Daniel Akaka

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I congratulate Mililani High School senior Lucia Mocz for winning the third place Addiction Science Award at this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF. With over 1,500 students participating from more than 50 countries, the Intel ISEF is the world's largest science competition for high school students. The awards were presented by the National Institute on Drug Abuse--NIDA--at a ceremony on May 14, 2009. I wish to acknowledge Lucia's technical skill, innovation, and creativity in creating her winning project. Lucia's computer science project, ``Complex Evaluation of Danger and Tranquility in Urban Settings: An Immunocomputing Intelligence Approach,'' used an artificial intelligence algorithm to generate highly detailed maps correlating indicators of danger and tranquility in the urban region of her hometown. While there are medical and behavioral science awards given by various public and private agencies, this is the first series of awards given exclusively for projects that advance addiction science. However, this young woman could not have achieved what she has done without the additional support and knowledge of science and social issues provided by her teachers. I commend the teachers at Mililani High School, who played a role in Lucia's success. Their dedication to instructing, nourishing and inspiring the next generation of professionals is exemplary. Her family is recognized as well for their commitment, sacrifice, and support that all helped to encourage and instill the important values that led to her award. I would also like to note NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow's comments that ``our judges recognized a provocative strategy that could one day help us better understand how the built environment relates to patterns of drug abuse . . . This approach nicely mirrors the multidimensionality of the many factors known to influence the risk and consequences of drug abuse in our communities.'' I encourage Lucia to continue to study and follow her passions for applied science and social issues. I wish nothing but the best for the her and her family and wish her continued success as she faces the challenges of college and beyond.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I support the Credit CARD Act of 2009. I want to commend the chairman of the Banking Committee for his outstanding efforts to craft this legislation. I also appreciate the work done by Senator Shelby in developing a bill that should be able to garner broad bipartisan support and become law. Too many in our country are burdened by significant credit card debt. Not enough has been done to protect consumers and ensure they are able to properly manage their credit burden. We must do more to educate, protect, and empower consumers. Although this comprehensive legislation has numerous provisions that benefit consumers, my remarks will focus on the portion of the legislation which is based on my legislation, the Credit Card Minimum Payment Warning Act. I originally introduced the act in the 108th Congress. I have greatly appreciated the efforts of Senators Durbin, Schumer, and Leahy, who helped develop and support the legislation. I also want to acknowledge Senator Feinstein for her contributions on this issue. We attempted to attach our legislation as an amendment to improve the flawed minimum payment warning in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention Act. On March 2, 2005, an editorial in the Washington Post criticized the bankruptcy legislation then being considered. The editorial stated, ``at the very least, as Senator Daniel K. Akaka has proposed, credit card issuers, who now send out five billion solicitations a year . . . ought to be required to disclose to borrowers the true cost of making only the minimum payments.'' Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the entire editorial be printed in the Record following my remarks. Unfortunately, our amendment was defeated.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, although there have been some modifications and additions, the Credit CARD Act contains the primary provisions of my legislation. The legislation requires that consumers be told how long it will take to repay their entire balance if they make only minimum payments. The total cost if the consumer pays only the minimum payment, would also have to be disclosed. These provisions will make individuals much more aware of the true cost of credit card debt. Consumers would have to be provided with the amount they need to pay to eliminate their outstanding balance within 36 months, which is a typical length of a debt management plan. The personalized payment disclosures are important, but consumers must be given opportunities to find reputable credit counseling services. Section 201 also includes our requirement for creditors to establish and maintain a toll-free number so that consumers can access trustworthy credit counselors. The toll-free number will have to appear on credit card billing statements along with the minimum payment warning information. More working families are trying to survive financially and meet their financial obligations. Consumers often seek out help from credit counselors to better manage their debt burdens. It is extremely troubling that unscrupulous credit counselors exploit individuals who are trying to locate the assistance that they need. As financial pressures increase for working families, credit counseling becomes even more important. The CARD Act will assist working families with finding credit counselors that will help, rather than exploit, them. Yesterday, I filed an amendment to the CARD Act to simplify the administration of the credit counseling referral provision. The amendment requires the Federal Reserve Board to issue the guidelines for the development and maintenance by creditors of a toll-free number to provide information about credit counseling and debt management services. Referrals for credit counseling services via the toll-free number could only go to nonprofit credit counseling agencies approved by U.S. bankruptcy trustees. This modification will utilize an existing approval process and list of reputable credit counselors rather than creating a new approval process for the purposes of section 201. I thank the chairman and ranking member for their willingness to accept this amendment. After many years, it appears that we may finally be enacting a bill that will educate, protect, and empower credit card consumers. Once again, I thank Chairman Dodd for all of his outstanding efforts to help working families. The administration also deserves credit for their efforts to help move this legislation closer to enactment. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and the administration on this and other essential consumer protection legislation. Exhibit 1 [From the Washington Post, Mar. 2, 2005] Fixing the Bankruptcy System Until this year, the seemingly perennial congressional debate about overhauling the nation's bankruptcy laws was something of an academic exercise: The measure wasn't going to pass because Senate Democrats insisted on an abortion amendment unacceptable to the House. Now, with a bolstered Republican majority, it's not clear that Democrats can muster enough votes for that amendment, which would prevent antiabortion protesters from filing for bankruptcy to evade damage awards. As a result, the underlying question about the bankruptcy bill suddenly matters: Does it strike the right balance between preserving the protections of bankruptcy and preventing abuse by spendthrifts? The bill is neither as draconian as its opponents protest nor as balanced as its supporters proclaim. Its central tenet, that those who can repay some of their debts ought to do so, is reasonable. But the bill could be made fairer with a number of amendments set to be considered. The number of Americans filing for bankruptcy exploded in the past quarter-century. In 1980, there was one personal bankruptcy filing for every 336 households in the United States; in 1993, one for every 144 households; and in 2003, one for every 73 households. But there is little agreement on the cause of this growth. Those who support tightening bankruptcy laws say the system is abused by people who could repay their debts but are no longer deterred by the stigma once associated with bankruptcy. Those who oppose the change say credit card companies entice borrowers to run up their bills; they also cite the toll of medical debt among those who lack adequate health insurance. The Senate bill would tighten access to the most generous and popular form of bankruptcy, Chapter 7. People filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can wipe out their debts and get a ``fresh start.'' The bill would impose a means test: Debtors who earn less than the median income in their state--about 80 percent of those who file for bankruptcy--still would be entitled to file under Chapter 7. But those who earn more than that--and who have the ability to repay at least $6,000 over five years--would have to file under Chapter 13, which requires a repayment plan. Experts estimate that means testing would affect no more than 10 percent of consumer bankruptcy filers. In theory a means test is reasonable, but the test in this legislation is unnecessarily rigid. It considers the previous six months of earnings, even if the bankruptcy filer is now out of work. Moreover, once filers show that their income is below the median, there's no reason to require them to provide additional information. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D- Mass.) has outlined amendments to address these issues, as well as a sensible proposal that would provide a $150,000 homestead exemption to help the elderly and those driven to bankruptcy by medical expenses keep their homes. If the Senate tightens rules for those filing for bankruptcy, it also should crack down on the corporate practices that contribute to the problem. At the very least, as Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) has proposed, credit card issuers, who now send out 5 billion solicitations a year and whose profits have soared, ought to be required to disclose to borrowers the true cost of making only the minimum payment on their balances.