Daniel Akaka

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on the President fiscal year 2013 Budget for Native Programs. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224 2251.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I reluctantly supported the conference agreement because it is absolutely essential that we extend the payroll tax holiday and unemployment insurance benefits. The stakes are too high to do otherwise for our economic recovery and for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet. We cannot abandon them or reverse progress during this difficult time. However, I strongly oppose the decision to pick the pockets of Federal workers yet again just to offset the cost of 10 months of unemployment insurance benefits. I am not opposed to offsetting the costs, but I believe shared sacrifice is essential and a simple matter of fairness and decency. Unfortunately, once again, rather than asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes, some of my colleagues insisted on taxing America's dedicated middle-class public servants. Future Federal employees will be required to pay an additional 2.3 percent of their income toward their pensions. That means most employees will pay a total of 3.1 percent of their salaries, and that is in addition to the 6.2 percent they pay for Social Security retirement benefits. This agreement effectively lowers the Federal pay scale by 2.3 percent going forward, and this comes after Federal wages already have been frozen for 2 years. Under this agreement, future congressional employees--all of our staffs, who often work long hours for us and are underpaid--will pay more toward their pensions at the same time as we cut their pension benefits by more than one-third. These are permanent changes made to fund just 10 months of unemployment benefits--not a good investment in our Nation's future. Some of my colleagues would have you believe that Federal employees are overpaid, and that simply is not true. In many critical fields, the Federal Government struggles to compete with the private sector to recruit and retain the skilled people our Nation needs: experts in cyber security and intelligence analysis, doctors and nurses to care for our wounded warriors, accountants who protect taxpayers during billion-dollar defense acquisitions. These are just a few examples. Federal employees handle incredibly complex work. On paper, an analyst might compare the salary of a nuclear submarine mechanic to a car mechanic. We all depend on the important work car mechanics do, but clearly we used to recruit the most sought-after mechanics possible to be our nuclear sub mechanics, and we need to pay them enough to retain them. As the income gap in this country widens and so many hard-working Americans face increasing economic insecurity, I am proud that the Federal Government still pays most employees a living wage. Many private sector employers are scaling back or eliminating pensions. Just this week, General Motors announced plans to suspend pension benefits for nearly 20,000 employees who have been with the company for more than 10 years. Long term, this unfortunate trend will rob millions of Americans who have worked hard all their lives of the security retirement they earned and deserve. This trend, tragically, is bound to increase poverty among senior citizens in the coming years. Some of my colleagues want to follow the private sector and eliminate or dramatically reduce the Federal pension. Today, this conference agreement will, unfortunately, take the first step in that direction. But I call on my colleagues to prevent the Federal Government from joining this race to the bottom. I fear this shortsighted attack on Federal workers will repeat itself. Every time we need an offset to fund anything, I expect there will be another proposal to cut Federal pay, pensions or other benefits. We must stop and help to protect our Federal workers. I yield the floor.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, February 16, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct an hearing entitled ``Energy Development in Indian Country.'' Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Today I wish to speak to the celebration of the Hawaiian language. February is designated as the ``Month of the Hawaiian Language'' by the State of Hawai`i. Speakers and students of the language use this time to foster and promote Hawaiian through festivals, spelling bees, and speech and debate competitions where the Hawaiian language is the primary medium. Since the first official designation in 1994, February has been a celebration of the Hawaiian language in Hawai`i. However, this modern renaissance happened only after the Hawaiian language came close to extinction, and the people of Hawai`i fought to preserve it. In 1896, following the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai`i, English was named as the primary language of instruction in Hawai`i's schools. As a result, students who spoke Hawaiian were subject to physical punishment or public humiliation. As Native Hawaiian families struggled to assimilate with the increasing Western presence in Hawai`i, parents gave children non-Hawaiian first names. Families who carried Hawaiian family names adopted Western surnames to avoid a Hawaiian identity. Parents stopped teaching their children Hawaiian, and maintained English-only households. This was a sad chapter in Hawai`i's history, but fortunately, today, thanks to the effort of many Hawai`i residents, political and community leaders, and educators, the Hawaiian language is thriving. In 1978, the Hawaiian language, also called `Olelo Hawai`i by its speakers, was declared one of the two legal languages of the State of Hawai`i. In 1984, the first Hawaiian language preschool was established, `Aha Punana Leo. Three years later, Hawaiian language immersion expanded to include kindergarten through grade 12, and today, students can study the Hawaiian language from preschool through their doctorate studies. Use of the Hawaiian language is not limited to its fluent speakers. Those who live in and visit Hawai`i use Hawaiian words and phrases in their everyday vocabulary, whether they are Native Hawaiian or not. Towns, roadways, schools, and parks bear Hawaiian names. Island residents commonly give each other directions using the words mauka-- meaning towards the mountains, or makai--meaning towards the ocean. A waitress might ask you if you are pau, or done, with your meal before she clears the table. You might tell her it was `ono, or delicious. Some of the more commonly used words, including aloha and mahalo, are known well beyond the shores of Hawai`i. I probably do not have to explain that mahalo means thank you, or that aloha is a greeting that conveys warmth, love, and affection and is used to both welcome someone and wish them well. The Hawaiian language is thriving in our modern society and it remains relevant as technology evolves around us. The iPhone and Google's homepage are just two instances where the Hawaiian language can be selected as an option in language settings. Developers of the popular website, Wikipedia, borrowed the Hawaiian word wikiwiki, meaning speedy, for its name. Travelers through Honolulu International Airport are greeted every half hour with a public announcement first in Hawaiian, followed by its English translation. Local television reporters and weather forecasters consult with language experts on Hawaiian pronunciation. One of the morning news shows features a segment produced entirely in the Hawaiian language. Cable subscribers receive a channel featuring Hawaiian language reporting. The Hawaiian language is engrained in our daily lives in Hawai`i, and is important to all of Hawai`i's people. I am extremely grateful for the efforts made by kupuna, our elders, as well as language and cultural educators, to preserve the Hawaiian language. According to the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, there are approximately 7,500 people learning the Hawaiian language today, from preschools, institutions of higher education, and community programs. Parents are again raising their children to speak Hawaiian. While there is an increasing interest in the Hawaiian language, this is still just a small percentage of the population of the State of Hawai`i. I applaud the State for designating February as the ``Month of the Hawaiian Language'' and bringing awareness to the need to perpetuate our language so that future generations may learn the language of their ancestors. E ola mau ka `Olelo Hawai`i! Long live the Hawaiian language.