Jeff Bingaman

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 9:30 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending energy legislation. For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at 2:15 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building. The Chairman intends to conclude the hearing by 3:00 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to consider the nomination of Catherine Radford Zoi, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Energy, Efficiency, and Renewable Energy), the nomination of William F. Brinkman, to be Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy, and the nomination of Anne Castle, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510-6150, or by e-mail to Amanda kelly@energy.senate.gov. For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, today Senator Udall and I are introducing a bill that will help end a contentious dispute over water rights claims in the Rio Pojoaque general stream adjudication in New Mexico. This is accomplished by authorizing an Indian water rights settlement of the claims being pursued by the Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos in the Rio Pojoaque basin north of Santa Fe. This general stream adjudication is known as the Aamodt case, and I believe it is the longest active case in the Federal court system nationwide. The case began in 1966, and since that time has been actively litigated before the New Mexico District Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Forty years of litigation has resolved very little in the basin. Fortunately, the parties to the case took matters into their own hands. By engaging directly with each other they have resolved their differences, something the litigation could not accomplish. The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act represents an agreement by the parties that will secure water to meet the present and future needs of the four Pueblos involved in the litigation; protect the interests and rights of longstanding water users, including century-old irrigation practices; and ensure that water is available for municipal and domestic needs for all residents in the Pojoaque basin. Negotiation of this agreement was a lengthy process. In the end, however, the parties' commitment to solving water supply issues in the basin prevailed. Legislation to implement this settlement was introduced in the 110th Congress. Hearings were held in both the House and Senate and based on the submitted testimony a number of changes were made to address concerns with the legislation. These changes help standardize the Pueblos' waivers of claims as part of the settlement; limit the settlement's impact on the Federal budget; and allows for flexibility in developing the size and scope of the regional water system in response to local concerns. This settlement is widely supported in the region and it is time to move swiftly to enact this legislation. The State of New Mexico deserves recognition for actively pursuing a settlement of this matter and committing significant resources so that the Federal government does not bear the entire cost of the settlement. The bill is critical to New Mexico's future since it provides certainty in allocating water in a perennially water-short area of the state. It also helps address a long-neglected responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the rights and interests of these Pueblos. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives to enact this legislation as soon as possible. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, today Senator Udall and I are introducing a bill that will help end a contentious dispute over water rights claims in the Rio Pojoaque general stream adjudication in New Mexico. This is accomplished by authorizing an Indian water rights settlement of the claims being pursued by the Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos in the Rio Pojoaque basin north of Santa Fe. This general stream adjudication is known as the Aamodt case, and I believe it is the longest active case in the Federal court system nationwide. The case began in 1966, and since that time has been actively litigated before the New Mexico District Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Forty years of litigation has resolved very little in the basin. Fortunately, the parties to the case took matters into their own hands. By engaging directly with each other they have resolved their differences, something the litigation could not accomplish. The Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act represents an agreement by the parties that will secure water to meet the present and future needs of the four Pueblos involved in the litigation; protect the interests and rights of longstanding water users, including century-old irrigation practices; and ensure that water is available for municipal and domestic needs for all residents in the Pojoaque basin. Negotiation of this agreement was a lengthy process. In the end, however, the parties' commitment to solving water supply issues in the basin prevailed. Legislation to implement this settlement was introduced in the 110th Congress. Hearings were held in both the House and Senate and based on the submitted testimony a number of changes were made to address concerns with the legislation. These changes help standardize the Pueblos' waivers of claims as part of the settlement; limit the settlement's impact on the Federal budget; and allows for flexibility in developing the size and scope of the regional water system in response to local concerns. This settlement is widely supported in the region and it is time to move swiftly to enact this legislation. The State of New Mexico deserves recognition for actively pursuing a settlement of this matter and committing significant resources so that the Federal government does not bear the entire cost of the settlement. The bill is critical to New Mexico's future since it provides certainty in allocating water in a perennially water-short area of the state. It also helps address a long-neglected responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the rights and interests of these Pueblos. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives to enact this legislation as soon as possible. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009. This legislation would develop a national strategy to organize our efforts to combat childhood and adult obesity. It would help foster unprecedented collaborations and collective actions across agencies, and among private entities, individuals, and communities. The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has grown to staggering proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, 66 percent of adults and 32 percent of children are considered either overweight or obese. Over the past 30 years, the obesity rate has more than doubled across all age groups. The U.S. now has the highest prevalence of obesity among the developed nations. In fact, the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. in 2006, 34 percent, is more than twice the average for other developed nations. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 comprehensively addresses the obesity and overweight epidemic by focusing on coordinating and augmenting existing prevention and treatment activities. This legislation is based on recommendations of the Institutes of Medicine, IOM, to confront the obesity epidemic. It focuses on developing dynamic new collaborations and will improve access for beneficiaries in Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal programs to nutritional counseling, prevention services, and physical education programs. Obesity is a costly problem for the U.S. both in terms of health care expenditures and the loss of life. The incidence of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and progressive liver disease--ailments once associated only with adults--is rising among overweight children. These health risks compound with age, since overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults. For the first time in our history, the lifespan of a child born today may be less than that of his or her parents. Interventions aimed at significantly decreasing the prevalence of these illnesses are extremely cost effective and are critical to overall disease prevention and health promotion efforts. The Trust for America's Health recently reported that an investment of just $10 per person per year in proven community- based disease prevention programs would yield a $2.8 billion annual health expenditure reduction. Put another way, our nation would recoup nearly $1 over and above the cost of a comprehensive disease prevention and health promotion program for every $1 invested in the first 1 to 2 years of the program. To that end, my legislation creates grant programs to provide funding to schools, community health centers, academic institutions, State medical societies, State health departments, and communities to reduce the prevalence of obesity and improve the prevention and treatment of individuals who are obese or overweight. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 establishes the U.S. Council on Overweight & Obesity Prevention, USCO- OP, which is charged with creating a comprehensive strategy to prevent, treat and reduce the prevalence of overweight individuals and obesity. This advisory council will update Federal guidelines; identify best practices; conduct ongoing surveillance and monitoring of existing Federal programs; and make recommendations to coordinate budgets, policies, and programs across Federal agencies in collaboration with private and public partners. In addition, the Council will help develop and update the daily physical activity requirements in our schools, and identify activities that families can do together. It is also critical to recognize that certain populations are more vulnerable than others to the obesity epidemic. Minorities, especially from Hispanic and Native American communities, are disproportionately affected by this disease. For example, in my home State of New Mexico, approximately 26 percent of Hispanic and 32 percent of Native American adolescents, grades 9-12, are overweight or obese; the rate of prevalence is less than 20 percent among white, non-Hispanic adolescents. I have, therefore, prioritized grants in this legislation to these populations and required Federal reporting on research and data related to obesity in disproportionately affected groups. This includes grants aimed at behavioral risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition. This bill will help further develop and then increase funding to the Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This will help ensure that low-income children will have access to healthier foods within their schools. In addition, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture will be tasked to consult with the USCO-OP to update and reform Federal oversight of food and beverage labeling. Such reforms include improving the transparency of labeling with regard to nutritional and caloric value of food and beverages. I think it is imperative that we provide treatment to those individuals who are likely to develop obesity-related ailments before the full onset of disease. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 does this by expanding coverage of Medicare to include medical nutritional counseling for beneficiaries who are overweight or obese and are considered pre-diabetics. In addition, my legislation gives States the option to include medical nutrition therapy services in Medicaid and SCHIP. There is no doubt that the obesity epidemic has grown immensely. I am confident, however, that it can be stopped but it requires a nationwide commitment for resolution. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation this year. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009. This legislation would develop a national strategy to organize our efforts to combat childhood and adult obesity. It would help foster unprecedented collaborations and collective actions across agencies, and among private entities, individuals, and communities. The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has grown to staggering proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, 66 percent of adults and 32 percent of children are considered either overweight or obese. Over the past 30 years, the obesity rate has more than doubled across all age groups. The U.S. now has the highest prevalence of obesity among the developed nations. In fact, the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. in 2006, 34 percent, is more than twice the average for other developed nations. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 comprehensively addresses the obesity and overweight epidemic by focusing on coordinating and augmenting existing prevention and treatment activities. This legislation is based on recommendations of the Institutes of Medicine, IOM, to confront the obesity epidemic. It focuses on developing dynamic new collaborations and will improve access for beneficiaries in Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal programs to nutritional counseling, prevention services, and physical education programs. Obesity is a costly problem for the U.S. both in terms of health care expenditures and the loss of life. The incidence of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and progressive liver disease--ailments once associated only with adults--is rising among overweight children. These health risks compound with age, since overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults. For the first time in our history, the lifespan of a child born today may be less than that of his or her parents. Interventions aimed at significantly decreasing the prevalence of these illnesses are extremely cost effective and are critical to overall disease prevention and health promotion efforts. The Trust for America's Health recently reported that an investment of just $10 per person per year in proven community- based disease prevention programs would yield a $2.8 billion annual health expenditure reduction. Put another way, our nation would recoup nearly $1 over and above the cost of a comprehensive disease prevention and health promotion program for every $1 invested in the first 1 to 2 years of the program. To that end, my legislation creates grant programs to provide funding to schools, community health centers, academic institutions, State medical societies, State health departments, and communities to reduce the prevalence of obesity and improve the prevention and treatment of individuals who are obese or overweight. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 establishes the U.S. Council on Overweight & Obesity Prevention, USCO- OP, which is charged with creating a comprehensive strategy to prevent, treat and reduce the prevalence of overweight individuals and obesity. This advisory council will update Federal guidelines; identify best practices; conduct ongoing surveillance and monitoring of existing Federal programs; and make recommendations to coordinate budgets, policies, and programs across Federal agencies in collaboration with private and public partners. In addition, the Council will help develop and update the daily physical activity requirements in our schools, and identify activities that families can do together. It is also critical to recognize that certain populations are more vulnerable than others to the obesity epidemic. Minorities, especially from Hispanic and Native American communities, are disproportionately affected by this disease. For example, in my home State of New Mexico, approximately 26 percent of Hispanic and 32 percent of Native American adolescents, grades 9-12, are overweight or obese; the rate of prevalence is less than 20 percent among white, non-Hispanic adolescents. I have, therefore, prioritized grants in this legislation to these populations and required Federal reporting on research and data related to obesity in disproportionately affected groups. This includes grants aimed at behavioral risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition. This bill will help further develop and then increase funding to the Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This will help ensure that low-income children will have access to healthier foods within their schools. In addition, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture will be tasked to consult with the USCO-OP to update and reform Federal oversight of food and beverage labeling. Such reforms include improving the transparency of labeling with regard to nutritional and caloric value of food and beverages. I think it is imperative that we provide treatment to those individuals who are likely to develop obesity-related ailments before the full onset of disease. The Obesity Prevention, Treatment and Research Act of 2009 does this by expanding coverage of Medicare to include medical nutritional counseling for beneficiaries who are overweight or obese and are considered pre-diabetics. In addition, my legislation gives States the option to include medical nutrition therapy services in Medicaid and SCHIP. There is no doubt that the obesity epidemic has grown immensely. I am confident, however, that it can be stopped but it requires a nationwide commitment for resolution. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation this year. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building. The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending energy legislation. For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 2:15 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending energy legislation. For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today entitled the Strengthening America's Public Health System Act of 2009. The ongoing swine flu pandemic makes clear the necessity for a robust public health system in the U.S. This legislation is designed to strengthen epidemiology and laboratory capacity in State and local health departments and, correspondingly, national surveillance and reporting of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance. Currently, many parts of the local-state-federal disease surveillance system are fragmented and paper-based, and have not fully benefited from new technologies that could improve the completeness and timeliness of reporting. A 2007 survey found that 20 states are manually reporting diagnostic findings, albeit with a web interface, and 16 are completely paper-based. Only 2 State public health laboratories have bidirectional data flow and can both send and receive laboratory messages, the gold standard for disease reporting. The potential for new pathogen discovery, rapid electronic exchange of public health information, national bacterial and viral databases for DNA ``fingerprinting'' of infectious disease organisms has not been fully realized. My legislation focuses on improving electronic disease surveillance and reporting so that all state and local health departments and public health laboratories can readily and seamlessly receive, monitor, and report infectious diseases and other urgent conditions of public health importance. The bill also authorizes a process for determining a list of nationally notifiable diseases and conditions and, creates a national committee to evaluate best practices in public health surveillance. The Strengthening America's Public Health System Act calls for the expansion of resources, renewed focus and mission, and new areas of special emphasis for several existing programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. These programs support public health capacity to identify and monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance; detect new and emerging infectious disease threats, including laboratory capacity to detect antimicrobial resistant infections; identify and respond to disease outbreaks; and hire and train necessary professional staff. The outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico highlights the need for cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in the surveillance, reporting and control of infectious diseases that cross the border. Clear standards, however, have not yet been established for what information should be shared and how the sharing should take place. My legislation tasks the CDC to finalize and adopt the ``Guidelines for U.S.-Mexico Coordination on Epidemiological Events of Mutual Interest'' so that we have a clear mechanism in place for communication with public health officials in Mexico. This important legislation has been endorsed by the: American Association of Public Health Veterinarians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, National Public Health Information Coalition, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and Trust for America's Health. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today entitled the Strengthening America's Public Health System Act of 2009. The ongoing swine flu pandemic makes clear the necessity for a robust public health system in the U.S. This legislation is designed to strengthen epidemiology and laboratory capacity in State and local health departments and, correspondingly, national surveillance and reporting of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance. Currently, many parts of the local-state-federal disease surveillance system are fragmented and paper-based, and have not fully benefited from new technologies that could improve the completeness and timeliness of reporting. A 2007 survey found that 20 states are manually reporting diagnostic findings, albeit with a web interface, and 16 are completely paper-based. Only 2 State public health laboratories have bidirectional data flow and can both send and receive laboratory messages, the gold standard for disease reporting. The potential for new pathogen discovery, rapid electronic exchange of public health information, national bacterial and viral databases for DNA ``fingerprinting'' of infectious disease organisms has not been fully realized. My legislation focuses on improving electronic disease surveillance and reporting so that all state and local health departments and public health laboratories can readily and seamlessly receive, monitor, and report infectious diseases and other urgent conditions of public health importance. The bill also authorizes a process for determining a list of nationally notifiable diseases and conditions and, creates a national committee to evaluate best practices in public health surveillance. The Strengthening America's Public Health System Act calls for the expansion of resources, renewed focus and mission, and new areas of special emphasis for several existing programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. These programs support public health capacity to identify and monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance; detect new and emerging infectious disease threats, including laboratory capacity to detect antimicrobial resistant infections; identify and respond to disease outbreaks; and hire and train necessary professional staff. The outbreak of swine flu that originated in Mexico highlights the need for cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in the surveillance, reporting and control of infectious diseases that cross the border. Clear standards, however, have not yet been established for what information should be shared and how the sharing should take place. My legislation tasks the CDC to finalize and adopt the ``Guidelines for U.S.