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate this Nation's many dedicated public servants. As we confront the global outbreak of the 2009 influenza H1N1 virus, public servants are on the front lines in a coordinated Federal, State, and local government response, working to provide the public with accurate, real time information to reduce the possibility of further infection. At our borders and ports, Federal employees are monitoring incoming visitors for signs of illness. State and local health officials are monitoring, testing, and treating people with suspected cases of the flu virus. This effort is one of the many contributions hardworking, talented government employees make to improve our lives every day. They deliver our mail, care for our veterans, guard our prisons, protect our borders and communities, defend our country, and educate our children. They influence the lives of people around the world as diplomats, promoting peace, prosperity, and democracy in conflicted regions, and providing critical assistance to developing and impoverished communities. In honor of these and many other unsung activities of public servants, I offered an annual resolution, S. Res. 87, which unanimously passed the Senate on April 21, 2009, to recognize the dedicated men and women who serve our country, honor those brave heroes who died in service to their country, and encourage all Americans to consider a career in public service. Last week was Public Service Recognition Week. We set aside the first full week of May to recognize and honor the accomplishments of Federal, State, and local government employees. Across the country, hundreds of events took place in appreciation of the millions of public servants who serve as the quiet bedrock of our Nation's workforce. This year's celebration included a 4-day exhibition on the National Mall where more than 100 civilian and military Federal agencies showcased their programs and initiatives to the public. In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy called on all Americans to make a commitment to public service. His call inspired a generation to serve. President Barrack Obama again called for action in his inaugural address. Public interest in Federal Government jobs is increasing, but we must ensure that Americans who embrace a public service career are not deterred by the lengthy and complicated hiring process. Last week, I held a hearing on how to improve Federal job recruitment so that we can harness the renewed spirit of service that President Obama has inspired. There is no better time to rise to the occasion and serve. As a former teacher and a life-long public servant, I am proud to highlight the importance of Public Service Recognition Week. This is a critical time for our Nation, with many domestic and global challenges. Although we have designated a week to honor government employees, I rise today to stress the importance of remembering the invaluable service of public servants throughout the year. Our way of life--and the strength of our country would not exist without the work of public employees. And so to all the dedicated men and women currently serving our Nation, mahalo nui loa--thank you very much--for all that you do. Mr. President, I am including Director John Berry's letter of support for Public Service Recognition Week with my statement and ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record following my remarks.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to reintroduce the National Foreign Language Coordination Act with my colleagues Senators Cochran, Dodd, and Durbin. Through sustained leadership and a coordinated plan of action, our bill aims to increase the number of individuals with foreign language skills and cultural understanding. Globalization has made the world smaller and Americans must be better equipped, with language skills and cultural knowledge, not only to survive in it, but to prosper. Whether it is: competing on the world market to provide goods and services, cross cultural exchanges between educators and business people of different countries, or allied military or diplomatic operations to make the world more secure and peaceful, all of these efforts require communication to succeed. It took the tragic events of 9-11 to bring attention to our shortage of foreign language speakers. Many of you know about the emergency call for linguists following the attacks. Unfortunately, this was not surprising. The fact that only 9.3 percent of all Americans speak both their native languages and another language fluently, compared with 56 percent of people in the European Union, is cause for alarm. Our national security continues to be at risk without enough foreign language proficient individuals. Counterterrorism intelligence will go untranslated, or be so late as to lose its usefulness, if we do not have more foreign language experts. Foreign language skills are also vitally important to preserve the economic competitiveness of the U.S. Globalization forces some Americans to compete for jobs in a marketplace no longer limited by borders. According to the Committee for Economic Development, the lack of foreign language skills and international knowledge results in embarrassing and costly cultural blunders for companies. In fact, the Committee reports that American companies lose an estimated $2 billion a year due to inadequate cultural understanding. Many of the Federal Government's efforts to address language needs in the U.S. over the past 40 years have come in reaction to international events. We do not have a proactive policy. In 1958, the National Defense Education Act was passed in response to the Soviet Union's first space launch. We were determined to win the space race and make certain that the U.S. never came up short again in math, science, technology, or foreign languages. That act was a great success, but in the late 70s its foreign language programs merged into larger education reform measures and lost their prominence. The results are clear. In 1979, the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies said that ``Americans' incompetence in foreign languages is nothing short of scandalous, and it is becoming worse.'' After 9-11, Congress and the administration once again took action to address language shortfalls, but I fear that these efforts will prove to be only a band-aid and not a complete cure to the Nation's recurring foreign language needs. Despite the administration's efforts to implement new programs and policies to address our language shortfalls, I fear that without sustained leadership and a coordinated effort among all Federal agencies, state and local governments, the private sector, and academia, we will remain where we are today: scrambling to find linguists after another major international event. We must be prepared to avoid another 9-11 type shortage. Together we must commit to build and maintain language expertise and relationships with people from all across the world--whether or not the languages they speak are considered critical at the time--and to ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to prevent catastrophic events--or at least be prepared to respond to them. To this end, there needs to be one person in the Executive Branch who will lead the cross- agency efforts to better understand America's language needs for the next 5, 15, or 20 years, and to figure out how to address those needs. This leadership must be comprehensive, as no one sector--Government, industry, or academia--has all of the needs for language and cultural competency, or all of the solutions. The Bush administration's National Security Language Initiative was a good first step at coordinating efforts among the Intelligence Directorate and the Departments of Defense, Education, and State to address our national security language needs. However, we must ensure that this effort will continue, bring in the advice of all Federal agencies and stakeholders, and address our economic security needs. The legislation we introduce today would set us on the right course by implementing a key recommendation of the 2004 Department of Defense, DOD, National Language Conference and echoed by Department of Defense sponsored State language roadmap summits which is to establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council, chaired by a National Language Advisor. An integrated foreign language strategy and sustained leadership within the Federal Government is needed to address the lack of foreign language proficient speakers in government, academia and the private sector. Just as I have advocated the need for deputy secretaries for management at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to direct and sustain management leadership, I envision a National Language Advisor to be responsible for maintaining and leading a cooperative effort to strengthen our foreign language capabilities. Without such a coordinated strategy in the world in which we live, I fear that the country's national and economic security will be at greater risk. Specifically, our bill ensures that the key recommendations of the DOD National Language Conference be implemented by having strong leadership that will develop policies and programs that build the Nation's language and cultural understanding capability; engage Federal, State, and local agencies and the private sector in solutions; develop language skills in a wide range of critical languages; strengthen our education system, programs, and tools in foreign languages and cultures; and, integrate language training into career fields and increasing the number of language professionals. To strengthen the role of the U.S. in the world, our country must ensure that there are sufficient numbers of individuals who are proficient in languages other than English. Increasing foreign language skills enhances national security and economic prosperity. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to reintroduce the National Foreign Language Coordination Act with my colleagues Senators Cochran, Dodd, and Durbin. Through sustained leadership and a coordinated plan of action, our bill aims to increase the number of individuals with foreign language skills and cultural understanding. Globalization has made the world smaller and Americans must be better equipped, with language skills and cultural knowledge, not only to survive in it, but to prosper. Whether it is: competing on the world market to provide goods and services, cross cultural exchanges between educators and business people of different countries, or allied military or diplomatic operations to make the world more secure and peaceful, all of these efforts require communication to succeed. It took the tragic events of 9-11 to bring attention to our shortage of foreign language speakers. Many of you know about the emergency call for linguists following the attacks. Unfortunately, this was not surprising. The fact that only 9.3 percent of all Americans speak both their native languages and another language fluently, compared with 56 percent of people in the European Union, is cause for alarm. Our national security continues to be at risk without enough foreign language proficient individuals. Counterterrorism intelligence will go untranslated, or be so late as to lose its usefulness, if we do not have more foreign language experts. Foreign language skills are also vitally important to preserve the economic competitiveness of the U.S. Globalization forces some Americans to compete for jobs in a marketplace no longer limited by borders. According to the Committee for Economic Development, the lack of foreign language skills and international knowledge results in embarrassing and costly cultural blunders for companies. In fact, the Committee reports that American companies lose an estimated $2 billion a year due to inadequate cultural understanding. Many of the Federal Government's efforts to address language needs in the U.S. over the past 40 years have come in reaction to international events. We do not have a proactive policy. In 1958, the National Defense Education Act was passed in response to the Soviet Union's first space launch. We were determined to win the space race and make certain that the U.S. never came up short again in math, science, technology, or foreign languages. That act was a great success, but in the late 70s its foreign language programs merged into larger education reform measures and lost their prominence. The results are clear. In 1979, the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies said that ``Americans' incompetence in foreign languages is nothing