Barbara Boxer

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to share with my colleagues the memory of one of the world's heroes, Mr. Simon Wiesenthal, who died on September 20, 2005, at the age of 96. Simon Wiesenthal was a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to honoring its victims by bringing its perpetrators to justice. By fighting against intolerance and genocide everywhere, he worked tirelessly to see that ``never forget'' would someday mean ``never again.'' We in California have a special bond with Simon Wiesenthal because the Simon Wiesenthal Center is based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1977, the Wiesenthal Center preserves the memory of the Holocaust and continues the work of Simon Wiesenthal by fostering tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach, and social action. Today, the center also includes the world-renowned Museum of Tolerance. Simon Wiesenthal was born on December 31, 1908, in western Ukraine. He received his degree in architectural engineering from the Technical University of Prague in 1932. After graduation, he worked as an architect in Lvov, Poland. In 1936, he married his high school sweetheart, Cyla Mueller. Three years later, Germany and Russia signed their nonaggression pact and partitioned Poland. As a result, the Soviet Army occupied Lvov and began purging Jewish professionals. Simon was forced to close his business and work in a bedspring factory. Many of his family members were imprisoned or killed. Simon tried to save his family from deportation by bribing the Soviet Secret Police. However, he and his wife were sent to the Janwska concentration camp and then to a forced labor camp for the Eastern Railroad. By 1942, nearly 90 members of his and his wife's family perished. Simon was able to help his wife Cyla escape through the Polish underground on false papers. However, after escaping the forced labor camp in 1943, Simon was captured and sent back to Janwska. When the Soviet Army advanced on the German eastern front, he was forced to join SS guards on a march westward. The march ended in the Mauthausen concentration camp. Simon narrowly survived when Mauthausen was liberated by the Americans on May 5, 1945. At 6 feet tall, he weighed 100 pounds. In late 1945, Simon and his wife were reunited. Both had believed the other to be dead. In 1946, their daughter Paulinka was born. Simon spent the rest of his life tracking down Nazis and working to bring them to justice. He said that in various ways he helped bring 1,100 former Nazis to trial. Of these were Adolf Eichmann, who supervised implementation of the ``Final Solution,'' Karl Silberbauer, the Gestapo officer who arrested Anne Frank, and Hermie Braunsteiner Ryan, who supervised the killing of hundreds of children at a Polish camp. Mr. Wiesenthal prepared evidence on Nazi atrocities for the war crimes section of the U.S. Army. He headed the relief and welfare organization, Jewish Central Committee of the United States Zone of Austria. After the Nuremberg Trials, Simon opened the Historical Documentation Center in Linz, Austria, to assemble evidence for future Nazi trials. The center was eventually relocated to Vienna and continues to gather and analyze information on German war criminals and neo-Nazi groups; thousands of former Nazis are considered still at- large throughout Germany today. For his courage and commitment to justice, Mr. Wiesenthal has been honored with many awards, including: the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal presented to him in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter; the United Nations League for the Help of Refugees Award; and an honorary British knighthood. Mr. Wiesenthal is survived by his daughter Paulinka Kreisberg, who lives in Israel, and three grandchildren. With the passing of Simon Wiesenthal, the world has lost one of its great heroes, but we shall never lose sight of the lesson he taught us: that humanity will rise up against hate and tyranny, and those who commit crimes against humanity will be brought to justice. As Mr. Wiesenthal said in a 1964 article in the New York Times Magazine: [w]hen we come to the other world and meet the millions of Jews who died in the camps and they ask us, ``What have you done?'' there will be many answers. . . . But I will say, I didn't forget you.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the 60th anniversary of the United Nations. In 1945, as World War II was ending, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco, CA at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draft the Charter of the United Nations. On October 24, 1945, the Charter achieved the required number of signatories for ratification, and the United Nations officially came into existence. Today, 60 years later, I am proud to reflect on the United Nation's many successes. I would also like to use this occasion to highlight the vital importance of building an even stronger United Nations for the future. The United Nations was established with the primary purpose of providing a forum for the nations of the world to resolve issues without resorting to war. It has achieved many successes on this front, the greatest of which is that we have not had a world war since the United Nations was founded. For those regions of the world that have endured conflict, the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operation has facilitated more than 67 peacekeeping operations and is credited with negotiating more than 170 peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflicts. Through the World Health Organization, the U.N. has combated the spread of pandemic diseases and continues to provide lifesaving drugs and medical care to millions of people around the world. Another U.N. program, the World Food Program, has served as a lifeline to millions of people who would otherwise face famine. And the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has helped raise the female literacy rate in many