him for so long. ents—about the No Child Left Behind and No. 11: Respect the voice and ex- Act. Clearly, the law has some good f pertise of our Nation’s indigenous first things. Americans deserve account- peoples regarding what helps Native THE FARM BILL ability for how their Federal tax dol- children succeed in school. Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I wish to lars are spent, even when they are I have also reintroduced my Early speak to my amendment No. 1079 to the spent in their local schools. Parents Intervention for Graduation Success farm bill. This amendment—with Re- want to know their local schools can Act with a few changes from last Con- publican and Democratic support— help prepare their children for the fu- gress. I hope my colleagues will take would simply increase the authoriza- ture. But No Child Left Behind went some time to review this legislation. tion for the Local and Regional Pro- too far. My bill, the Educational Ac- This legislation would, if enacted, curement Program from $40 million per countability and State Flexibility Act, amend the current school dropout pre- year to $60 million per year. seeks to maintain reasonable account- vention provisions of the Elementary It would increase the flexibility for ability to taxpayers and parents while and Secondary Education Act. It would aid providers to use locally and region- providing greater flexibility to States focus attention on identifying and

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