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I wish to congratulate an innovative educator and health care professional from my State, Jamie Kamailani Boyd, from Kaneohe, HI, on receiving the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2011 Community Health Leaders Award. The award was presented at a ceremony last November in Baltimore. This award was given to ten individuals throughout the Nation who have overcome challenges to improve health and quality of life in disadvantaged or underserved communities. The award provides $20,000 to each recipient for personal development and another $105,000 to the project with which the awardee is affiliated. I am confident that this funding will be put to good use in Dr. Boyd's hands. Dr. Boyd is a nursing assistant professor and a health programs coordinator for the University of Hawaii's Windward Community College, WCC. She is the first Native Hawaiian faculty member at the University of Hawaii to have earned a Ph.D. while also being a registered nurse. Carrying on a family tradition of nursing learned from her grandmother, she set out to better the health care system in Hawaii by improving nurse training and patient care. To help achieve those goals, Dr. Boyd created the Pathway out of Poverty program at WCC. The program is founded on Native Hawaiian cultural values and seeks to encourage and train Native Hawaiian and disadvantaged students pursuing careers in nursing. She aims to reduce poverty, increase the number of Native Hawaiian nurses, and improve the quality of nursing care by producing more empathetic and culturally competent providers. Today, Dr. Boyd trains about 50 nurse's aides a year with approximately one-quarter of them going on to pursue an RN degree. As an educator and former principal, I know firsthand about the countless hours that go into creating curricula and reaching out to students. It makes me proud to see outstanding educators receive well- deserved national recognition for their hard work. Dr. Boyd's dedication to her field and to the people of Hawaii is undeniable. I applaud her for earning this outstanding recognition, and I wish her much continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, February 2, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on the following bills: S. 1739, a bill to provide for the use and distribution of judgment funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe by the United States Court of Federal Claims in Docket Numbers 19 and 188, and for other purposes; S. 356, a bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes; and S. 908, a bill to provide for the addition of certain real property to the reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the State of Oregon. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing entitled ``U.S. Department of Justice Opinion on Internet Gaming: What's at Stake for Tribes?'' Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, HVO, on the island of Hawaii on January 17, 1912. Currently situated on the northwest rim of the caldera of Kilauea, one of Earth's most active--and most studied--volcanoes, HVO has collaborated with top scientists from around the world to achieve its mission: to create a detailed account of Hawaii's volcanic activity. During its 100 years of operation, HVO's pursuit of this mission has not only led to great strides in the study of volcanology, it has made living near these volcanoes safer for island residents. Established by the late visionary geologist Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr., the observatory has been continuously monitoring Kilauea and other Hawaiian volcanoes for the past century, collecting data critical to the understanding of volcanic activity. Jaggar's work built on the pioneering contributions of the world-renowned American volcanologist, Frank A. Perret, who made his first observations on the volcanic activity at Kilauea in 1911. Jaggar used Perret's work to successfully solicit initial support and funding for the project from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Hawaii, and the Carnegie Geophysical Laboratory. Jaggar also received essential contributions from several local businessmen, who pledged significant sums to establish the observatory at Kilauea. Over time, the sponsorship and operation of HVO has been administered through various Federal agencies, including the United States Weather Bureau from 1919 to 1924; the United States Geological Survey, USGS, from 1924 to 1935; the National Park Service, NPS, from 1935 to 1947; and the USGS again from 1947 to the present. Throughout HVO's history, it has worked with local interests to further public safety, education and outreach, and geological science. HVO has enjoyed a longtime partnership with University of Hawaii's Hilo and Manoa campuses, as well as close working relationships with NPS at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the County of Hawaii, and Hawaii's news media. The observations made from HVO have led to groundbreaking contributions in modern geological science through their precision and diligence in data collection, thorough analysis of the observatory's vast record, and innovation in monitoring devices and techniques. Today, HVO scientists analyze data collected from more than 100 field stations, which include seismic, deformation, volcanic-gas, geologic, and other monitoring tools. These stations transmit data to HVO around the clock, with a single instrument sending as much as 60 terabytes of data each year. As a result, HVO-guided efforts have successfully diverted or stopped lava flows threatening Hilo and neighboring communities, mitigated the damage caused by tsunamis by providing reliable wave predictions, and have painted a rich, detailed account of the activity of some of the world's most volatile volcanoes. Finally, I wish HVO and USGS the best of luck and continued successes as they carry on their important work. I know that they are excited to begin the next hundred years of the observatory's work, and I look forward to the advances that will result from their efforts.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to welcome home 53 of the men and women of the Headquarters Element of the storied 25th Infantry Division, also known as Tropic Lightning, who will be returning to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii from their deployment to Iraq this Sunday, in time to join their loved ones for the holidays. I would like to recognize the entire 25th Infantry Division for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade. I would also like to pay my respects and give my deepest condolences to the families of the 236 members of the 25th Infantry Division who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, defending the American values and freedoms we enjoy. Although I cannot be there in person, I send my warmest aloha and heartfelt gratitude to these soldiers and their families for their many sacrifices and dutiful service to our country. Since its activation on October 1, 1941, the 25th Infantry Division has played a significant role in every major conflict we have had. In that tradition of outstanding service, the 6 major elements of the 25th Infantry Division--the division headquarters, the 4 brigade combat teams, and the combat aviation brigade--have made a total of 19 combat deployments since 2004. Thirteen of these deployments were to Iraq and another six were to Afghanistan. In addition, three separate Tropic Lightning battalion-sized aviation task forces have deployed to Iraq. I commend MG Bernard S. Champoux, commanding general, and CSM Ray Devens, division command sergeant major, for their exceptional service and strong leadership of the 25th Infantry Division. With this weekend's homecoming, the 25th Infantry Division represents the last U.S. military division to leave Iraq as part of the complete withdrawal of American combat forces following the successful Iraqi campaign. I am pleased that the war in Iraq has finally come to an end, and I urge my colleagues to remember that the full cost of war includes the extended care of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who serve so bravely. These men and women have risked their lives to protect this country in its time of need, and we must honor our Nation's commitment to them afterwards. I would like to again thank these soldiers for their service, and may God bless them and their families in Honolulu.