developing countries around the world. I commend the United Nations for these outstanding achievements and the countless others it has made during the last 60 years. But despite these many successes, there is still a long way to go. First and foremost, the United Nations must be reformed from within. In recent months, there have been far too many troubling incidents involving the United Nations, ranging from the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal, and the tragic sexual abuse cases involving peacekeeping troops in the Congo and elsewhere--and rightfully so; these acts were most egregious. These types of activities cannot continue if the United Nations is to receive the support and legitimacy it needs to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. If the United Nations is comprehensively reformed from within, then it will find itself in an even better position to meet its larger goals. According to the United Nations' own figures, nearly a quarter of the children in the developed world are malnourished, and in a number of places in the world, the poor are actually getting poorer. I am pleased that the United Nations has embraced these challenges through the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals, which range from eradicating extreme poverty and hunger to combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. But there is much work to be done if these goals are to become reality. The international community must commit to working together. The only way to achieve real progress on these fronts will require consensus, partnership, and unity of effort on the part of all nations of the world. For this reason, a strong United Nations is more important than ever. I congratulate the United Nations on its 60th anniversary and look forward to doing my part to ensure its continued success in the future.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I wish to salute Mark Salo, who is retiring this fall after more than 31 years as the head of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties, PPSDRC. A pioneer and visionary in the field of reproductive health care, he is a great champion of women's health and freedom of choice. When Mark Salo began working with San Diego Planned Parenthood in 1974, it comprised one small clinic whose 12 employees provided 5,000 patient visits a year. Today PPSDRC is the second-largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the Nation, with an annual budget of $35 million and 400 employees who provide more than 200,000 patient visits. The San Diego/Riverside affiliate has been a pioneer in the expansion of medical services to include vasectomies, tubal ligations, prenatal care, and mifepristone. PPSDRC oversees an Emmy-award-winning teen theatre and a variety of innovative teen outreach programs. It offers local midlife services, male and female sterilization services, and a thriving prenatal practice. Mark has reached across the border from San Diego to build a Planned Parenthood of truly international scope by developing and funding a binational program in northern Baja California, Mexico. PPSDRC's ``Mexico Fund'' supports five medical facilities in the poor colonias around Tijuana and funds contraceptive programs in the foreign-owned manufacturing plants known as maquiladoras. Over the years, Mark has also become the most visible public advocate of reproductive rights in the San Diego region. He represents Planned Parenthood through television news, interview shows, debate forums, newspaper commentaries, and live radio appearances. I know that everyone who values women's health and reproductive freedom will join me in saluting Mark Salo and sending him best wishes for a well-earned, active retirement.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, we have all seen the unprecedented destruction and suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina. With the Katrina disaster, tens of thousands of people in the Gulf States have lost their jobs. In fact, over 200,000 have filed for unemployment benefits. For that reason, I introduced the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Workers Assistance Act of 2005. This legislation would give priority in awarding Federal contracts for the rebuilding efforts to those companies where workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina comprise at least 25 percent of the workforce fulfilling the contract. It is the least we could do to help displaced workers. Unfortunately, on the same day I introduced my bill to help workers, President Bush did just the opposite. He issued a proclamation saying that those who get Federal contracts for rebuilding will not have to pay workers the prevailing wage. This is unfair to working men and women. It is not right. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina should not be used as an excuse to take advantage of working people. Therefore, to ensure that workers in the region affected by the hurricane are paid the region's prevailing wages, I am introducing a second version of the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Worker Assistance Act of 2005. It will still give priority to those companies who hire displaced workers, but it will also ensure that all workers are paid the prevailing wage. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, we have all seen the unprecedented destruction and suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina. With the Katrina disaster, tens of thousands of people in the Gulf States have lost their jobs. In fact, over 200,000 have filed for unemployment benefits. For that reason, I introduced the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Workers Assistance Act of 2005. This legislation would give priority in awarding Federal contracts for the rebuilding efforts to those companies where workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina comprise at least 25 percent of the workforce fulfilling the contract. It is the least we could do to help displaced workers. Unfortunately, on the same day I introduced my bill to help workers, President Bush did just the opposite. He issued a proclamation saying that those who get Federal contracts for rebuilding will not have to pay workers the prevailing wage. This is unfair to working men and women. It is not right. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina should not be used as an excuse to take advantage of working people. Therefore, to ensure that workers in the region affected by the hurricane are paid the region's prevailing wages, I am introducing a second version of the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Worker Assistance Act of 2005. It will still give priority to those companies who hire displaced workers, but it will also ensure that all workers are paid the prevailing wage. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, when a seat on the Supreme Court opened in July, I made a promise to the people of California. I promised I would only support a nominee I believed would protect their rights and freedoms. After much thought, I have concluded that I cannot in good conscience give my constituents that assurance with the nominee we have before the Senate, Judge John Roberts. In fact, I am very worried that with Judge Roberts on the Supreme Court, the rights and freedoms that have made America a light to the rest of the world could be in serious jeopardy. The question before the Senate is not whether Judge Roberts is a brilliant lawyer and not whether he is well qualified or well spoken or affable or unflappable. He is certainly all of those. But examining his credentials is where our analysis must begin, not end. The American people understand this. In poll after poll after poll, the American people say that before we vote, it is important to know where Judge Roberts stands on key issues that define us as Americans and what kind of country we will leave behind for our children. The next Chief Justice will have the opportunity to steer a deeply divided Court and influence our lives and the lives of our families for generations. In recent years, the Court has issued 5-to-4 decisions to protect our air, to safeguard women's reproductive health and the rights of the disabled, to give HMO patients the right to a second opinion, to allow universities to use affirmative action, and to guarantee government neutrality toward religion. With so many of our fundamental rights hanging in the balance, it is not good enough, in my view, to simply roll the dice, hoping a nominee will change his past views. It is not good enough to think this is the best we can expect from this President. I simply do not buy into that reasoning. And no, I don't buy into this reasoning either: Let's support this nominee because the next one might be worse. I will tell you why that rationale does not work for me and it will never work for me as long as the Constitution gives me and my colleagues in the Senate an equal role in this process. It fails the bar that I set--the bar that says that I must be able to look into the eyes of my constituents and assure them that I feel confident in this choice. I said I could only vote for a nominee who would protect the rights and the freedoms of the people I represent. I need to be able to look into the eyes of my constituents and to assure them I have made that judgment before I vote yes in their name. I can't do it here. We must demand far more in a nominee because the people we represent deserve no less. I will vote no on this nomination because of what we know and what we do not know about Judge Roberts. Long before President Bush made this nomination, we knew that his model judges were Justices Scalia and Thomas. Now, President Bush isn't known for changing his mind, so that doesn't leave us in a good place if we're hoping for a moderate. Nor does a reading of Judge Robert's record while he served in the Reagan Administration 20 years ago. In fact, some of Judge Roberts's writings raise serious concerns about whether he understands the ugly history of discrimination and injustice in our country, or the proper role of government in injustice and discrimination. Of course, we were told over and over again by Judge Roberts and by this administration and some of his supporters: Do not pay attention to those memos; they were written long ago; he was just a young man; he was just a lowly staff attorney. Here is the point: Judge Roberts never backed away from those memos. When given the chance, he said over and over again they were written for someone else. Someone else is not up for the Supreme Court; Judge Roberts is up for the Supreme Court. So to simply say, Yes, I wrote that, but I wrote it for someone else, just does not pass the test. Then we try to examine Judge Roberts' tenure years later as a top political appointee under the first President Bush. That is when he worked as Deputy Solicitor General for Ken Starr, who was the Solicitor General. Again and again, Senator Leahy, Senator Kennedy, Senator Feinstein, all the Democrat Senators on the Judiciary Committee asked for documents relating to just 16 cases that would have shed some light on the way Judge Roberts approaches civil rights, reproductive health, the separation of church and state, environmental protection, and more. The Democratic women Senators asked too. But again and again, the administration refused to turn over the documents, and Judge Roberts refused to help us. The President had access to that information when he nominated Judge Roberts. Why should this Senate a full partner in choosing the next Justice--have anything less? This is not a small point of process. This goes to the heart and soul of what we are expected to do as Senators. We are supposed to be an equal partner in this process. We have the role of advice and consent to the President on judicial nominations. How can we do our job if the administration has access to information and yet we don't? I don't think it is fair. I don't think it is just.

