March 25, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 7 8503 SENATE—Wednesday, March 25, 2009 The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was SCHEDULE Foreign Service in 1971, beginning a ca- called to order by the Honorable TOM Mr. REID. Mr. President, following reer that would take him to diplomatic UDALL, a Senator from the State of leaders’ remarks, we are going to have posts in Iran, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, New Mexico. morning business for up to 1 hour. The and Iraq. Ambassador Crocker served first 30 minutes will be controlled by as Ambassador to Syria, Kuwait, Leb- PRAYER the Democrats and the Republicans anon, Pakistan, and, most recently, The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- will control the second 30 minutes. Iraq. Clearly, he has not shied away fered the following prayer: During that time, Senators will be al- from a challenge. And he has excelled Let us pray. lowed to speak therein for up to 10 at every one. Most holy and gracious God, who minutes each. Earlier in his career, Ambassador turns the shadow of night into morn- Following morning business, we will Crocker served in Lebanon during the ing, thank You for the gift of this new proceed to, once again, take up the Na- Israeli invasion of 1982 and the bomb- day. As we work for You and country, tional Service Reauthorization Act, ing of the U.S. Marine barracks in let the light of Your countenance shine H.R. 1388. At noon, we are going to vote 1983—experiences from which he would upon our lawmakers, calming their on the confirmation of David Kris to be later draw important lessons while troubled thoughts and guiding their Assistant Attorney General. We have a serving in Iraq, particularly in 2007, feet in the way of peace. Lord, give special Democratic caucus from 12:30 to when Shia militias and Sunni insur- them the ability to see the small 2 p.m. today. The President will be at gents fed sectarian tensions and tribal things that need their attention and that caucus. After the caucus, the Sen- feuds. the courage to see the things that are ate will resume consideration of the Ambassador Crocker’s career spanned not and ask ‘‘Why not’’? Turn their national service legislation. Rollcall the entire Middle East and recent U.S. minds and hands to the tasks that votes are expected to occur throughout history. But he will undoubtedly be re- bring glory to Your Name, and may the afternoon. We are not going to be membered most for his service in Iraq. their words and thoughts be acceptable in recess from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Success in Iraq was never ensured, but to You. May the knowledge of Your I suggest the absence of a quorum. it was made far more likely by the blessings to our Nation awaken in The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- presence of Ryan Crocker. As Ambas- them a deeper commitment to You. pore. The clerk will call the roll. sador from March 2007 to February We pray in Your wonderful Name. The assistant legislative clerk pro- 2009, he was instrumental in carrying Amen. ceeded to call the roll. out the diplomatic tasks required to implement the counterinsurgency f Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- imous consent that the order for the strategy, and to successfully defend PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE quorum call be rescinded. that strategy before a skeptical Con- The Honorable TOM UDALL led the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- gress. He also carried out the negotia- Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: pore. Without objection, it is so or- tion that produced the Status of Forces Agreement, and he helped Iraqis I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the dered. United States of America, and to the Repub- Mr. REID. Mr. President, we will be through provincial elections. In all lic for which it stands, one nation under God, in recess from 12:30 until 2 p.m. I said this, Ambassador Crocker forged a indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. that we would not be, but there is al- strong partnership with GEN David Petraeus that protected our Nation’s f ready an order to that effect. I wanted to explain that. interests in Iraq at a moment of peril. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING Ryan Crocker has served his Nation PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE f with honor, and our country owes him The PRESIDING OFFICER. The RECOGNITION OF THE a debt. He is a diplomat’s diplomat, the clerk will please read a communication REPUBLICAN LEADER best of the best, and a tribute to the State Department that he has served. to the Senate from the President pro The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tempore (Mr. BYRD). He is also a very fine man, and I wish pore. The Republican leader is recog- him well in retirement and the best of The legislative clerk read the fol- nized. lowing letter: luck in the future. Ambassador Crock- f er may be leaving the stage, but his U.S. SENATE, service to our Nation will not be for- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, AMBASSADOR RYAN CROCKER Washington, DC, March 25, 2009. gotten. To the Senate: Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, it is I yield the floor. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, appropriate for us to honor, from time The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby to time, outstanding public servants pore. The Senator from California is appoint the Honorable TOM UDALL, a Senator whose work on behalf of the American recognized. from the State of New Mexico, to perform people might otherwise be overlooked. Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, what is the duties of the Chair. Next week, Ambassador Ryan Crock- the order? ROBERT C. BYRD, er will return home to Washington f President pro tempore. State after a remarkable career pro- Mr. UDALL thereupon assumed the moting America’s interests abroad. In RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME chair as Acting President pro tempore. a career spanning nearly 40 years, Am- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- f bassador Crocker has represented the pore. Under the previous order, leader- United States in some of the most ship time is reserved. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY challenging environments. So it is fit- f LEADER ting that we pause to honor him for a The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- job well done. MORNING BUSINESS pore. The majority leader is recog- A graduate of Whitman College in The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- nized. Washington, Ryan Crocker joined the pore. Under the previous order, the ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. VerDate Mar 15 2010 12:05 Aug 01, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR09\S25MR9.000 S25MR9 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 8504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 7 March 25, 2009 Senate will proceed to a period of ality, honesty, integrity, and invest- Make no mistake, these higher rates will morning business for up to 1 hour, with ments that have to be made. What are cost jobs. Senators permitted to speak therein we getting from our Republican Wrong—23 million jobs created. for up to 10 minutes each, with the friends? We are getting just what we How about Senator Phil Gramm, one time equally divided and controlled be- got when the Clinton budget passed of the leaders of the Republicans in the tween the two leaders or their des- without one Republican vote. I want to Senate at the time of the Clinton budg- ignees, with the majority controlling take us back to that because I think it et that created 23 million jobs, took the first half and the Republicans con- is very interesting, intriguing, and en- the deficit, turned it into surplus, what trolling the second half. lightening to see what our Republican did he say? The Senator from California is recog- friends said about the last Democratic I want to predict here tonight that if we nized. President’s budget. You would have adopt this bill, the American economy is f thought the sky was falling. You would going to get weaker and not stronger, the have thought the universe would never deficit 4 years from today will be higher than THE BUDGET it is today and not lower. When all is survive. I have some of the quotes they Mrs. BOXER. I came to the floor to said and done, people will pay more taxes, made about the Clinton budgets. the economy will create fewer jobs, Govern- talk about the budget debate. I think it If people will remember, Al Gore, as is very important that we let the ment will spend more money, and the Amer- Vice President, had to come over here ican people will be worse off. American people know where we are on and cast the tie-breaking vote on that the budget and what this debate is Wrong. Phil Gramm was wrong. Oh, budget. Here is what happened as a re- Phil Gramm, he is the one who said really all about. sult of that budget; we will talk about We have a new President and we have this recession was in our minds. that first. As a result of the Clinton Here is another quote of Phil a new budget, thank goodness. We have budget, we saw 23 million new jobs cre- a budget that reflects the hopes and Gramm—remember, he was a leader of ated in this country—not millions of the Republicans then—talking about dreams of the American people.