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Postal Investment Act of 2011 which lays out many ideas to help strengthen the United States Postal Service through investment and innovation. For many years, I have been an advocate for the Postal Service, its workers, and importantly, postal customers. The Postal Service represents a multi-billion dollar industry on which all Americans rely for delivery of mail and packages. Unfortunately, in recent years, the downturn in the overall economy has negatively impacted the postal business, exacerbating a decline in the mail because of electronic diversion. The 21st Century Postal Service Act, S. 1789, passed in November by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, contains many needed postal reforms and sensible compromises. Unfortunately, that bill also contained an unrelated measure reducing benefits for disabled and injured federal workers. As Chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, this issue concerned me enough that I had to vote against reporting the bill to the full Senate. However, I did think the bill contained important provisions that will help the Postal Service and I look forward to further debate. I am introducing the Postal Investment Act to add to that conversation. While this bill is not a comprehensive approach that can rescue the Postal Service on its own, it represents several new ideas that have not yet been debated. Since 2006, we have required the Postal Service to pay roughly $5 billion per year in to an account to prefund its retiree health benefit liability. This is a payment that no other agency, and few private sector companies, must make. While prefunding this liability was a worthy goal, and it addressed an accounting problem in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, it is crippling the Postal Service financially. The core of the Postal Investment Act would restructure the retirement health benefit prefunding requirement and allow for the funds set aside against the future liability to be invested in a diverse mix of government and non-government securities, instead of only in government securities as is now the case. There are promising precedents for investing funds in this way in the Federal Government. In 2001, we passed the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act, which created a trust fund to invest railroad employee retirement assets in non-government securities. Assets of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation also are invested in a diversified manner. Even in the turbulent economic times of the past few years, these funds have seen healthy returns on average, at a much higher rate than government securities alone. I want to emphasize that the funds invested are there to cover a future liability to provide benefits to workers, some of whom have not been hired yet. Because of the long time horizon and significant assets of this fund, I believe that diversifying its investment would mean positive growth for the fund over time, and would bring it in line with many private sector retirement accounts. If we want the Postal Service to act more like a business, we could start by allowing it similar flexibility. In addition to investing the fund, my bill would also suspend payments to the prefunding account in any years in which the Postal Service does not have the profits to invest. Unfortunately, under current law, the fund which was set up to insure against future default of the Postal Service is the very thing putting the Postal Service on the brink of default. I believe this new approach is a responsible way forward, which also recognizes the legitimate goal of prefunding this liability over a longer term. Just as importantly, the Postal Service needs more flexibility in its business model to innovate. My bill contains several provisions to accelerate innovation in the Postal Service's products. Many of these are based on recommendations provided to Congress in a Postal Regulatory Commission, PRC, report released earlier this year. The bill would allow for pricing flexibilities for increased premium services subject to performance requirements. It would also explicitly allow the Postal Service, through the PRC, to create new classes of mail to meet evolving customer demands. For instance, there may be a market for a product with the speed of first class mail, but with none of the additional services that are part of first class. The bill also encourages the further development of experimental products to find new sources of revenue. In order to create more accountability for product innovation, the bill would require the Postmaster General to designate a Chief Product Innovation officer to come up with new ideas and keep the public better informed of what the Postal Service is doing to find new products and services. My bill would also require more focus on retaining revenues for existing products by reducing uncollected postage. Finally, my bill contains several provisions related to the postal workforce. Like several other proposals introduced already, the bill would allow the Postal Service access to excess payments it has made over the years to the Federal Employee Retirement System. It would use those funds first to offer voluntary retirement incentives to employees to help right-size the workforce. The bill also contains a provision which was developed after we were informed that postal workers may not be taking full advantage of the benefits of Medicare after they reach the age of eligibility. The 21st Century Postal Service Act originally contained a provision which would have shifted costs from the Postal Service to the Medicare program and postal retirees by requiring eligible retirees to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B, and reducing the Federal Employees Health Benefit package available to them. Instead, my bill would ask the Postal Service to work with the Office of Personnel Management and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to educate the postal workforce about how the Medicare program can work to enhance their existing health benefits. To address concerns that have been expressed about how the Postal Service works with its employee unions and management organizations on collective bargaining and consultation rights, the Postal Innovation Act offers ways to strengthen these relationships. It contains a provision clarifying arbitrators' broad authority to consider the factors he or she deems relevant should collective bargaining with a union fail. It also contains a provision clarifying the consultation process for managers, supervisors, and postmasters. In the case of labor and management agreeing to any future workforce reductions, the bill also clarifies that the process would be subject to existing procedures for other Federal employees. Additionally, as the postal workforce has begun making concessions on pay and benefits and other contributions to the organization's solvency, this bill contains a provision intended to ensure that those at the very top of the Postal Service share in the sacrifice. This provision is modeled on an amendment drafted by Senator Tester that was discussed but never settled on during Committee consideration of postal reform legislation. Currently, the Postmaster General and several other top executives at the Postal Service make more than $200,000 per year, in addition to bonuses, deferred compensation, and other benefits. I believe that running the Postal Service is public service, and the Postal Service simply cannot afford to treat the top management like corporate executives, especially when postal employees and so many other Americans face pay freezes. As important as his duties are, I believe it is wrong for the Postmaster General to be paid more than the Secretary of Defense. My bill would tie the top pay at the Postal Service to the Executive Level schedule used to determine pay for Federal executives. I believe that the provisions I have outlined in this bill will serve as important ideas as we move forward with comprehensive postal reform. It is my sincere hope that we can work out our differences on the 21st Century Postal Service Act, which would be a workable proposal to address the future of the Postal Service without its flawed workforce provisions. As we continue this debate, I hope to offer these ideas as ways to further strengthen the Postal Service and show my commitment to preserving that service for all Americans well into the future. I ask my colleagues to consider the proposals I have put forward and work with me and all members who have their own proposals to help enact lasting improvements for the United States Postal Service.