Mrs. BOXER. I am happy to yield.

Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Senator for asking me this question. I could not agree more. The American people have told us through many polls that they want to have this information. They want to know. They believe it is more important and I believe the number was 77 percent said it was more important to know about where Judge Roberts stood than it was to know about his qualifications. Everyone agrees on his qualifications. The Senator is absolutely right. It is, to me, very disappointing that the judge himself refused to help us. It is also my understanding--and Senator Kennedy, if I am wrong, I hope you will correct me--that when Judge Rehnquist was up for the Court, he also turned over documents from when he was a lawyer in government. So we had Judge Rehnquist, we had Robert Bork, and that was the right thing to do. You have to ask the question, What are they hiding? The American people are very smart. They understand it. Why wouldn't one show the committee this information?

Mrs. BOXER. I am delighted to.

Mrs. BOXER. I say to the Senator, I think what we have tried to do in this little exchange is make a point to the American people that information was denied to the Judiciary Committee, and that information was denied to the Senate. And, the only information we have is very slim. It is a 2-year stint on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. We have a lot of information from 20 years ago. So on the one hand, it is kind of a catch-22 circumstance here. When you go back 20 years ago, everybody says: Oh, that is old information. It does not reflect Judge Roberts. You ask Judge Roberts, he won't answer. He says he was writing for someone else. So we then need to look at the time in the 1990s when he worked in the Solicitor General's office. But, we cannot get that information. So we go around in a circle. I have to say, if this debate were about a small matter, it would be one thing. But, we are talking about the future of this country. The importance of a position on the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be overstated.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am happy to yield.

Mrs. BOXER. I say to the Senator, again you are making a very important point. The fact is, Senators on the Judiciary Committee--and I watched every minute of the hearings I could. I even watched the reruns of your hearings in the evening. You gave Judge Roberts ample opportunity in a very nice way to distance himself from his writings. He refused to do so. He simply said: I was doing this for my boss, and I was thinking like my boss. It is not good enough because he is the one who is up for Chief Justice. I know Senator Bennett would like me to conclude, and I will do so. In his reviewing his record, I also looked for some assurance in the decisions Judge Roberts wrote during his two years on the DC Circuit. But, again, nothing. In fact, some cases raised serious concerns about his commitment to protect the environment and his support of an all- powerful executive branch. Judge Roberts had three days to tell the Senate and the American people what he really believes today. He had the chance repeatedly to distance himself from the controversial positions he once advocated. He did not. Let's face it: Judge Roberts was specific only when it mattered least and evasive when it mattered most. Last year I ran for the Senate, and I ran a commercial that people said was very direct, but that is the kind of Senator I am. I said in my own words, right in that commercial, I would do everything in my power to ensure that we never go back to those dark days of back-alley abortions, when thousands of women died and many others were rendered infertile. We know that Judge Roberts signed a brief calling for Roe to be overturned. It was one of those 16 cases the administration will not release. And it concerned one of the many important topics about which Judge Roberts refused to answer questions. To simply say Roe is a precedent, which he said over and over again, is stating the obvious. Every case of the Supreme Court is a precedent. And to say you respect precedent, yes, every judge must respect precedent. But it does not give us an inkling into his views, and that is not good enough. We deserved an answer to Senator Feinstein's questions about privacy: Does the right to privacy extend to the beginning of life and the end of life? We still don't know what Judge Roberts believes. We deserved an answer to Senator Biden's question about gender discrimination. Does Judge Roberts stand by an interpretation of title IX that would have denied all remedies to a girl who was repeatedly sexually harassed by her teacher? We still do not know how Judge Roberts feels. We deserved an answer to Senator Kennedy's probing questions about civil rights. Does Judge Roberts have any concerns about the constitutionality of landmark civil rights laws? We still do not know. How could he be silent on those laws. They stand out in history as landmark