-Mexico Coordination on Epidemiological Events of Mutual Interest'' so that we have a clear mechanism in place for communication with public health officials in Mexico. This important legislation has been endorsed by the: American Association of Public Health Veterinarians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Association of Schools of Public Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, National Public Health Information Coalition, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and Trust for America's Health. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to have been able to introduce the Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2009, S. 1013, along with Sens. Barasso, Dorgan, Tester, Udall, Bayh, Landrieu, Casey, and Voinovich. It is critical that we work towards reducing our greenhouse gas footprint while producing safe and secure, clean energy here in America. I believe this bill will go far to incentivize early project developers to start reducing their carbon dioxide emissions through carbon capture and geologic sequestration. This bipartisan bill establishes a national indemnity program through the Department of Energy for up to 10 commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration projects. There is a clear need for liability treatments and adequate project financing for early mover projects. An indemnity program is a strong step to building confidence for project developers and demonstrates that the projects will be conducted safely while addressing the growing concerns of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial facilities, such as coal and natural gas fired utilities, cement plants, refineries and other carbon intensive industrial processes. In addition, the legislation maps out a clear framework for closing down a geological storage site. It is essential to consider the issue of safe, long-term storage of carbon dioxide and take the steps needed for site stewardship during the injection phase, directly following closure and for long-term preventative maintenance of the geologic storage site. Many stakeholders associate maintenance issues with liability concerns, however they should be viewed as two separate entities. Maintenance is essential for reducing risk and limiting liabilities at a storage site, and it is critical to have robust monitoring and verification of an injected carbon dioxide plume at each of the storage sites that would continue well past site closure. With a proper site maintenance program developed for each project, risk will be minimized and developers will have greater confidence that liabilities will not be incurred. This legislation will require science-based monitoring and verification of the injected carbon dioxide plume throughout the life of the project to well beyond the closure phase. Also, as carbon capture and sequestration projects grow in both scale and number, there will be an increasing need to train qualified regulators to oversee the permitting, operation, and closure of geologic storage sites. This bill creates a grant program whose goal is to train State agencies and personnel who oversee the regulatory aspects of geologic storage of carbon dioxide. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The purpose of the business meeting is to consider pending nominations and pending energy legislation. For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 1013, the Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2009. Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to Rosemarie_Calabro@energy.senate.gov For further information, please contact Allyson Anderson at (202) 224-7143 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today with Ms. Collins and Ms. Stabenow entitled Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009. This important legislation will address the national shortage of children's mental health professionals, including school-based professionals, by encouraging more individuals to enter these critical fields. The landmark 1999 Surgeon General's report on mental health brought a hidden mental health crisis to the attention of the U.S. public. According to that report, 13.7 million children in our country--about one in five--suffer from a diagnosable emotional or behavioral disorder. Such disorders as Anxiety Disorders, Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Depression are among the most common in this age group. Yet more than \2/3\ of these children do not receive any treatment. Long waiting lists for children seeking services, including those in crisis, are not uncommon. The primary reason is that severe shortages exist in qualified mental health professionals, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health also found that ``the supply of well-trained mental health professionals is inadequate in most areas of the country . . . particular shortages exist for mental health providers who serve children, adolescents, and older Americans.'' The situation is no better in our public schools, where children's mental health needs are often first identified. According to the National Center for Education Statistics within the Department of Education, there are approximately 479 students for each school counselor in U.S. schools, nearly twice the recommended ratio of 250 students for each counselor. The situation in my home State of New Mexico is a case in point. Estimates suggest that 56,000 children and adolescents in New Mexico have an emotional or behavioral disorder. Of these, roughly 20,000 have serious disturbances that impair their ability to fulfill the demands of everyday life. In 2009, there were a total of 55 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the entire State of New Mexico. The impact of this shortage on the affected children and their communities is disconcerting. Research shows that children with untreated emotional and behavioral disorders are at higher risk for school failure and dropping out of school, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity. For New Mexico youth, the suicide rate is twice the national average, the fourth highest in the nation, and the third leading cause of death. By one estimate, roughly 1 in 7 youth in New Mexico detention centers are in need of mental health treatment that is just not available. New Mexico is not alone in its struggle to address the needs of these children. Nationwide, over 1,600 urban, suburban, and rural communities have been designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Federal Government due to their severe lack of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to serve children and adults. Rural areas are especially hard hit. For example, in New Mexico there is one psychiatrist per 20,000 residents in rural areas, whereas in urban areas there is one per 3,000 residents. In rural and frontier counties, it is not unusual for the parents of a child in need of services to travel 60 to 90 miles to reach the nearest psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health provider. Finally, graduate