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Postal Investment Act of 2011 which lays out many ideas to help strengthen the United States Postal Service through investment and innovation. For many years, I have been an advocate for the Postal Service, its workers, and importantly, postal customers. The Postal Service represents a multi-billion dollar industry on which all Americans rely for delivery of mail and packages. Unfortunately, in recent years, the downturn in the overall economy has negatively impacted the postal business, exacerbating a decline in the mail because of electronic diversion. The 21st Century Postal Service Act, S. 1789, passed in November by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, contains many needed postal reforms and sensible compromises. Unfortunately, that bill also contained an unrelated measure reducing benefits for disabled and injured federal workers. As Chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, this issue concerned me enough that I had to vote against reporting the bill to the full Senate. However, I did think the bill contained important provisions that will help the Postal Service and I look forward to further debate. I am introducing the Postal Investment Act to add to that conversation. While this bill is not a comprehensive approach that can rescue the Postal Service on its own, it represents several new ideas that have not yet been debated. Since 2006, we have required the Postal Service to pay roughly $5 billion per year in to an account to prefund its retiree health benefit liability. This is a payment that no other agency, and few private sector companies, must make. While prefunding this liability was a worthy goal, and it addressed an accounting problem in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, it is crippling the Postal Service financially. The core of the Postal Investment Act would restructure the retirement health benefit prefunding requirement and allow for the funds set aside against the future liability to be invested in a diverse mix of government and non-government securities, instead of only in government securities as is now the case. There are promising precedents for investing funds in this way in the Federal Government. In 2001, we passed the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act, which created a trust fund to invest railroad employee retirement assets in non-government securities. Assets of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation also are invested in a diversified manner. Even in the turbulent economic times of the past few years, these funds have seen healthy returns on average, at a much higher rate than government securities alone. I want to emphasize that the funds invested are there to cover a future liability to provide benefits to workers, some of whom have not been hired yet. Because of the long time horizon and significant assets of this fund, I believe that diversifying its investment would mean positive growth for the fund over time, and would bring it in line with many private sector retirement accounts. If we want the Postal Service to act more like a business, we could start by allowing it similar flexibility. In addition to investing the fund, my bill would also suspend payments to the prefunding account in any years in which the Postal Service does not have the profits to invest. Unfortunately, under current law, the fund which was set up to insure against future default of the Postal Service is the very thing putting the Postal Service on the brink of default. I believe this new approach is a responsible way forward, which also recognizes the legitimate goal of prefunding this liability over a longer term. Just as importantly, the Postal Service needs more flexibility in its business model to innovate. My bill contains several provisions to accelerate innovation in the Postal Service's products. Many of these are based on recommendations provided to Congress in a Postal Regulatory Commission, PRC, report released earlier this year. The bill would allow for pricing flexibilities for increased premium services subject to performance requirements. It would also explicitly allow the Postal Service, through the PRC, to create new classes of mail to meet evolving customer demands. For instance, there may be a market for a product with the speed of first class mail, but with none of the additional services that are part of first class. The bill also encourages the further development of experimental products to find new sources of revenue. In order to create more accountability for product innovation, the bill would require the Postmaster General to designate a Chief Product Innovation officer to come up with new ideas and keep the public better informed of what the Postal Service is doing to find new products and services. My bill would also require more focus on retaining revenues for existing products by reducing uncollected postage. Finally, my bill contains several provisions related to the postal workforce. Like several other proposals introduced already, the bill would allow the Postal Service access to excess payments it has made over the years to the Federal Employee Retirement System. It would use those funds first to offer voluntary retirement incentives to employees to help right-size the workforce. The bill also contains a provision which was developed after we were informed that postal workers may not be taking full advantage of the benefits of Medicare after they reach the age of eligibility. The 21st Century Postal Service Act originally contained a provision which would have shifted costs from the Postal Service to the Medicare program and postal retirees by requiring eligible retirees to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B, and reducing the Federal Employees Health Benefit package available to them. Instead, my bill would ask the Postal Service to work with the Office of Personnel Management and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to educate the postal workforce about how the Medicare program can work to enhance their existing health benefits. To address concerns that have been expressed about how the Postal Service works with its employee unions and management organizations on collective bargaining and consultation rights, the Postal Innovation Act offers ways to strengthen these relationships. It contains a provision clarifying arbitrators' broad authority to consider the factors he or she deems relevant should collective bargaining with a union fail. It also contains a provision clarifying the consultation process for managers, supervisors, and postmasters. In the case of labor and management agreeing to any future workforce reductions, the bill also clarifies that the process would be subject to existing procedures for other Federal employees. Additionally, as the postal workforce has begun making concessions on pay and benefits and other contributions to the organization's solvency, this bill contains a provision intended to ensure that those at the very top of the Postal Service share in the sacrifice. This provision is modeled on an amendment drafted by Senator Tester that was discussed but never settled on during Committee consideration of postal reform legislation. Currently, the Postmaster General and several other top executives at the Postal Service make more than $200,000 per year, in addition to bonuses, deferred compensation, and other benefits. I believe that running the Postal Service is public service, and the Postal Service simply cannot afford to treat the top management like corporate executives, especially when postal employees and so many other Americans face pay freezes. As important as his duties are, I believe it is wrong for the Postmaster General to be paid more than the Secretary of Defense. My bill would tie the top pay at the Postal Service to the Executive Level schedule used to determine pay for Federal executives. I believe that the provisions I have outlined in this bill will serve as important ideas as we move forward with comprehensive postal reform. It is my sincere hope that we can work out our differences on the 21st Century Postal Service Act, which would be a workable proposal to address the future of the Postal Service without its flawed workforce provisions. As we continue this debate, I hope to offer these ideas as ways to further strengthen the Postal Service and show my commitment to preserving that service for all Americans well into the future. I ask my colleagues to consider the proposals I have put forward and work with me and all members who have their own proposals to help enact lasting improvements for the United States Postal Service.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today in observation of the surprise attack that the Empire of Japan launched on the U.S. military bases in Hawaii 70 years ago. The attack was concentrated on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, where over 2,400 courageous sailors, soldiers, and marines lost their lives. Each year, close to 1\1/2\ million people from across the country and around the world visit the memorials at Pearl Harbor to remember the events of December 7, 1941, and how the world was changed forever on that day. As the Sun rose over Pearl Harbor today, solemn prayers were offered and large crowds gathered to honor the sacrifice made by so many of our brave young men and women. The National Park Service and the Navy Region Hawaii are hosting the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to recognize those who bravely survived the attacks and to remember the thousands more who gave their lives in service to their country that day. Representative Charles William ``Bill'' Young from Florida will be representing Congress at the commemoration ceremony accompanied by William Muehleib, the president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and approximately 100 survivors of the attacks, including 8 who were aboard the USS Arizona, which lies enshrined at the bottom of Pearl Harbor today. The USS Oklahoma, BB 37, Memorial Executive Committee will