short of scandalous, and it is becoming worse.'' After 9-11, Congress and the administration once again took action to address language shortfalls, but I fear that these efforts will prove to be only a band-aid and not a complete cure to the Nation's recurring foreign language needs. Despite the administration's efforts to implement new programs and policies to address our language shortfalls, I fear that without sustained leadership and a coordinated effort among all Federal agencies, state and local governments, the private sector, and academia, we will remain where we are today: scrambling to find linguists after another major international event. We must be prepared to avoid another 9-11 type shortage. Together we must commit to build and maintain language expertise and relationships with people from all across the world--whether or not the languages they speak are considered critical at the time--and to ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to prevent catastrophic events--or at least be prepared to respond to them. To this end, there needs to be one person in the Executive Branch who will lead the cross- agency efforts to better understand America's language needs for the next 5, 15, or 20 years, and to figure out how to address those needs. This leadership must be comprehensive, as no one sector--Government, industry, or academia--has all of the needs for language and cultural competency, or all of the solutions. The Bush administration's National Security Language Initiative was a good first step at coordinating efforts among the Intelligence Directorate and the Departments of Defense, Education, and State to address our national security language needs. However, we must ensure that this effort will continue, bring in the advice of all Federal agencies and stakeholders, and address our economic security needs. The legislation we introduce today would set us on the right course by implementing a key recommendation of the 2004 Department of Defense, DOD, National Language Conference and echoed by Department of Defense sponsored State language roadmap summits which is to establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council, chaired by a National Language Advisor. An integrated foreign language strategy and sustained leadership within the Federal Government is needed to address the lack of foreign language proficient speakers in government, academia and the private sector. Just as I have advocated the need for deputy secretaries for management at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to direct and sustain management leadership, I envision a National Language Advisor to be responsible for maintaining and leading a cooperative effort to strengthen our foreign language capabilities. Without such a coordinated strategy in the world in which we live, I fear that the country's national and economic security will be at greater risk. Specifically, our bill ensures that the key recommendations of the DOD National Language Conference be implemented by having strong leadership that will develop policies and programs that build the Nation's language and cultural understanding capability; engage Federal, State, and local agencies and the private sector in solutions; develop language skills in a wide range of critical languages; strengthen our education system, programs, and tools in foreign languages and cultures; and, integrate language training into career fields and increasing the number of language professionals. To strengthen the role of the U.S. in the world, our country must ensure that there are sufficient numbers of individuals who are proficient in languages other than English. Increasing foreign language skills enhances national security and economic prosperity. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am today introducing the proposed Clarification of Characteristics of Combat Service Act of 2009. This legislation is designed to address concerns which have been noted during the Committee's oversight visits to VA regional offices. From the review of claims folders as part of ongoing oversight, Committee staff has noted that VA adjudicators often fail to factor in the existence of common occurrences when considering claims from combat veterans because there is no formal evidence on the matters in question in the claimant's official military records. When common hazards exist in particular areas where our armed forces have or are serving, a means must be established to determine whether a particular veteran's claim of exposure to such hazard or matter is consistent with the circumstances of service in that area, even without evidence in individual official records. This proposed bill would establish a mechanism by requiring VA to promulgate regulations that would include standards that VA adjudicators would use for evaluating the consistency between lay evidence and claimed matters, such as exposure to factors common to servicemembers serving in particular combat areas. This proposed bill is intended to result in recognition by VA that, where there is evidence of common events, a veteran's testimony, if consistent with other evidence, would be accepted without requiring specific, formal evidence of individual exposure to the event. By law, lay testimony is currently recognized in claims where a veteran served in a military unit which participated in combat. While this bill is not intended to provide a presumption of service-connection for any particular disability, it should improve the accurate adjudication of claims in those cases where a veteran served in an area where certain events or exposures are widespread. For example, there is widespread agreement that those who have served in Iraq since the start of the conflict there have been exposed to improvised explosive devices--IEDs. However, based on Committee oversight, it appears that it often happens that, when a veteran applies for compensation for disabilities related to IED exposure, such as tinnitus, the claim may be denied if the veteran's service medical record does not show treatment for tinnitus in service or otherwise documents exposure to an IED. Since it would be highly unusual to find documentation of treatment where a veteran in a combat zone has consulted with medical personnel for a relatively minor condition, such as exposure to an IED which did not cause acute observable injury, the formal records would not be of use to the claimant. The regulations required by the legislation I am introducing would likely include provision for conceding exposure to an IED in claims brought by veterans who served in Iraq. Another example of the problems that the legislation is designed to address involves claims from Korean war veterans, many of whom were exposed to extreme cold, but whose records may not have documentation of treatment for a cold injury or information on the actual temperature to which they were exposed. I would anticipate that the regulations required by this legislation would provide for VA to concede exposure to subfreezing temperatures in such cases if consistent with the location where the veteran served. I expect that this measure should speed the processing by claims, by not requiring each veteran to individually establish by official government records, which often do not document individual participation, exposure to one or more events which are well established as circumstances involving the place and type of the veteran's service. In closing, I note that this legislation has been developed in consultation with VA and with a variety of individuals and groups interested in VA claims but I do not view it as a final approach. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee and in the Senate, as well as with those with an interest in this issue, to improve this bill so that combat veterans of the current conflicts and of earlier conflicts who allege exposure to well-recognized events will not be burdened by requirements of acquiring official evidence of individual participation in such events. This should help veterans receive the benefits they deserve in a timely manner. I urge support for this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am today introducing the proposed Clarification of Characteristics of Combat Service Act of 2009. This legislation is designed to address concerns which have been noted during the Committee's oversight visits to VA regional offices. From the review of claims folders as part of ongoing oversight, Committee staff has noted that VA adjudicators often fail to factor in the existence of common occurrences when considering claims from combat veterans because there is no formal evidence on the matters in question in the claimant's official military records. When common hazards exist in particular areas where our armed forces have or are serving, a means must be established to determine whether a particular veteran's claim of exposure to such hazard or matter is consistent with the circumstances of service in that area, even without evidence in individual official records. This proposed bill would establish a mechanism by requiring VA to promulgate regulations that would include standards that VA adjudicators would use for evaluating the consistency between lay evidence and claimed matters, such as exposure to factors common to servicemembers serving in particular combat areas. This proposed bill is intended to result in recognition by VA that, where there is evidence of common events, a veteran's testimony, if consistent with other evidence, would be accepted without requiring specific, formal evidence of individual exposure to the event. By law, lay testimony is currently recognized in claims where a veteran served in a military unit which participated in combat. While this bill is not intended to provide a presumption of service-connection for any particular disability, it should improve the accurate adjudication of claims in those cases where a veteran served in an area where certain events or exposures are widespread. For example, there is widespread agreement that those who have served in Iraq since the start of the conflict there have been exposed to improvised explosive devices--IEDs. However, based on Committee oversight, it appears that it often happens that, when a veteran applies for compensation for disabilities related to IED exposure, such as tinnitus, the claim may be denied if the veteran's service medical record does not show treatment for tinnitus in service or otherwise documents exposure to an IED. Since it would be highly unusual to find documentation of treatment where a veteran in a combat zone has consulted with medical personnel for a relatively minor condition, such as exposure to an IED which did not cause acute observable injury, the formal records would not be of use to the claimant. The regulations required by the legislation I am introducing would likely include provision for conceding exposure to an IED in claims brought by veterans who served in Iraq. Another example of the problems that the legislation is designed to address involves claims from Korean war veterans, many of whom were exposed to extreme cold, but whose records may not have documentation of treatment for a cold injury or information on the actual temperature to which they were exposed. I would anticipate that the regulations required by this legislation would provide for VA to concede exposure to subfreezing temperatures in such cases if consistent with the location where the veteran served. I expect that this measure should speed the processing by claims, by not requiring each veteran to individually establish by official government records, which often do not document individual participation, exposure to one or more events which are well established as circumstances involving the place and type of the veteran's service. In closing, I note that this legislation has been developed in consultation with VA and with a variety of individuals and groups interested in VA claims but I do not view it as a final approach. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee and in the Senate, as well as with those with an interest in this issue, to improve this bill so that combat veterans of the current conflicts and of earlier conflicts who allege exposure to well-recognized events will not be burdened by requirements of acquiring official evidence of individual participation in such events. This should help veterans receive the benefits they deserve in a timely manner. I urge support for this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I congratulate Mrs. Agnes Kalanihookaha Cope for receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The honorary degree is typically conferred on worthy candidates who have distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions in areas other than science. The degree will be awarded at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Spring 2009 commencement ceremony. I wish to acknowledge ``Auntie Aggie,'' as she is fondly known, for her long dedication and inspirational efforts in organizing the practice, preservation and perpetuation of ethnic cultures in the state of Hawaii, particularly the Hawaiian culture. She has also demonstrated a commitment to improving the health of Native Hawaiians--physically, culturally, and mentally. Aunty Aggie is an established educator, talented and respected kumu hula or Hawaiian dance instructor, and an ardent advocate for Native Hawaiians. A few of her many noteworthy accomplishments include--founding the Waianae Coast Culture and Arts Society, helping to found the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and serving as board chair of Papa Ola Lokahi, the Native Hawaiian Health Care Organizations. Auntie Aggie is a true guardian of the culture and the arts. The legacy and testament to her work is the Agnes Cope Community and Cultural Health Award, which is issued by the Brown and Bakken World Health awards program for the purposes of bringing the community together and working collaboratively to improve world health. However, Aunty Aggie could not have achieved what she has done without the additional support and knowledge of her family and community. I commend all those who have helped in her efforts to be a leader in the Hawaiian renaissance and to keep the Native Hawaiian culture and community alive and thriving. I would also like to echo University of Hawaii Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw who said, ``Spanning four decades, Mrs. Cope's personal dedication and civic contributions to enhancing the health and education of Native Hawaiians and preserving their culture have improved the lives of all citizens of Hawaii.'' I congratulate Aunty Aggie and challenge the next generation to continue her important work and wish them all continued success in the years to come.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to create a program within the Department of Veterans Affairs for family caregivers. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues Senator Burr, the Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Tester, Senator Burns, and Senator Rockefeller, former Chairman of the Committee. Some veterans returning from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as previous conflicts, suffer from disabilities that prevent them from being fully independent. This is a sad fact of war. The legislation I am introducing today is designed to provide for several improvements in health care for veterans by supporting the family members who care for them. The challenges faced by family caregivers are well known to us. We have been working on this issue for nearly two years. Provisions that then-Senator Clinton included in a health care omnibus bill reported by the Committee last Congress would have provided for pilot programs to serve caregivers. We have since learned much more about the role family members play in caring for injured veterans, and the needs of family caregivers. I think we are now beyond the scope of that original pilot program and I believe that a full-fledged permanent program is needed in VA. First, it is well known that the involvement of family members in the provision of health care dramatically improves speed and success of recovery. This bill will give family members the resources needed to be involved in the care for their loved one. Second, many disabled veterans are not able to complete some tasks of daily living on their own, but do not require care in an institution. Allowing a veteran to remain in the home, while having family members meet the veteran's needs, will vastly improve quality of life for the veteran. Caregivers, who are members of a veteran's family, often put their lives on hold in order to provide care for the injured or disabled veteran at home. In some instances, these caregivers are unable to maintain regular jobs because of the time consumed in providing sufficient care to the veteran. This has the compound effect of decreasing household income, and possibly preventing the caregiver from keeping health insurance. This legislation would help alleviate these problems so as to allow the caregiver to focus entirely on caring for the veteran. This bill includes provisions for training and certifying family caregivers or personal care attendants. It would provide for mental health counseling, health care eligibility, a living stipend, and other critical services to support these caregivers. Additionally, this bill would make improvements to the services VA provides to family members who must travel to take the veteran to a VA facility to receive treatment. I look forward to working with all of our colleagues to pass this much needed legislation. I especially thank Senators Burr and Rockefeller for cosponsoring this bill. I would also like to thank the dedicated members of the Wounded Warrior Project and Paralyzed Veterans of America for their tireless efforts in support of this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my good friend Senator Voinovich as we introduce the Federal Executive Board Authorization Act of 2009 to formalize Federal Executive Boards, FEBs, in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. President Kennedy issued a Directive in 1961 creating FEBs to allow the heads of Federal agencies outside of Washington, DC to come together to address local issues in their Federal communities. There are now 28 Boards in 20 States, including Hawaii. Because they have never been authorized in legislation, FEBs have no institutionalized structure; each has its own operating structure. Some have an executive director, while some have no permanent staff at all. They also do not receive specific appropriations. As a result, FEBs must cobble together voluntary funding from participating agencies. The Office of Personnel Management oversees the mission and activities of FEBs. Part of FEBs' mission is to offer agencies outside of Washington, DC an opportunity to share information, collaborate to address shared concerns, discuss management and administrative challenges, and come together as a Federal community. Each Board sets its own specific priorities and activities based on local concerns and the leadership in a given area. Additionally, FEBs' mission is to play a critical support role in coordinating emergency preparedness and response efforts for a given area. The Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board regularly hosts and participates in preparedness exercises in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. When the Interstate 35 West Bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 1, 2007, the Executive Director of the Minnesota FEB helped disseminate critical information to over 100 Federal agencies and coordinate with the State and local emergency response network. FEBs have shared information with each other to assist in preparing for large events as well. For example, the Boston FEB used their experience with the Democratic National Convention in 2004 to help the Denver and Minnesota FEBs prepare for the National Party Conventions in 2008. At a hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia on September 28, 2007, which I chaired, it was clear that FEBs lack of formal structure hinders their critical support role in emergency preparedness and response. At that hearing, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, testified that FEBs have no clear role in national emergency planning, no framework to operate, no accountability in performing their duties, and no funding to carry out their missions. Additionally, FEB Executive Directors from around the country testified about the frustrations of operating without stable funding or a clear structure. Since the hearing, FEBs have been included in FEMA's National Response Framework, and OPM and FEMA have signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, giving FEBs a formal role in emergency preparedness and response. The Federal Executive Board Authorization Act of 2009 would implement other recommendations made by GAO and the representatives from FEBs at the 2007 hearing. More specifically, the bill would formalize the role of Federal Executive Boards, which would include interagency collaboration and Federal agency emergency preparedness and response outside of Washington, DC; establish a process for establishing new FEBs; require OPM to establish performance standards for FEBs; specify a funding formula, which OPM will administer, for FEBs based on the number of employees in a Federal agency in a given area; and authorize staffing levels for each FEB to have at least an Executive Director and one support staff member. Eighty-five percent of the Federal workforce is employed outside of the Washington, DC area. We spend billions of dollars preparing the National Capital Region for emergencies, but we must focus more on Federal Government agency emergency preparedness and response outside of the Washington area. This legislation will address that pressing need. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Improving Access to Mainstream Financial Institutions Act of 2009. This bill provides economic empowerment and educational opportunities for working families by helping bank the unbanked and increasing access to financial literacy opportunities. It will also encourage the use of mainstream financial institutions for working families that need small loans. I thank my cosponsors, Senators Schumer, Inouye, and Lieberman. Too many Americans lack basic financial literacy. Americans of all ages and backgrounds face increasingly complex financial decisions as members of the nation's workforce, managers of their families' resources, and voting citizens. Many find these decisions confusing and frustrating because they lack the tools necessary that would enable them to make wise, personal choices about their finances. Without a sufficient understanding of economics and personal finance, individuals will not be able to appropriately manage their finances, effectively evaluate credit opportunities, successfully invest for long-term financial goals in an increasingly complex marketplace, or be able to cope with difficult financial situations. Unfortunately, today too many working families are struggling as they are confronted with increases in energy and food costs or the loss of a job. We must work toward improving education, consumer protections, and empowering individuals and families through economic and financial literacy in order to build stronger families, businesses, and communities. The bill that I am introducing today would help to educate, empower and protect consumers. Millions of working families do not have a bank or credit union account. The unbanked rely on alternative financial service providers to obtain cash from checks, pay bills, and send remittances. Many of the unbanked are low- and moderate-income families that can ill afford to have their earnings diminished by reliance on these high-cost and often predatory financial services. Among those families who make up the bottom 20 percent of earners, one in four does not have a transaction account according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. Indeed, the unbanked are often among the most vulnerable. More than 15 percent of families headed by a single parent are unbanked. The unbanked are unable to save securely to prepare for the loss of a job, a family illness, a down payment on a first home, or education expenses making it difficult for these individuals to better their finances. My bill authorizes grants intended to help low- and moderate-income unbanked individuals establish bank or credit union accounts. Providing access to a bank or credit union account can empower families with tremendous financial opportunities. An account at a bank or credit union provides consumers with alternatives to rapid refund loans, check cashing services, and high cost remittances. In addition, bank and credit union accounts provide access to saving and borrowing services. Low- and moderate-income individuals are often challenged with a number of barriers that limit their ability to open and maintain accounts. Regular checking accounts may be too costly for some consumers unable to maintain minimum balances or unable to afford monthly fees. Poor credit histories may also hinder their ability to open accounts. By providing Federal resources for product development, administration, outreach, and financial education, banks and credit unions will be better able to reach out and bank the unbanked. The second grant program authorized by my legislation provides consumers with a lower cost, short term alternative to payday loans. More needs to be done to encourage mainstream financial service providers to develop affordable small loan products. My legislation will help support the development of affordable credit products at bank and credit unions. Working families would be better off by going to their credit unions and banks, mainstream financial services providers, than payday loan shops. Payday loans are cash loans repaid by borrowers' postdated checks or borrowers' authorizations to make electronic debits against existing financial accounts. Payday loans often have triple digit interest rates that range from 390 percent to 780 percent when expressed as an annual percentage rate. Loan flipping, which is a common practice, is the renewing of loans at maturity by paying additional fees without any principal reduction. Loan flipping often leads to instances where the fees paid for a payday loan well exceed the principal borrowed. This situation often creates a cycle of debt that is hard to break. There is a great need for working families to have access to affordable small loans. My legislation would encourage banks and credit unions to develop payday loan alternatives. Consumers who apply for these loans would be provided with financial literacy and educational opportunities. Loans extended to consumers under the grant would be subject to the annual percentage rate promulgated by the National Credit Union Administration's, Loan Interest Rates. Several credit unions have developed similar products. I will work to enact this legislation so vital to empowering our citizens. In our current, modern, complex economy, not having a bank or credit union account severely hinders the ability of families to improve their financial condition or help them navigate difficult financial circumstances. Instead of borrowing money from payday lenders at outrageous fees, we need to encourage people to utilize their credit unions and banks for affordable small loans. Banks and credit unions have the ability to make the lives of working families better by helping them save, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Improving Access to Mainstream Financial Institutions Act of 2009. This bill provides economic empowerment and educational opportunities for working families by helping bank the unbanked and increasing access to financial literacy opportunities. It will also encourage the use of mainstream financial institutions for working families that need small loans. I thank my cosponsors, Senators Schumer, Inouye, and Lieberman. Too many Americans lack basic financial literacy. Americans of all ages and backgrounds face increasingly complex financial decisions as members of the nation's workforce, managers of their families' resources, and voting citizens. Many find these decisions confusing and frustrating because they lack the tools necessary that would enable them to make wise, personal choices about their finances. Without a sufficient understanding of economics and personal finance, individuals will not be able to appropriately manage their finances, effectively evaluate credit opportunities, successfully invest for long-term financial goals in an increasingly complex marketplace, or be able to cope with difficult financial situations. Unfortunately, today too many working families are struggling as they are confronted with increases in energy and food costs or the loss of a job. We must work toward improving education, consumer protections, and empowering individuals and families through economic and financial literacy in order to build stronger families, businesses, and communities. The bill that I am introducing today would help to educate, empower and protect consumers. Millions of working families do not have a bank or credit union account. The unbanked rely on alternative financial service providers to obtain cash from checks, pay bills, and send remittances. Many of the unbanked are low- and moderate-income families that can ill afford to have their earnings diminished by reliance on these high-cost and often predatory financial services. Among those families who make up the bottom 20 percent of earners, one in four does not have a transaction account according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. Indeed, the unbanked are often among the most vulnerable. More than 15 percent of families headed by a single parent are unbanked. The unbanked are unable to save securely to prepare for the loss of a job, a family illness, a down payment on a first home, or education expenses making it difficult for these individuals to better their finances. My bill authorizes grants intended to help low- and moderate-income unbanked individuals establish bank or credit union accounts. Providing access to a bank or credit union account can empower families with tremendous financial opportunities. An account at a bank or credit union provides consumers with alternatives to rapid refund loans, check cashing services, and high cost remittances. In addition, bank and credit union accounts provide access to saving and borrowing services. Low- and moderate-income individuals are often challenged with a number of barriers that limit their ability to open and maintain accounts. Regular checking accounts may be too costly for some consumers unable to maintain minimum balances or unable to afford monthly fees. Poor credit histories may also hinder their ability to open accounts. By providing Federal resources for product development, administration, outreach, and financial education, banks and credit unions will be better able to reach out and bank the unbanked. The second grant program authorized by my legislation provides consumers with a lower cost, short term alternative to payday loans. More needs to be done to encourage mainstream financial service providers to develop affordable small loan products. My legislation will help support the development of affordable credit products at bank and credit unions. Working families would be better off by going to their credit unions and banks, mainstream financial services providers, than payday loan shops. Payday loans are cash loans repaid by borrowers' postdated checks or borrowers' authorizations to make electronic debits against existing financial accounts. Payday loans often have triple digit interest rates that range from 390 percent to 780 percent when expressed as an annual percentage rate. Loan flipping, which is a common practice, is the renewing of loans at maturity by paying additional fees without any principal reduction. Loan flipping often leads to instances where the fees paid for a payday loan well exceed the principal borrowed. This situation often creates a cycle of debt that is hard to break. There is a great need for working families to have access to affordable small loans. My legislation would encourage banks and credit unions to develop payday loan alternatives. Consumers who apply for these loans would be provided with financial literacy and educational opportunities. Loans extended to consumers under the grant would be subject to the annual percentage rate promulgated by the National Credit Union Administration's, Loan Interest Rates. Several credit unions have developed similar products. I will work to enact this legislation so vital to empowering our citizens. In our current, modern, complex economy, not having a bank or credit union account severely hinders the ability of families to improve their financial condition or help them navigate difficult financial circumstances. Instead of borrowing money from payday lenders at outrageous fees, we need to encourage people to utilize their credit unions and banks for affordable small loans. Banks and credit unions have the ability to make the lives of working families better by helping them save, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to create a program within the Department of Veterans Affairs for family caregivers. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues Senator Burr, the Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Tester, Senator Burns, and Senator Rockefeller, former Chairman of the Committee. Some veterans returning from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as previous conflicts, suffer from disabilities that prevent them from being fully independent. This is a sad fact of war. The legislation I am introducing today is designed to provide for several improvements in health care for veterans by supporting the family members who care for them. The challenges faced by family caregivers are well known to us. We have been working on this issue for nearly two years. Provisions that then-Senator Clinton included in a health care omnibus bill reported by the Committee last Congress would have provided for pilot programs to serve caregivers. We have since learned much more about the role family members play in caring for injured veterans, and the needs of family caregivers. I think we are now beyond the scope of that original pilot program and I believe that a full-fledged permanent program is needed in VA. First, it is well known that the involvement of family members in the provision of health care dramatically improves speed and success of recovery. This bill will give family members the resources needed to be involved in the care for their loved one. Second, many disabled veterans are not able to complete some tasks of daily living on their own, but do not require care in an institution. Allowing a veteran to remain in the home, while having family members meet the veteran's needs, will vastly improve quality of life for the veteran. Caregivers, who are members of a veteran's family, often put their lives on hold in order to provide care for the injured or disabled veteran at home. In some instances, these caregivers are unable to maintain regular jobs because of the time consumed in providing sufficient care to the veteran. This has the compound effect of decreasing household income, and possibly preventing the caregiver from keeping health insurance. This legislation would help alleviate these problems so as to allow the caregiver to focus entirely on caring for the veteran. This bill includes provisions for training and certifying family caregivers or personal care attendants. It would provide for mental health counseling, health care eligibility, a living stipend, and other critical services to support these caregivers. Additionally, this bill would make improvements to the services VA provides to family members who must travel to take the veteran to a VA facility to receive treatment. I look forward to working with all of our colleagues to pass this much needed legislation. I especially thank Senators Burr and Rockefeller for cosponsoring this bill. I would also like to thank the dedicated members of the Wounded Warrior Project and Paralyzed Veterans of America for their tireless efforts in support of this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my good friend Senator Voinovich as we introduce the Federal Executive Board Authorization Act of 2009 to formalize Federal Executive Boards, FEBs, in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. President Kennedy issued a Directive in 1961 creating FEBs to allow the heads of Federal agencies outside of Washington, DC to come together to address local issues in their Federal communities. There are now 28 Boards in 20 States, including Hawaii. Because they have never been authorized in legislation, FEBs have no institutionalized structure; each has its own operating structure. Some have an executive director, while some have no permanent staff at all. They also do not receive specific appropriations. As a result, FEBs must cobble together voluntary funding from participating agencies. The Office of Personnel Management oversees the mission and activities of FEBs. Part of FEBs' mission is to offer agencies outside of Washington, DC an opportunity to share information, collaborate to address shared concerns, discuss management and administrative challenges, and come together as a Federal community. Each Board sets its own specific priorities and activities based on local concerns and the leadership in a given area. Additionally, FEBs' mission is to play a critical support role in coordinating emergency preparedness and response efforts for a given area. The Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board regularly hosts and participates in preparedness exercises in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. When the Interstate 35 West Bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 1, 2007, the Executive Director of the Minnesota FEB helped disseminate critical information to over 100 Federal agencies and coordinate with the State and local emergency response network. FEBs have shared information with each other to assist in preparing for large events as well. For example, the Boston FEB used their experience with the Democratic National Convention in 2004 to help the Denver and Minnesota FEBs prepare for the National Party Conventions in 2008. At a hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia on September 28, 2007, which I chaired, it was clear that FEBs lack of formal structure hinders their critical support role in emergency preparedness and response. At that hearing, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, testified that FEBs have no clear role in national emergency planning, no framework to operate, no accountability in performing their duties, and no funding to carry out their missions. Additionally, FEB Executive Directors from around the country testified about the frustrations of operating without stable funding or a clear structure. Since the hearing, FEBs have been included in FEMA's National Response Framework, and OPM and FEMA have signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, giving FEBs a formal role in emergency preparedness and response. The Federal Executive Board Authorization Act of 2009 would implement other recommendations made by GAO and the representatives from FEBs at the 2007 hearing. More specifically, the bill would formalize the role of Federal Executive Boards, which would include interagency collaboration and Federal agency emergency preparedness and response outside of Washington, DC; establish a process for establishing new FEBs; require OPM to establish performance standards for FEBs; specify a funding formula, which OPM will administer, for FEBs based on the number of employees in a Federal agency in a given area; and authorize staffing levels for each FEB to have at least an Executive Director and one support staff member. Eighty-five percent of the Federal workforce is employed outside of the Washington, DC area. We spend billions of dollars preparing the National Capital Region for emergencies, but we must focus more on Federal Government agency emergency preparedness and response outside of the Washington area. This legislation will address that pressing need. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I support the budget resolution for fiscal year 2010. The resolution embraces many priorities that I strongly support. They include a renewed commitment to energy efficiency, educational improvements, middle-class tax cuts, and our veterans. The resolution preserves the major priorities in President Obama's budget that was submitted to Congress. The President's budget outlined a blueprint for addressing and reversing the effects of the deep recession, collapse of the housing and credit markets, and the rise in joblessness that we inherited from the previous administration by setting the stage for sustained economic growth through investments in energy, education, and infrastructure, which were begun in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA. Since President Obama's budget was submitted to Congress, the CBO's re-estimate of that budget has added $2.3 trillion to long-term deficit projections. Accordingly, the resolution adjusts the President's budget to cut the long-term deficit in half from $1.2 trillion in fiscal year 2010 to $508 billion in fiscal year 2014 while retaining the President's core priorities. The resolution matches the funding level in the President's budget for fiscal year 2010 energy discretionary funding to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of fuel, produce green jobs, promote renewable energy development, and improve the electric transmission grid, while encouraging energy conservation and efficiency. I am pleased that this resolution continues with green investments made in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and provides increases for the energy efficiency and renewable energy program. The resolution will enable investments in further research and development in clean and sustainable energy technologies from resources that are abundant in my State of Hawaii, such as wind, solar, ocean, hydrogen, and biomass. The resolution invests in our Nation's future by fully funding the President's request for discretionary education and training programs. This includes expanding early childhood education programs that have proven to be so instrumental in preparing our Nation's children for future success. The budget also increases support for programs designed to reach out to low-income students so that every child has an equal opportunity to succeed. Similarly, by providing the necessary funding to support a $5,550 maximum Pell grant award in the 2010-2011 school year, this budget resolution will provide much needed assistance to individuals striving to achieve their higher education goals including adults returning to school to revise and revamp their skills in order to more effectively compete in today's workforce. I was also pleased to see that funding was included in the budget resolution to enhance and improve the capability of the Federal acquisition workforce. In my role as both chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, I have long advocated for improvements in the hiring and retention of Federal employees. Similarly, I strongly support funding for the reform of Department of Defense processes for the acquisition of weapons systems including the reduction of no-bid and cost-plus contracts. As chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, I am pleased the resolution provides pay parity between Federal civilian and military servicemembers in the average annual pay raise, which is consistent with more than 20 years of congressional precedent and my priorities. Turning to items in the budget resolution for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the resolution includes the President's request, plus $540 million to compensate for the ill-advised proposal that would have billed veterans' insurance companies for service-connected care. President Obama made the right decision not to move forward with that proposal. Veterans' care and benefits are a cost of war and treatment for conditions directly related to service is the responsibility of the government alone. The resolution also includes mandatory budget authority for important benefits, such as compensation and pension, for veterans and their survivors. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the administration to enact the funding increases and targeted programs to help VA adapt to the changing needs of veterans and their loved ones. My colleagues, this resolution, with its targeted investments and changed public-policy priorities, will help us address the essential needs of the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support the budget resolution for fiscal year 2010.