programs providing the vital pipeline for the child mental health workforce have not sufficiently increased their funding, class sizes, and training programs to meet the ever growing need for these specialists. In the U.S., only 300 new child and adolescent psychiatrists are trained each year, despite projections by the Bureau of Health Professions that the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrist will grow to 4,000 by the year 2020. Federal grant funding for graduate psychology education has also been significantly reduced in the past 2 years, which could reduce the numbers of child and adolescent psychologists entering the profession. Clearly something needs to be done to address this serious shortage in mental health professionals to meet the growing needs of our Nation's youth. It is for this reason that I rise today to offer the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009. This bill creates incentives to help recruit and retain mental health professionals providing direct clinical care, and to help create, expand, and improve programs to train child mental health professionals. It provides loan repayments and scholarships for child mental health and school-based service professionals as well as internships and field placements in child mental health services and training for paraprofessionals who work in children's mental health clinical settings. The bill also provides grants to graduate schools to help develop and expand child and adolescent mental health programs. It restores the Medicare Graduate Medical Education Program funding for child and adolescent psychiatrists and extends the board eligibility period for residents and fellows from 4 years to 6 years. Across all mental health professions, priority for loan repayments, scholarships, and grants is given to individuals and programs serving children and adolescents in high-need areas. Finally, the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009 requires the Secretary to prepare a report on the distribution and need for child mental health and school-based professionals, including disparities in the availability of services, on a State-by-State basis. This report will help Congress more clearly ascertain the mental health workforce needs that are facing our Nation. This important legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: Alliance for Children and Families, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Counseling Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Orthopsychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Association for the Advancement of Psychology, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Attention Disorder, Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research Policy & Action, Mental Health America, National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Children's Behavioral Health, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Therapeutic Communities of America, U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Witness Justice. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today with Ms. Collins and Ms. Stabenow entitled Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009. This important legislation will address the national shortage of children's mental health professionals, including school-based professionals, by encouraging more individuals to enter these critical fields. The landmark 1999 Surgeon General's report on mental health brought a hidden mental health crisis to the attention of the U.S. public. According to that report, 13.7 million children in our country--about one in five--suffer from a diagnosable emotional or behavioral disorder. Such disorders as Anxiety Disorders, Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Depression are among the most common in this age group. Yet more than \2/3\ of these children do not receive any treatment. Long waiting lists for children seeking services, including those in crisis, are not uncommon. The primary reason is that severe shortages exist in qualified mental health professionals, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health also found that ``the supply of well-trained mental health professionals is inadequate in most areas of the country . . . particular shortages exist for mental health providers who serve children, adolescents, and older Americans.'' The situation is no better in our public schools, where children's mental health needs are often first identified. According to the National Center for Education Statistics within the Department of Education, there are approximately 479 students for each school counselor in U.S. schools, nearly twice the recommended ratio of 250 students for each counselor. The situation in my home State of New Mexico is a case in point. Estimates suggest that 56,000 children and adolescents in New Mexico have an emotional or behavioral disorder. Of these, roughly 20,000 have serious disturbances that impair their ability to fulfill the demands of everyday life. In 2009, there were a total of 55 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the entire State of New Mexico. The impact of this shortage on the affected children and their communities is disconcerting. Research shows that children with untreated emotional and behavioral disorders are at higher risk for school failure and dropping out of school, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and criminal activity. For New Mexico youth, the suicide rate is twice the national average, the fourth highest in the nation, and the third leading cause of death. By one estimate, roughly 1 in 7 youth in New Mexico detention centers are in need of mental health treatment that is just not available. New Mexico is not alone in its struggle to address the needs of these children. Nationwide, over 1,600 urban, suburban, and rural communities have been designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Federal Government due to their severe lack of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to serve children and adults. Rural areas are especially hard hit. For example, in New Mexico there is one psychiatrist per 20,000 residents in rural areas, whereas in urban areas there is one per 3,000 residents. In rural and frontier counties, it is not unusual for the parents of a child in need of services to travel 60 to 90 miles to reach the nearest psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health provider. Finally, graduate programs providing the vital pipeline for the child mental health workforce have not sufficiently increased their funding, class sizes, and training programs to meet the ever growing need for these specialists. In the U.S., only 300 new child and adolescent psychiatrists are trained each year, despite projections by the Bureau of Health Professions that the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrist will grow to 4,000 by the year 2020. Federal grant funding for graduate psychology education has also been significantly reduced in the past 2 years, which could reduce the numbers of child and adolescent psychologists entering the profession. Clearly something needs to be done to address this serious shortage in mental health professionals to meet the growing needs of our Nation's youth. It is for this reason that I rise today to offer the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009. This bill creates incentives to help recruit and retain mental health professionals providing direct clinical care, and to help create, expand, and improve programs to train child mental health professionals. It provides loan repayments and scholarships for child mental health and school-based