dedicate a rose granite memorial marker at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl to honor the memory of the approximately 355 USS Oklahoma sailors who perished but were never individually identified. The remains of two servicemembers will be interred at the USS Utah and the USS Arizona so they may again join their shipmates in accordance with their wishes. And the Hawaii Air National Guard will fly F-22 Raptors over the memorial sites at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base in honor of the fallen. I want to recognize and thank the National Park Service and Navy Region Hawaii for their diligent work and dedication to ensuring that the legacy of the thousands of servicemembers who perished that day lives on through the memorials that stand solemnly at Pearl Harbor. They have done an outstanding job conveying the unwavering spirit of those who, in the face of perilous odds, stood their ground and fought back against the Japanese attack to save the lives of their brothers in arms. The efforts of these organizations have helped to make sure that our country will never forget the tragic loss that all Americans felt as news of the attack spread across the Nation. We must continue to remember the acts of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice that followed the attack. Our country fought in the name of justice to preserve our Nation's sacred freedoms. And we must also recognize and thank the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces today who are still fighting in the name of those same freedoms. I urge the citizens of this Nation to recall that it was the collaboration of a country and the sacrifices made by ordinary men and women who rallied in defense of freedom, liberty, and the great promise of our democracy that preserved our Nation's freedom and liberty. It is in that spirit of coming together to save our country that has always produced the strongest results and made our country great. Mr. President, I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in prayer and remembrance for the men and women who died in Pearl Harbor and those who are still fighting overseas today. May God bless all of those who have served to protect our shores, and God bless America.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Frederick M. Kaiser, who retired from the Congressional Research Service, CRS, on November 3, 2011. Mr. Kaiser, a former Specialist in American National Government at CRS, was an authority on congressional oversight issues of great importance to the Congress. Mr. Kaiser's career in service to Congress began in the summer of 1974, when he worked as a special staff consultant to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Representative Thomas E. ``Doc'' Morgan of Pennsylvania. At the request of Chairman Morgan, Mr. Kaiser conducted an evaluation of the committee's oversight activities, which was subsequently published by the committee. This early focus on congressional oversight foretold key aspects of Mr. Kaiser's CRS career. Mr. Kaiser began his employment with CRS on February 18, 1975, where he was given responsibility for the subjects of general congressional oversight, congressional oversight of foreign policy, and the authority and role of the General Accounting Office, which is now known as the Government Accountability Office, GAO. These are subjects on which Mr. Kaiser has advised Congress throughout his career. As a result of his high-quality work in service to the Congress, Mr. Kaiser quickly earned the title of Specialist in American National Government just 6 years after joining CRS. Mr. Kaiser continued his high level of service throughout his career, and his areas of expertise gradually expanded. He was regularly recognized for his service to Congress through special achievement awards and other recognition. Mr. Kaiser produced hundreds of CRS publications; testified before congressional committees and commissions; and organized policy institutes, workshops, and other policy discussions for congressional staff. Over the course of his career, Mr. Kaiser developed a reputation among colleagues for being supportive and generous in sharing his knowledge and insights. Mr. Kaiser was regularly at the forefront of emerging legislative issues. As the possibility of organizing Federal homeland security functions into a new department began to develop, Mr. Kaiser undertook studies of agencies that might be included in a new department. As Congress considered the Help America Vote Act, he contributed his expertise on the organization of agencies that might be established to carry out the purposes of the act. Mr. Kaiser's analysis and insights were important to informing successful efforts to improve GAO's ability to support congressional oversight of the intelligence community. In February 2008, Mr. Kaiser testified on congressional oversight of the intelligence community before the subcommittee I chair, the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In his testimony, as well as separate research conducted for the subcommittee, he examined the importance of intelligence community oversight, congressional structures for conducting such oversight, and options for enhancing oversight. Other examples of Mr. Kaiser's writing and briefings in the area of congressional oversight of the intelligence community include analyses of proposals for a joint intelligence committee, organizational reform of the House Intelligence Committee, intelligence community whistleblower protection, unauthorized disclosure of classified information, and use of classified information by Members of Congress. Mr. Kaiser also advised Congress on creation of the 9/11 Commission and on implementation of its recommendations, particularly concerning the Commission's authority and recommendations related to the intelligence community. Mr. Kaiser has been a leading authority on the management and oversight of the executive branch. Mr. Kaiser analyzed the Government Performance and Results Act, private citizens' complaint-handling mechanisms, postal reorganization, audit institutions in other nations, statutory inspectors general, privatization of government background investigations, and security clearances. He also authored, with other selected CRS specialists, the Congressional Oversight Manual. The 1993 bipartisan House Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress noted the value of this publication, stating: ``As a way to further enhance the oversight work of Congress, the Joint Committee would encourage the Congressional Research Service to conduct on a regular basis, as it has done in the past, oversight seminars for Members and congressional staff and to update on a regular basis its Congressional Oversight Manual.'' Mr. Kaiser contributed the chapter on congressional-executive relations to the final report of the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. Mr. Kaiser sought to enhance public understanding of the Federal Government as well. He wrote the introductory-level CRS report ``American National Government: An Overview,'' which explains the American national government structure. He also served as project coordinator for updates of Congress's booklet on the Federal Government for the American people, ``Our American Government.'' Finally, Mr. Kaiser has been a respected member of the academic community, and he has participated in numerous symposia; served as an adjunct professor at American University and the University of Maryland; and consulted with the Congress, the Department of State, and the Agency for International Development on democratic institution building in emerging democracies. Mr. Kaiser's work has also appeared in numerous journals, including the Administrative Law Review, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and he has contributed to the Encyclopedia of the American Presidency and the Encyclopedia of the U.S. Congress. As chairman of the subcommittee, I thank Mr. Kaiser for his dedication, professionalism, and lifetime of service to the Congress and our Nation. I wish him the best in retirement with his wife Carol and their children and grandchildren, and I am confident Congress, CRS, and the academic and professional community will continue to benefit from Mr. Kaiser's research and analysis for many years to come.