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I congratulate the Kamehameha Schools--Hawaii Athletic Department and coaching staff for winning the Positive Coaching Alliance's, PCA, coveted Honoring the Game Award of 2009. The mission of the PCA is to foster a ``positive, character- building youth sports environment.'' The award goes to schools or organizations serving athletes of high school age or younger that embody PCA principles in using sports to teach life lessons. Honoring the Game Award winners will be recognized at the Eighth Annual National Youth Sports Awards Ceremony at Stanford University's Maples Pavilion on April 24, 2009. This year Kamehameha was one of three schools selected to receive this award and the only school noted for multiple sports programs. I wish to acknowledge Kamehameha Schools--Hawaii's vision, commitment, and diligent efforts to create and uphold a positive athletic environment for its students, coaches, and fans. Kamehameha is the first PCA-partnered school in the State of Hawaii, and it requires all leaders, coaches, parents, and students who want to participate in the school's athletics programs to attend PCA workshops to be eligible. Additionally, it has integrated the school principle of pu'uhonua-- sanctuary--into the 22-sport athletics program, ensuring appropriate behavior toward referees and other visitors. I wish to acknowledge all members of the Kamehameha Schools--Hawaii Athletic Department on their noteworthy accomplishment. I wish to give special recognition to athletic director Bob Wagner, headmaster Stan Fortuna, and school principal Ninia Aldrich. However, this sort of large scale effort cannot be done without the cooperation and support of all of the student-athletes and their families. I commend the entire Kamehameha Schools--Hawaii community for their initiative and understanding in establishing the high level of sportsmanship and respect that has earned this award. I encourage these coaches and students to continue their dedication to teamwork, character-building and positivity that helps the young athletes of today become the model citizens of tomorrow. I wish nothing but the best for the students, their families, and their coaches and wish them and the athletic program continued success in future endeavors.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise in support of a resolution to designate April as Financial Literacy Month. First, I would like to thank my cosponsors, Senators Dodd, Crapo, Kennedy, Enzi, Hagan, Corker, Levin, Wicker, Schumer, Inouye, Menendez, Durbin, Stabenow, Johnson, Cardin, Carper, Lincoln, Murray, and Gillibrand. As in past years, I am once again pleased to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to promote financial literacy for people of all ages across America. This resolution highlights the need to promote financial literacy in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. Education in personal finance means empowerment, because it can provide people with the tools they need for sound decision-making and future economic opportunities. Unfortunately, many individuals do not understand even the basics of our increasingly complex economic system. Although much continues to be done to provide Americans with an education in personal finance and economics, a number of troubling indicators show that many people are not equipped to negotiate financial choices. For instance, according to the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, many students who graduate from high school lack basic skills in the management of personal finances such as the ability to effectively balance their checking account. The average score of high school students in the Department of the Treasury sponsored 2008 National Financial Literacy Challenge was a 56 percent--an ``F.'' While some States have begun to recognize the need for economic or personal finance in their curriculum, according to a 2007 ``Survey of the States'' compiled by the Council for Economic Education only 22 States require an economics test as a high school graduation requirement. We must do more to invest in financial literacy now for our young men and women in order to ensure a knowledgeable, prosperous generation of future American leaders. On the other end of the spectrum, the 2008 Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that the percentage of workers who were ``very confident'' about having enough money for a comfortable retirement decreased sharply, from 27 percent in 2007 to 18 percent in 2008. This is the biggest 1-year decline in the 18-year history of the survey. To further illustrate this problem, approximately 76 million adults say they do not have any nonretirement savings, according to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. These findings suggest a serious problem exacerbated by the fact that most workers have not calculated how much they need to save for retirement, even if they believe they are behind schedule in their retirement savings. Increased financial and economic literacy can help people navigate around the countless pitfalls that confront working families. In September 2008, consumer bankruptcy filings in the United States increased more than 30 percent from the same period in 2006, and there were more than 1,000,000 personal bankruptcy filings in the United States in 2008, according to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. This was the highest personal bankruptcy mark since bankruptcy laws were amended in 2005. The current market turmoil underscores the critical need for improved financial literacy in the United States. As leaders and policymakers, we need to champion financial literacy efforts year round. However, identifying April as Financial Literacy Month will allow us to focus our attention on this critical issue. We must continue to address financial literacy by educating Americans of all ages throughout their lifetime to better protect consumers and expand access to economic empowerment opportunities. Once again, I thank my colleagues for their support of this resolution.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I introduce the Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act to help agencies fix the broken recruitment and hiring process in the Federal Government. I am pleased to be joined by my good friend Senator Voinovich in this effort. The Federal Government is the largest employer in the U.S., but every day talented people interested in Federal service walk away because the hiring process is longer and more complicated than that of other employers. Too many Federal agencies have built entry barriers for new workers, done too little to recruit the right candidates, and invented an evaluation process that discourages qualified candidates. In the private sector, many employers post job vacancies through a variety of online and other venues and require only a resume and cover letter to apply. Applying to the federal government should be similarly accessible and easy. However, agencies often require substantial essays and other documentation at the initial application stage. Agencies need to adapt, just as the private sector has, to take advantage of modern technology to boost recruitment efforts and streamline the hiring process to make it more user friendly. Inexpensive outlets such as social networking sites offer agencies an opportunity to expand their profile and post job opportunities without emptying their wallets. It is easier than it was in the past to submit and track application materials during the application process. Agencies should accept candidate-friendly applications such as resumes and cover letters for the initial application and ask for additional information only as needed. Likewise, technology makes it possible to provide automated information to candidates, so candidates should receive timely and informative feedback about the application process. Additionally, more employees with advanced and technical skills are needed in the modern federal workforce, so more pipelines into colleges and technical schools need to be developed to recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds. Last year, I chaired a hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, where witnesses testified to the need for reforms in the hiring process. The Government Accountability Office testified to the broad failures of agencies to address such problems as passive recruitment strategies, unclear job vacancy announcements, and imprecise candidate assessment tools. Witnesses testified that young people are greatly interested in Federal Government service, but agencies need to meet them where they are. Developing broader recruitment strategies, using online resources and streamlining the hiring process are essential to attracting the next generation of Federal employees. In response to the hearing, the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, developed the End-to-End Hiring Roadmap initiative that provides agencies a streamlined 80-day model from the time a manager seeks to fill a position to the time an offer is made. This initiative addresses strategic workforce planning, targeted recruitment, clear job announcements, and hiring flexibilities. The initiative also advocates accepting resumes and cover letters over the lengthy and onerous knowledge, skills, and abilities essays, KSAs, required for many Federal jobs. This initiative includes many positive steps, but many agencies are not adopting them. OPM does not have the authority to require agencies to do so. Congress must step in. The Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act requires agencies to develop strategic workforce plans, including hiring projections and critical skills gaps analyses of the workforce; post brief, clear job announcements in plain writing; Allow submission of resumes and cover letters and no longer require KSAs; provide timely notification to applicants of the status of their application; take no more than 80 days from the time a manager decides to fill a vacancy to the time an offer is made; keep an inventory of all applicants who elect to be considered for other Federal vacancies; and measure the effectiveness of hiring efforts and reforms. Agencies must make reforming the recruitment and hiring process a top priority, and this bill furthers the discussion. The Federal Hiring Process Improvement Act will require agencies to abandon their stale recruitment and hiring processes and develop streamlined hiring practices that attract high-quality candidates. The future of the Federal workforce is depending on it. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am today introducing legislation to make various improvements to VA rural health care. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Max Baucus and Mark Begich. The legislation is designed to bring more doctors into small communities; promote the use of volunteer counselors to help with mental health issues; expand telemedicine services; and create incentives for VA's community partners to provide high quality services to veterans. As the drawdown of forces in Iraq begins, VA must be prepared to meet the health care needs of veterans upon their return. Many veterans live in small towns and communities. This includes a large number of Guard members and Reservists who have served in such an integral role in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of the Guard and Reserve face challenges that are different than those faced by their active duty counterparts, who return to military bases with the support of their unit and programs geared toward re-acclimating them to life outside of the combat zone. When members of the Guard or Reserves return home, they often are isolated from their units, leaving them to reintegrate back into their communities without a strong VA or DoD presence or support system. When health care is needed, a rural community may not have providers who offer mental health services, such as group counseling, and may not be familiar with treating combat-related disorders. I believe strongly that there is an obligation to care for all veterans in need, regardless of where they live. We must ensure that adequate resources are available to serve those who live in rural communities, and that VA works closely with local health care providers to help meet the need for care. It is critical that VA reach out to veterans living in rural communities so that they receive the care they need. Every resource must be united in the effort to care for wounded warriors, whether in a community hospital or VA clinic. When there is no VA presence in a community, VA may need to pay community providers for the reasonable costs of care. Last month, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing on health care for veterans in rural areas. We heard from the chief executive officer of a community hospital, from a former director of a rural health clinic, and from outreach organizations who work to bridge the gap between VA and community health care systems. These witnesses testified about how hard it is for veterans who live in rural areas to find health care in the communities where they live, and about how difficult it is for community hospitals and clinics to provide quality services with the limited resources available to them. Committee on Veterans' Affairs staff also conducted an oversight visit to Hawaii and saw firsthand the needs of veterans living in rural communities on the neighbor islands. Many of those veterans find it hard to access VA health care because of travel restrictions and a shortage of services in their communities. Committee staff found that technology was not being used to bridge this gap; indeed, the use of telemedicine is actually declining in Hawaii. The legislation we are introducing today would help address the needs of veterans living in rural communities in a number of ways. First, the bill would bring more doctors to targeted communities by repaying their student loans while they work for VA. Currently, VA's loan repayment program is capped at an amount that is less than \1/3\ the average cost of medical school. This bill would remove the cap, allowing VA to offer full loan repayment so as to provide a much more effective recruitment tool. In addition, this bill would encourage VA and HHS to use the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program to recruit physicians for VA facilities located in underserved areas. The National Health Service Corps pays for medical school up front in exchange for a doctor's agreement to work in an underserved area after graduation. To address the shortage of mental health providers in many communities, this legislation would also allow VA to shorten the credentialing and privileging process for licensed volunteer counselors who could provide mental health services to our veterans. The legislation would also create a pilot program to place VA doctors in community hospitals so as to enable them to provide more continuous care for veterans. Under this pilot, VA doctors working in communities without a VA hospital would be able to follow their patients when admitted to the local hospital. Participating VA doctors would earn additional compensation for assuming these responsibilities, thereby creating financial incentives for doctors to stay within VA. Since many non-VA hospitals do not have mental health providers or other providers experienced in the treatment of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder that disproportionately affect veterans, this would also bring needed expertise into other care communities. This bill would also allow VA to monitor the quality of care provided in non-VA facilities. Currently, there is no way for VA to do such quality assurance in a systematic way. This bill would encourage VA's community partners to participate in quality programs like peer review, or to seek accreditation by an outside organization. This bill also would bring new technologies to rural communities. By modifying VA's internal mechanism for distributing funds, the legislation would provide incentives for VA hospitals and clinics to use telehealth technologies. VA currently bases the distribution of funds to its facilities on workload and does not currently count all telehealth visits in a facility's workload. By requiring VA to give hospitals and clinics credit for telehealth visits, this bill will promote the natural expansion of these services to our veterans. Finally, for those veterans who must travel by air to obtain their health care--because of their health status, geography or other barriers--this bill would allow VA to pay beneficiary travel benefits for airfare to those veterans who cannot afford it. In recognition of the cost of airfare, a different income eligibility standard from that used for ground transportation would be used in connection with reimbursement of the costs of air travel. I urge our colleagues to work with me and the other members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee to improve access to health care for veterans who live in rural areas. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I am today introducing legislation to make various improvements to VA rural health care. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Max Baucus and Mark Begich. The legislation is designed to bring more doctors into small communities; promote the use of volunteer counselors to help with mental health issues; expand telemedicine services; and create incentives for VA's community partners to provide high quality services to veterans. As the drawdown of forces in Iraq begins, VA must be prepared to meet the health care needs of veterans upon their return. Many veterans live in small towns and communities. This includes a large number of Guard members and Reservists who have served in such an integral role in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of the Guard and Reserve face challenges that are different than those faced by their active duty counterparts, who return to military bases with the support of their unit and programs geared toward re-acclimating them to life outside of the combat zone. When members of the Guard or Reserves return home, they often are isolated from their units, leaving them to reintegrate back into their communities without a strong VA or DoD presence or support system. When health care is needed, a rural community may not have providers who offer mental health services, such as group counseling, and may not be familiar with treating combat-related disorders. I believe strongly that there is an obligation to care for all veterans in need, regardless of where they live. We must ensure that adequate resources are available to serve those who live in rural communities, and that VA works closely with local health care providers to help meet the need for care. It is critical that VA reach out to veterans living in rural communities so that they receive the care they need. Every resource must be united in the effort to care for wounded warriors, whether in a community hospital or VA clinic. When there is no VA presence in a community, VA may need to pay community providers for the reasonable costs of care. Last month, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing on health care for veterans in rural areas. We heard from the chief executive officer of a community hospital, from a former director of a rural health clinic, and from outreach organizations who work to bridge the gap between VA and community health care systems. These witnesses testified about how hard it is for veterans who live in rural areas to find health care in the communities where they live, and about how difficult it is for community hospitals and clinics to provide quality services with the limited resources available to them. Committee on Veterans' Affairs staff also conducted an oversight visit to Hawaii and saw firsthand the needs of veterans living in rural communities on the neighbor islands. Many of those veterans find it hard to access VA health care because of travel restrictions and a shortage of services in their communities. Committee staff found that technology was not being used to bridge this gap; indeed, the use of telemedicine is actually declining in Hawaii. The legislation we are introducing today would help address the needs of veterans living in rural communities in a number of ways. First, the bill would bring more doctors to targeted communities by repaying their student loans while they work for VA. Currently, VA's loan repayment program is capped at an amount that is less than \1/3\ the average cost of medical school. This bill would remove the cap, allowing VA to offer full loan repayment so as to provide a much more effective recruitment tool. In addition, this bill would encourage VA and HHS to use the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program to recruit physicians for VA facilities located in underserved areas. The National Health Service Corps pays for medical school up front in exchange for a doctor's agreement to work in an underserved area after graduation. To address the shortage of mental health providers in many communities, this legislation would also allow VA to shorten the credentialing and privileging process for licensed volunteer counselors who could provide mental health services to our veterans. The legislation would also create a pilot program to place VA doctors in community hospitals so as to enable them to provide more continuous care for veterans. Under this pilot, VA doctors working in communities without a VA hospital would be able to follow their patients when admitted to the local hospital. Participating VA doctors would earn additional compensation for assuming these responsibilities, thereby creating financial incentives for doctors to stay within VA. Since many non-VA hospitals do not have mental health providers or other providers experienced in the treatment of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder that disproportionately affect veterans, this would also bring needed expertise into other care communities. This bill would also allow VA to monitor the quality of care provided in non-VA facilities. Currently, there is no way for VA to do such quality assurance in a systematic way. This bill would encourage VA's community partners to participate in quality programs like peer review, or to seek accreditation by an outside organization. This bill also would bring new technologies to rural communities. By modifying VA's internal mechanism for distributing funds, the legislation would provide incentives for VA hospitals and clinics to use telehealth technologies. VA currently bases the distribution of funds to its facilities on workload and does not currently count all telehealth visits in a facility's workload. By requiring VA to give hospitals and clinics credit for telehealth visits, this bill will promote the natural expansion of these services to our veterans. Finally, for those veterans who must travel by air to obtain their health care--because of their health status, geography or other barriers--this bill would allow VA to pay beneficiary travel benefits for airfare to those veterans who cannot afford it. In recognition of the cost of airfare, a different income eligibility standard from that used for ground transportation would be used in connection with reimbursement of the costs of air travel. I urge our colleagues to work with me and the other members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee to improve access to health care for veterans who live in rural areas. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.