service professionals as well as internships and field placements in child mental health services and training for paraprofessionals who work in children's mental health clinical settings. The bill also provides grants to graduate schools to help develop and expand child and adolescent mental health programs. It restores the Medicare Graduate Medical Education Program funding for child and adolescent psychiatrists and extends the board eligibility period for residents and fellows from 4 years to 6 years. Across all mental health professions, priority for loan repayments, scholarships, and grants is given to individuals and programs serving children and adolescents in high-need areas. Finally, the Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act of 2009 requires the Secretary to prepare a report on the distribution and need for child mental health and school-based professionals, including disparities in the availability of services, on a State-by-State basis. This report will help Congress more clearly ascertain the mental health workforce needs that are facing our Nation. This important legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: Alliance for Children and Families, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Counseling Association, American Group Psychotherapy Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Orthopsychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Association for the Advancement of Psychology, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Attention Disorder, Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, Child Welfare League of America, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research Policy & Action, Mental Health America, National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Children's Behavioral Health, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Therapeutic Communities of America, U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Witness Justice. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate office building. The purpose of the legislative hearing is to receive testimony on S. 967, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009, and S. 283, a bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify the conditions for the release of products from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Account. Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by e-mail to Rosemarie_Calabro@energy.senate.gov. For further information, please contact Tara Billingsley at (202) 224-4756 or Rosemarie Calabro at (202) 224-5039.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, even people who don't follow horse racing, and certainly those who do, have been thunderstruck by this year's Kentucky Derby results. The only reason I mention it is that the horse wearing the blanket of roses this year is a gelding from New Mexico. ``Mine That Bird'' swept the field on Saturday, coming from so far behind he was last, to win with nearly seven lengths separating him from his nearest competitor. We have seen his trainer, Bennie ``Chip'' Woolley, and his owners, Mark Allen and Leonard Blach, talk about this remarkable victory and about the outstanding jockey, Calvin Borel. He took his horse from last to first by the shortest route possible--along the rail. It was a masterful display of ability and skill from all involved, not least the horse, and New Mexicans are delighted that our state is home to this year's Derby winner. It is a first for us.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, today Senator Udall and I are introducing a bill that will end an ongoing water rights dispute in northern New Mexico. The bill accomplishes this by authorizing a water rights settlement resolving Taos Pueblo's water rights claims in the Rio Pueblo de Taos, a tributary to the Rio Grande. The Rio Pueblo de Taos adjudication is a dispute that is almost 40 years old. The parties have been in settlement discussions for well over a decade but it was not until the last 5 years that the discussions took on the sense of urgency needed to resolve the issues at hand. A settlement agreement was signed by the Pueblo, State, and other interested parties in March 2006. Federal legislation was then finalized and introduced last year. Progress was made on the bill, including hearings in both the House and Senate which resulted in the identification of a few more issues which needed to be addressed. The parties negotiated a resolution to these issues and legislation to authorize and implement the settlement is now ready to move forward. The settlement will fulfill the rights of the Pueblo consistent with the Federal trust responsibility. It will also continue the tradition of sharing precious water resources in a manner necessary to protect the sustainability of traditional agricultural communities. Finally, the Town of Taos and other local entities are assured of accessing the water necessary to meet municipal and domestic needs. In sum, the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act represents a commonsense set of solutions that all parties to the adjudication have a stake in implementing. This legislation is widely supported in the Taos Valley, probably as close to a consensus as any water-related agreement can get in the West. The State of New Mexico, under Governor Richardson's leadership, deserves recognition for actively pursuing a settlement in this matter and committing financial resources in recognition of the importance of this matter to all water users in the basin. This bill, as with any water rights settlement, is crucial to New Mexico's future. In an arid State such as ours, the legal system is poorly equipped to allocate water and create the infrastructure needed for its efficient use. Negotiated agreements between the parties, the State Engineer, and the Federal Government are much more likely to lead to long-term solutions that allow for the use of water in a sustainable manner. This legislation builds upon the provisions included in the Navajo water rights settlement enacted into law on March 30, 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Lands bill. That settlement, and each subsequent one, will help provide more certainty and less conflict with respect to the allocation and use of water in New Mexico. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, to see that this bill gets enacted into law. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009. This bill will ensure that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will continue to fulfill the goal that its creators envisioned for it in 1975, which is to protect Americans from the economic consequences of oil supply disruptions. This bill includes two key provisions. First, it creates a refined petroleum product component within the existing SPR. The Department of Energy is required to hold at least 30 million barrels of the total 1 billion barrel SPR inventory in refined petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel fuel. In the 1970s, the U.S. was vulnerable to supply disruptions in crude oil, as it was a significant and growing importer of crude oil. In 1973, major oil exporting nations embargoed oil exports to the United States in retaliation for U.S. support for Israel during that year's Arab-Israeli War. The embargo and resulting oil price spikes wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy. Preventing a recurrence of this kind of geopolitical oil supply disruption was the primary goal of the SPR. Because the country then held significant surplus refinery capacity, SPR managers decided to hold only crude oil in the SPR. In 2009, our domestic oil market has changed. While we are more dependent on imported crude oil than ever before, we also import more refined petroleum products and have considerably less spare refinery capacity. When U.S. refinery operations are disrupted, we require imported products from other countries to fill the gap. We have also learned in the last 34 years that weather-related events are the most frequent source of oil supply disruptions. In history, the SPR has been used in connection with only on geopolitical event, during the 1990-1991 Iraqi invasion of and removal from Kuwait, while it has been used several times in response to hurricanes or other weather events, such as dense fog halting tanker traffic in the Houston Ship Channel. These more frequent weather events are usually as disruptive, if not more disruptive, to U.S. refinery operations as to crude oil production and imports. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September 2008 took much of the U.S. Gulf Coast infrastructure offline, and shortages of gasoline and diesel were experienced throughout the Southeast through October of that year. The SPR was of limited use in mitigating these shortages because the refineries affected by the storms were not able to process SPR crude oil into gasoline and diesel. Including a small volume of refined petroleum products in the SPR, as required by The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009, would provide a cushion to affected markets while damaged infrastructure were brought back online, or until imported gasoline and diesel could arrive to service the area. The second key provision included in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to release emergency oil from the SPR. Under current law, only the President of the United States can authorize an emergency sale of SPR oil. Experts believe that this requirement creates a disincentive to use SPR oil for the purposes for which it is intended, as the President does not want to alarm the public by announcing that the country is in an oil supply emergency. Moving the SPR drawdown authority to the Secretary of Energy would allow SPR policy decisions to be made closer to the oil markets that the SPR serves. I believe that many of my colleagues share my disappointment that recent discussions about when and how to use the SPR have become so political that sound decisions, based on the reality of our country's oil market, have not been possible. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, today Senator Udall and I are introducing a bill that will end an ongoing water rights dispute in northern New Mexico. The bill accomplishes this by authorizing a water rights settlement resolving Taos Pueblo's water rights claims in the Rio Pueblo de Taos, a tributary to the Rio Grande. The Rio Pueblo de Taos adjudication is a dispute that is almost 40 years old. The parties have been in settlement discussions for well over a decade but it was not until the last 5 years that the discussions took on the sense of urgency needed to resolve the issues at hand. A settlement agreement was signed by the Pueblo, State, and other interested parties in March 2006. Federal legislation was then finalized and introduced last year. Progress was made on the bill, including hearings in both the House and Senate which resulted in the identification of a few more issues which needed to be addressed. The parties negotiated a resolution to these issues and legislation to authorize and implement the settlement is now ready to move forward. The settlement will fulfill the rights of the Pueblo consistent with the Federal trust responsibility. It will also continue the tradition of sharing precious water resources in a manner necessary to protect the sustainability of traditional agricultural communities. Finally, the Town of Taos and other local entities are assured of accessing the water necessary to meet municipal and domestic needs. In sum, the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act represents a commonsense set of solutions that all parties to the adjudication have a stake in implementing. This legislation is widely supported in the Taos Valley, probably as close to a consensus as any water-related agreement can get in the West. The State of New Mexico, under Governor Richardson's leadership, deserves recognition for actively pursuing a settlement in this matter and committing financial resources in recognition of the importance of this matter to all water users in the basin. This bill, as with any water rights settlement, is crucial to New Mexico's future. In an arid State such as ours, the legal system is poorly equipped to allocate water and create the infrastructure needed for its efficient use. Negotiated agreements between the parties, the State Engineer, and the Federal Government are much more likely to lead to long-term solutions that allow for the use of water in a sustainable manner. This legislation builds upon the provisions included in the Navajo water rights settlement enacted into law on March 30, 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Lands bill. That settlement, and each subsequent one, will help provide more certainty and less conflict with respect to the allocation and use of water in New Mexico. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, to see that this bill gets enacted into law. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009. This bill will ensure that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will continue to fulfill the goal that its creators envisioned for it in 1975, which is to protect Americans from the economic consequences of oil supply disruptions. This bill includes two key provisions. First, it creates a refined petroleum product component within the existing SPR. The Department of Energy is required to hold at least 30 million barrels of the total 1 billion barrel SPR inventory in refined petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel fuel. In the 1970s, the U.S. was vulnerable to supply disruptions in crude oil, as it was a significant and growing importer of crude oil. In 1973, major oil exporting nations embargoed oil exports to the United States in retaliation for U.S. support for Israel during that year's Arab-Israeli War. The embargo and resulting oil price spikes wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy. Preventing a recurrence of this kind of geopolitical oil supply disruption was the primary goal of the SPR. Because the country then held significant surplus refinery capacity, SPR managers decided to hold only crude oil in the SPR. In 2009, our domestic oil market has changed. While we are more dependent on imported crude oil than ever before, we also import more refined petroleum products and have considerably less spare refinery capacity. When U.S. refinery operations are disrupted, we require imported products from other countries to fill the gap. We have also learned in the last 34 years that weather-related events are the most frequent source of oil supply disruptions. In history, the SPR has been used in connection with only on geopolitical event, during the 1990-1991 Iraqi invasion of and removal from Kuwait, while it has been used several times in response to hurricanes or other weather events, such as dense fog halting tanker traffic in the Houston Ship Channel. These more frequent weather events are usually as disruptive, if not more disruptive, to U.S. refinery operations as to crude oil production and imports. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September 2008 took much of the U.S. Gulf Coast infrastructure offline, and shortages of gasoline and diesel were experienced throughout the Southeast through October of that year. The SPR was of limited use in mitigating these shortages because the refineries affected by the storms were not able to process SPR crude oil into gasoline and diesel. Including a small volume of refined petroleum products in the SPR, as required by The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009, would provide a cushion to affected markets while damaged infrastructure were brought back online, or until imported gasoline and diesel could arrive to service the area. The second key provision included in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to release emergency oil from the SPR. Under current law, only the President of the United States can authorize an emergency sale of SPR oil. Experts believe that this requirement creates a disincentive to use SPR oil for the purposes for which it is intended, as the President does not want to alarm the public by announcing that the country is in an oil supply emergency. Moving the SPR drawdown authority to the Secretary of Energy would allow SPR policy decisions to be made closer to the oil markets that the SPR serves. I believe that many of my colleagues share my disappointment that recent discussions about when and how to use the SPR have become so political that sound decisions, based on the reality of our country's oil market, have not been possible. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a business meeting has been scheduled before Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The business meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The purpose of the business meeting is to consider legislation on siting of interstate electric transmission facilities, energy finance, and nuclear energy. For further information, please contact Sam Fowler at (202) 224-7571 or Amanda Kelly at (202) 224-6836.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks is one of the principal offices in the Department of the Interior. He is responsible for overseeing both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service manages 550 national wildlife refuges, encompassing more than 150 million acres of land. The National Park Service manages several hundred national parks, monuments, battlefields, landmarks, seashores, trails, and rivers, encompassing 84 million acres. By any measure, the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks is an important office, which needs to be filled by a talented and capable individual. President Obama has made an excellent choice in nominating Thomas Strickland for this important post. Mr. Strickland is a lawyer by training. He is a graduate of the University of Texas Law School and clerked for a Federal district judge in Houston. He practiced law in Denver and served as Governor Richard Lamm's chief policy adviser. He chaired Colorado's Transportation Commission. Ten years ago, President Clinton nominated him, and the Senate confirmed him, as the U.S. attorney for Colorado. He ran for the Senate, twice, unsuccessfully, in 1996 and 2002. He was the managing partner of the Denver office of the law firm of Hogan and Hartson and later the executive vice president and chief legal officer of the United Health Group. Since January, he has served as Secretary Salazar's chief of staff at the Department of the Interior. Over the course of this long and distinguished career, Mr. Strickland has dealt frequently and extensively with environmental and natural resource issues. Along with Secretary Salazar, Mr. Strickland was one of the founders of the Great Outdoors Colorado Program, which has invested $600 million of State lottery money to protect 600,000 acres of state parks, wildlife habitat, and open space in Colorado since it was founded in 1993. Because the portfolio of the Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks bridges the jurisdiction of both the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, our two committees share jurisdiction over Mr. Strickland's nomination. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on his nomination over a month ago, on March 24, and favorably reported the nomination to the Senate on March 31. One hundred days into the Obama administration, Secretary Salazar remains the only Interior Department official confirmed by the Senate. The work of the Interior Department is too important and too demanding for one individual. The President has nominated a superbly qualified person for the position of Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. I urge my colleagues to vote to confirm Mr. Strickland for this important post.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased today to introduce the 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act with my colleagues Senators Murkowski, Dorgan, Voinovich, Stabenow, Lugar, and Shaheen. I would particularly like to thank Senator Murkowski for her thoughtful input. As I have said previously on this floor, I am a strong proponent of pricing carbon dioxide emissions in order to properly align the incentives of the marketplace to avoid the very real costs of catastrophic climate change. I am happy to see that discussion has begun both here and in the other body. However, we should be careful not to think that when we do price in the effects of carbon emissions, which I believe will happen, then we have solved the entire problem. As the current economic downturn and credit climate make clear, even when we do get the incentives straight, that is no guarantee that the means will be available to developers and individuals to make the smart investments they want to make. That is where this bill comes in; to fill in critical financing gap and bring down the costs of the investments that will not only increase our climate and energy security, but help put the U.S. in a leadership position in these technologies that I believe will be in great demand in the coming years. I hope that the Energy Committee will agree to include this provision in the comprehensive energy legislation the Committee is currently working on. I will have more to say about the measure as we get further along in that process. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased today to introduce the 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act with my colleagues Senators Murkowski, Dorgan, Voinovich, Stabenow, Lugar, and Shaheen. I would particularly like to thank Senator Murkowski for her thoughtful input. As I have said previously on this floor, I am a strong proponent of pricing carbon dioxide emissions in order to properly align the incentives of the marketplace to avoid the very real costs of catastrophic climate change. I am happy to see that discussion has begun both here and in the other body. However, we should be careful not to think that when we do price in the effects of carbon emissions, which I believe will happen, then we have solved the entire problem. As the current economic downturn and credit climate make clear, even when we do get the incentives straight, that is no guarantee that the means will be available to developers and individuals to make the smart investments they want to make. That is where this bill comes in; to fill in critical financing gap and bring down the costs of the investments that will not only increase our climate and energy security, but help put the U.S. in a leadership position in these technologies that I believe will be in great demand in the coming years. I hope that the Energy Committee will agree to include this provision in the comprehensive energy legislation the Committee is currently working on. I will have more to say about the measure as we get further along in that process. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.