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and my Army Caucus cochair, the senior Senator from Oklahoma, Mr. Jim Inhofe, I rise to congratulate GEN Peter W. Chiarelli, the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, on his monumental contributions to our national security over the course of his distinguished 39-year career. Throughout his career, General Chiarelli has been the consummate soldier's soldier. His career is distinguished by excellence in command of troops from platoon to corps. General Chiarelli is known for his having an open mind and for his candor while addressing the issues affecting the Army today. He is a tremendous advocate for soldiers both within the Pentagon and here on Capitol Hill. His advice, counsel, and friendship have been very valuable to us as Army Caucus cochairs, and he will be sorely missed. Who he is today though began being shaped many years ago. After his graduation from Seattle University in 1972, Pete married his sweetheart, Beth, went to the Basic Course, and reported to his first assignment in the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, WA. After his time there, the Army offered him a job teaching at West Point, where he taught cadets in the distinguished Social Science Department. In 1985, he graduated from the Naval Command and Staff College and returned to leading soldiers, this time in Germany with the 3rd Armored Division--the same division in which his father, also Pete Chiarelli, earned the Silver Star for heroism and a battlefield commission in 1945 as a tanker in World War II. It seems that character runs in the Chiarelli family. While in Germany, General Chiarelli showed his battlefield prowess--under his guidance, the U.S. tank crews won NATO's distinguished Canadian Army Trophy for the nation with the best tankers. After his success in Germany, he moved back to Washington in 1990, where took command of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, in the 9th Infantry Division. Following his time in command of the 2nd Battalion, he was sent to the prestigious National War College here in Washington, DC, and then to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX, to serve as the operations officer. He continued to impress his peers and his superiors and was selected to return to his home State of Washington to command the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis. In 1998, following his successful brigade command, he was hand- selected to be the executive officer to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe in Belgium, where he served for 2 years before heading back to the 1st Cavalry Division to be the assistant division commander in 2000. When the Nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, then- Brigadier General Chiarelli was serving in the Pentagon on the Army staff, where he played a key role in mobilizing Army forces for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was promoted to major general in 2003 and assumed command of the 1st Cavalry Division. Over the next several years, General Chiarelli would spend the majority of his time deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in Baghdad from 2003 to 2005 as the commander of Multi-National Division--Baghdad. At this time, Baghdad served as the center of gravity for Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Chiarelli was given the difficult task of maintaining order in this sprawling city of 7 million people. During his command, General Chiarelli was instrumental in developing several innovations that contributed to our success in Iraq. Chief among these were job-creating civil service projects. His commitment to using ``money as a weapons system'' brought stability and saved the lives of Americans and Iraqis alike. In 2006, General Chiarelli was given command of all troops in Iraq, totaling 160,000 at that time. As the commander of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, he continued to innovate, pushing his troops to adopt practices that protected the populace even as they destroyed the insurgent networks. His time as the commander of day-to-day operations in Iraq was, perhaps, the most difficult period of our operations there, but General Chiarelli's performance garnered the highest praise of then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. After 5 years in Iraq, General Chiarelli earned his fourth star and was selected as the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, an honor that speaks to the confidence that his superiors and peers had in his abilities. As the ``Vice,'' General Chiarelli is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Army staff and its responsibility to man and equip the world's greatest Army. In this capacity, he has excelled on many fronts. He has been the military's principal advocate for caring for our veterans with psychological health issues such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. These ``invisible wounds'' affect thousands of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His 2010 report entitled ``Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, Suicide Prevention'' was an effective call to action for leaders at the tactical level within the Army. This transparent and forthright self-evaluation of the Army's small-unit leadership contained 45 hard-hitting pages of conclusions and recommendations, and we have been pleased with the general's progress at following up with those. As the Nation focuses on deficit reduction and budget cuts, General Chiarelli has been an important voice urging leaders to carefully consider the options. In testimony before both Chambers of Congress, he has advocated measured, strategy-based decisions that would meet budgetary needs, while maintaining a force that balances end-strength and capabilities. Throughout all this important work, General Chiarelli is widely recognized as one of the most genuine and personable senior leaders in the military. One widely repeated anecdote is applicable here. While at a dinner at the White House in February 2011, General Chiarelli was passing behind another distinguished guest who, having seen his uniform pants and nothing more, asked him to refill her wine glass. The woman almost immediately recognized her error and was understandably mortified. Rather than be angry or embarrassed, General Chiarelli, as the second-ranking officer in the most powerful Army in the world, graciously filled the glass. That speaks a lot about the character of the officer about whom we are speaking today. Mr. President, we both extend our heartfelt thanks to GEN Pete Chiarelli, to his wife Beth, and to his children and their families for their lifetime of service to the Nation. Words cannot characterize properly the extraordinary character of General Chiarelli's accomplishments. The Nation thanks him and wishes him success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, December 8, 2011, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting to consider S. 1763, the SAVE Native Women Act, and S. 1065, the Blackfeet River Land Settlement Act, to be followed by a hearing entitled ``State and Federal Tax Policy: Building New Markets in Indian Country.'' Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to express my deep concerns with the payroll tax alternative that our colleagues have proposed. Their alternative would be paid for by extending the current pay freeze for Federal employees through 2015 and requiring each agency to cut its workforce by 10 percent. I strongly oppose putting the entire cost on the backs of two million middle class Federal employees, who already have contributed to deficit reduction through a 2-year pay freeze. These men and women are working harder than ever with tighter budgets and, in many agencies, continued staffing shortages. If adopted, these provisions would hamper investments in national defense, homeland security, veterans' services, food safety inspection, and other critical areas for a short-sighted approach that does little to address our current fiscal challenges and does nothing to create jobs. In the end, these policies would cost the government more, by harming the Federal Government's ability to recruit and retain highly-skilled workers and increasing our reliance on high- cost contractors. Arbitrary caps on Federal employees often lead to waste, fraud, and abuse as contracting expands without investment in oversight. Already, over the past decade, Federal contracts have nearly doubled in size, but the acquisition workforce charged with overseeing our Federal contracts has remained constant. We should not be adding to this trend, but working to reverse it. While I agree it is important that all Americans share the sacrifice in these challenging economic times, I believe Federal workers have already done so. The 2-year Federal pay freeze enacted as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011 will save approximately $60 billion over the next 10 years. It is important to remember that a pay freeze affects employees much longer than just the years it is in place; future salaries will build from a lower base throughout employees' careers. The pay freeze will also reduce future retirement benefits, because they are calculated using the high three years' of earnings. Nearly two thirds of our 2 million Federal employees are employed by the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, or Homeland Security--and according to the Office of Personnel Management, 4 out of 5 jobs filled since President Obama took office have been to these same agencies. These employees do critical work to keep our Nation safe and care for our veterans. Approximately 85 percent of Federal employees work outside of the Washington, DC area, and they are our neighbors and constituents in each of our States. Like the rest of our constituents, they are struggling with the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Although fortunate to have more job security than most workers, many have unemployed spouses and adult children, their home values and retirement savings have fallen dramatically, and like everyone else they face high health care, college, and other costs. Contrary to what you might hear from our colleagues, Federal employees are not overpaid. Those guarding our airports and borders, and working at our naval shipyards, may start at less than $30,000 per year. Many make less than what they could in the private sector, but they work for the American people because they love their country and they are committed to service. Further cuts to Federal pay and benefits will not only hurt these individual families, but will hinder the larger economic recovery. At a time when close to half our Federal workforce will soon be eligible to retire, I worry that extending the pay freeze could further harm our ability to recruit the best and brightest to government service. As chairman of the Federal workforce subcommittee, I have been working with my colleagues to adopt policies to ensure that the Federal Government is viewed as the employer of choice in this country. Guaranteeing fair and competitive pay for its civilian workforce should be part of our commitment to the American people that the Federal Government has the right people, with the right skills to run their government in an effective and efficient manner. Our Federal civil service is made up of hard working, talented people who have dedicated their lives to serving this country. These honorable men and women provide many essential services to the American people, including keeping our Nation safe, caring for our wounded warriors, ensuring our food and drugs are safe, and responding to natural disasters. America's public servants deserve our gratitude and respect. I thank them for their dedication, and I urge my colleagues to support them by opposing these efforts to freeze Federal pay and hiring.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing entitled ``Deficit Reduction and Job Creation: Regulatory Reform in Indian Country''. Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251.

Mr. AKAKA

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

Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I may speak as in morning business for 5 minutes.

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

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, I am sponsoring a resolution, cosponsored by Majority Leader Reid, Vice Chairman Barrasso, and several members of the committee, designating November as Native American Heritage Month and November 25 of this year as Native American Heritage Day. This resolution recognizes the contributions of Native Americans. We see the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the Founding Fathers of our country as they drafted the Constitution. And today, Native American contributions in modern agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art are undeniable. In that tradition of service, Native Americans have had the highest representation, per capita, in our Armed Forces in every war since World War II. As a veteran of World War II and as a Native Hawaiian, I celebrate the heroic work of the Code Talkers, and the countless American military victories that were achieved in both World Wars with the unbreakable military code founded on indigenous languages and cultures. As we reflect on Native American Heritage Month, it is important to remember our history and the promises we made. It is time to account for those promises, kept and unkept. As a nation, we were built on the highest principles. Our Founding Fathers embraced equality, liberty, and justice and incorporated them into the very fabric of our Constitution. They contemplated the unique role of indigenous peoples in our country, and acknowledge their sovereignty in article I, section 8 of the Constitution. The Founding Fathers set a high standard. As Americans and as Members of this body, it is our duty to continue to legislate policies in keeping with our founding principles. For this reason, I applaud President Obama's recent commitment of U.S. support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples--an international standard that I have been championing for more than a decade. In the Committee on Indian Affairs, I held an oversight hearing on domestic policy implications of the declaration. We found that while the United States is a world leader in recognizing and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, there is more work to do. The rights of self-determination and self-governance contained in the declaration are American ideas, ones we have embraced as official Federal policy for more than 45 years. I am committed to working with my colleagues to enact legislation that gives real meaning to the high principles expressed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the United States, November--Native American Heritage Month--is a time when we reflect and give thanks. I encourage my fellow Americans to learn more about the Native peoples of this land and celebrate Native American Heritage Day on the day after Thanksgiving. As we honor the contributions of Native Americans, let us recommit ourselves to the high principles of self-determination and self- governance and strive for what is ``pono,'' just and right, for all, including our first Americans.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will provide certain of our Nation's veterans with the ability to enforce their statutorily protected veterans' preference rights in the Federal Government. The Veterans' Preference Act, which became law in 1944, was intended to provide a preference in hiring in the Executive Branch to returning servicemembers who acquired valuable skills during their service in the Second World War. Before signing this legislation into law, President Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to the great responsibility our Nation owes its veterans: I believe that the Federal Government, functioning in its capacity as an employer, should take the lead in assuring those who are in the armed forces, that when they return, special consideration will be given to them in their efforts to obtain employment. It is absolutely impossible to take millions of our young men out of their normal pursuits for the purpose of fighting to preserve the Nation, and then expect them to resume their normal activities without having any special consideration shown them. By 1998, it had become clear that providing veterans with a preference in hiring was an effective way to attract and retain qualified veterans in government service. However, it was apparent that veterans needed a mechanism to enforce their veterans' preference rights where an agency was not applying the law as Congress intended. Recognizing this need, Congress enacted the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, which created a mechanism for preference eligible veterans to appeal violations of their veterans' preference rights to the Department of Labor, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and Federal court. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act also extended veterans' preference rights to reductions in force in the Federal Government. It has come to my attention that, unfortunately, not all of our veterans have the ability to enforce their rights under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. Last year, in a case called Morse v. Merit Systems Protection Board, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that preference eligible applicants and employees at the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration are not covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, and thus do not have the same appeal rights as most other applicants and employees in the Federal Government. The court's ruling is puzzling because applicants and employees at both of these Federal agencies have veterans' preference rights under current Federal law, but it may reflect a drafting error in the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. At a time when thousands of our servicemembers are returning home and seeking employment in the Federal Government, we must correct this unacceptable result. Recently, our country observed the 10th anniversary of the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. Since that horrific day, more than 5 million Americans have served in our military, with more than 2 million Americans serving in warzones. As these servicemembers return home, we must be mindful of our sacred commitment to assist those who serve our country and later seek employment in the Federal Government. Specifically, we must ensure that all of our federal agencies are honoring the sacrifice made by servicemembers and their families by complying with veterans' preference laws. Accordingly, I am introducing legislation to correct the problem recently brought to light by the Morse decision by providing preference-eligible applicants and employees at the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration with rights under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important legislation, and more fully honoring the commitment of our Nation's veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Mr. Pesident, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I rise in support of a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Federal Executive Boards. Federal Executive Boards were established on November 10, 1961, by President John F. Kennedy through a presidential directive to strengthen the coordination of government activities outside of Washington, DC. Today, there are 28 Federal Executive Boards across the country, where more than 80 percent of all Federal employees work. Federal Executive Boards have improved the efficiency of Federal government activities and leveraged resources. According to the Federal Executive Board Annual Report, in Fiscal Year 2010, Federal Executive Boards saved the Federal government an estimated total of nearly $33 million. Federal Executive Boards coordinated Alternative Dispute Resolution services by providing mediators to agencies at low or no cost, which saved the Federal government more than $25.2 million. Furthermore, Federal Executive Boards provided training to more than 28,000 employees and saved the Federal government $7.7 million in training costs by providing instructors and conference space to deliver group training sessions, which reduced travel and lodging expenditures. As we commemorate this anniversary, it is fitting to recognize the contributions of Federal Executive Boards on our communities nationwide. Federal Executive Boards supported and raised more than $78 million in Fiscal Year 2010 for the Combined Federal Campaign, the largest workplace charity campaign, supporting 20,000 non-profit, charitable organizations that provide health and human service benefits in the United States and around the world. Last year, Federal Executive Boards supported the government-wide initiative Feds Feed Families food drive and collected over 65,000 pounds of food. Additionally, Federal Executive Boards volunteer in their communities to mentor students and contribute to holiday toy, blood, and clothing drives. Federal Executive Boards have also played an important role in emergency support. During the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis in August 2007 and the massive flooding in the southeastern area of the state just two weeks later, the Minnesota Federal Executive Board passed critical information from local and state sources to more than 100 Federal agencies to provide status updates of recovery operations and potential workforce impacts. Following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Federal Executive Board brought together officials to discuss how Federal Executive Boards can best support first responders during an emergency. During Hurricane Katrina, the Executive Director of the New Orleans Federal Executive Board coordinated with the Office of Personnel Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to obtain and disseminate guidance, as well as communicate issues of concern from Federal agencies in the area. In addition, Federal Executive Boards initiated several activities to prepare Federal employees for a pandemic. For instance, a number of Federal Executive Boards held pandemic influenza tabletop exercises, which included nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and other levels of government. Federal Executive Boards are vital to confronting today's challenges and helping agencies meet their workforce needs and missions. They are uniquely positioned to bring together the Federal family. Again, I want to say mahalo, thank you, to the Federal Executive Boards for their valuable work and congratulate them on their success on this 50th anniversary.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will provide certain of our Nation's veterans with the ability to enforce their statutorily protected veterans' preference rights in the Federal Government. The Veterans' Preference Act, which became law in 1944, was intended to provide a preference in hiring in the Executive Branch to returning servicemembers who acquired valuable skills during their service in the Second World War. Before signing this legislation into law, President Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to the great responsibility our Nation owes its veterans: I believe that the Federal Government, functioning in its capacity as an employer, should take the lead in assuring those who are in the armed forces, that when they return, special consideration will be given to them in their efforts to obtain employment. It is absolutely impossible to take millions of our young men out of their normal pursuits for the purpose of fighting to preserve the Nation, and then expect them to resume their normal activities without having any special consideration shown them. By 1998, it had become clear that providing veterans with a preference in hiring was an effective way to attract and retain qualified veterans in government service. However, it was apparent that veterans needed a mechanism to enforce their veterans' preference rights where an agency was not applying the law as Congress intended. Recognizing this need, Congress enacted the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, which created a mechanism for preference eligible veterans to appeal violations of their veterans' preference rights to the Department of Labor, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and Federal court. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act also extended veterans' preference rights to reductions in force in the Federal Government. It has come to my attention that, unfortunately, not all of our veterans have the ability to enforce their rights under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. Last year, in a case called Morse v. Merit Systems Protection Board, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that preference eligible applicants and employees at the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration are not covered by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, and thus do not have the same appeal rights as most other applicants and employees in the Federal Government. The court's ruling is puzzling because applicants and employees at both of these Federal agencies have veterans' preference rights under current Federal law, but it may reflect a drafting error in the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. At a time when thousands of our servicemembers are returning home and seeking employment in the Federal Government, we must correct this unacceptable result. Recently, our country observed the 10th anniversary of the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. Since that horrific day, more than 5 million Americans have served in our military, with more than 2 million Americans serving in warzones. As these servicemembers return home, we must be mindful of our sacred commitment to assist those who serve our country and later seek employment in the Federal Government. Specifically, we must ensure that all of our federal agencies are honoring the sacrifice made by servicemembers and their families by complying with veterans' preference laws. Accordingly, I am introducing legislation to correct the problem recently brought to light by the Morse decision by providing preference-eligible applicants and employees at the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration with rights under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important legislation, and more fully honoring the commitment of our Nation's veterans. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Mr. Pesident, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. AKAKA

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, November 10, 2011, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a legislative hearing on S. 1192, Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act of 2011; S. 872, a bill to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to modify the date as of which certain tribal land of the Lytton Rancheria of California is considered to be held in trust and to provide for the conduct of certain activities on the land; and S. 1763, the Stand Against Violence and Empower Native Women Act (SAVE Native Women Act). Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at (202) 224-2251. Committee on Indian Affairs