moments that changed the course of human events in America forever, that finally spoke to all our citizens and told them they were equal, and the government would make sure they were protected and safe. We deserved answers to Senator Leahy's questions about Congressional War Powers. We did not get them. Now, Judge Roberts says as a Justice, he will ``just'' be an umpire calling balls and strikes. Of course, balls and strikes look a lot different depending on where the umpire is standing. And umpires have a lot of power to decide who wins and who loses. So who will be the winners if we confirm Judge Roberts next week? Will it be the families of America? Will it be the children of America? Will it be the victims of violence? Will it be the poor and the powerless? Will it be the middle class? Will it be the environment? Will it be freedom? Will it be liberty? Will it be justice? Will it be our Constitution? Or will the winners be those who want to stop the national Government from acting to protect and defend our people and their rights and their freedoms? I cannot tell my people that Judge Roberts will continue the steady march of progress that has defined our country's proud history. So I will vote no. And because I believe the Senate deserves those 16 cases that Senator Kennedy talked about, and answers to our questions, I will vote no. I hope and pray my doubts about Judge Roberts are misplaced and that he will join the moderate wing of the Court to protect the Constitution of this country that I love so much and the deserving people of my great State who will be counting on him to protect their rights and their freedoms. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I say to Senator Bennett that I know he is managing a bill, and I see no one else is here on that bill at this time and I would like to make a statement about Judge Roberts.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am very pleased to take a few moments to recognize the many important accomplishments of Fernando Valenzuela, former pitcher, current radio broadcast announcer and long time member of the Los Angeles Dodgers family. Fernando Valenzuela has been an amazing asset to the Los Angeles community. He has enriched the lives of many young children through their participation in the Amigos de Fernando children's program--an innercity youth program he founded that is designed to reward underprivileged children for their positive and active involvement in community sports teams. For the third consecutive Major League Baseball season, the Amigos de Fernando children's program, with support from the Los Angeles Dodgers, has continued to assist local children's groups. Through their efforts, inner-city children's groups receive assistance in continuing to guide and positively influence the children they service. The Amigos de Fernando children's program has provided nearly 1,000 young people of the City of Los Angeles with new and positive experiences that would have otherwise been unavailable to them. Fernando Valenzuela began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1979. Since his rookie year in Major League Baseball, he has reached many notable accomplishments including honors as Rookie of the Year in 1981 and the highly coveted Cy Young Award--presented to each league's most outstanding pitcher--also in 1981. In addition to his many personal accomplishments, Fernando also played a significant role in achieving many team distinctions and championships, including the National League Pennant and World Series Championships for the 1981 and 1988 seasons. After a brief absence from the Los Angeles area, Fernando rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2003 as a member of the Spanish-Language radio commentator team, providing his expertise and views to countless fans. I invite all of my colleagues to join me and the children of the City of Los Angeles in commending Fernando Valenzuela for his great leadership and service to the community through the Amigos de Fernando. His efforts are truly worthy of this recognition.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, in accordance with rule V of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby give notice in writing that it is my intention to move to suspend paragraph 4 of rule XVI for the purpose of proposing to the bill, H.R. 2744, the Agriculture appropriations bill, the following amendment:

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, Hurricane Katrina has caused unprecedented destruction and suffering for so many people in this country. The rest of the Nation has been extremely generous to help people who are suffering from the devastation caused by Katrina. One area where people need help is rebuilding housing. To help Katrina victims, Habitat for Humanity International is launching ``Operation Home Delivery,'' to provide assistance and rebuilding opportunities in New Orleans and elsewhere along the gulf coast. A major component of this operation is the ``home in a box project.'' The plan is to ``pre-build'' the frame of a home. The house will be assembled to ensure the construction, and, then, the frame will be taken apart and the components placed, along with other necessary construction materials, in a container and shipped to an area along the gulf coast or New Orleans where families, volunteers, and builders will rebuild the home. ``Operation Home Delivery'' homes will mirror traditional Habitat homes by being simple and affordable, providing approximately 1,100 to 1,300 square feet of living space. The estimated cost of a house for the gulf region is only $85,000. This includes all components to completely build the home and costs associated with transportation, delivery, utilities and site preparation. The first project in ``Operation Home Delivery'' will be this month in Jackson, MS. I am asking each Senator to go back to your respective States and seek assistance for Habitat for this outstanding project. Designated dollars for ``Operation Home Delivery'' will purchase specific pieces of the house. For example, $35 will buy roof shingles or $100 will buy a front door. These gifts will allow people not only to have a home but to begin to rebuild their lives. Habitat for Humanity is working to provide hope for the future to the victims of Katrina with this worthy project.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the accomplishments of some incredibly focused and dedicated young athletes from southern California. This year, the members of Team Inland placed third in the Nike National Youth Basketball Tournament, became the Amateur Athletic Union, AAU, West Coast National Champions, and won the AAU Southern Pacific Division 1 Regional Tournament. Team Inland is a nonprofit organization based in the city of San Bernardino. It is comprised of 11-year-olds, who commit their time to prepare for numerous weekend basketball tournaments throughout the year. In 2005, they won 77 percent of their games, earning impressive placements in many tournaments. Making Team Inland's achievement even more meaningful is the fact that team members excelled academically while striving to meet their athletic goals, each maintaining a minimum 3.0 grade point average. It is clear that these young people have set high standards for themselves and put forth tremendous effort to meet them. The members of 2005 Team Inland are: Marquise Drumwright, Ejiro Ederaine, Tyler Ervin, Quinton Lilley, Jordan Mathis, Myles Pearson, Isaiah Pooler, Kameron Presley, Chandler Scott, Justin Snavely, Dominique Walker, and Arther Ley Williams. The Team Inland players have demonstrated their immense potential to achieve. I hope you are heartened, as I am, to learn of young people striving for personal excellence. I extend my sincere congratulations to Team Inland and thank them for their great team spirit.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to express my support for designating September as Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month. It is estimated that leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma will kill 60,500 people in the United States this year and that 110,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. With more than 700,000 Americans living with blood cancers, it is crucial that we come together to reinvigorate our resolve and continuously intensify our fight for a cure. I am pleased to join the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in encouraging all to put aside time to reflect on what has been achieved so far in fighting blood cancers, spread lifesaving knowledge, and set our sights on progressive goals to advance our ability to support and treat those living with leukemia and lymphoma. Together, we can push forward critical research and keep the eradication of these diseases at the forefront of dialogue and education in our local and national communities. I applaud the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for its support of treatment and research. Such work is integral to our ability to understand these illnesses and energize our fellow citizens in this very worthy endeavor. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has provided an outstanding model of advocacy and paved the way for others to get involved. I am pleased to invite my colleagues to join me in acknowledging Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month. I hope that you will use this time as inspiration for continued thoughtful leadership on this critical health issue.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Evangel Home. Evangel Home is a shelter for needy women and children located in downtown Fresno. Now in its 50th year, Evangel Homes has been instrumental in helping hundreds of women and children piece together their broken lives. Evangel Home was established in 1955 by Ms. Pauline Baker Myers as a ``Home for Needy Women and Children.'' Saddened by the lack of help for women in need at local homeless shelters, Pauline Baker Myers envisioned a shelter for women designed to help them put their lives back together. Evangel Homes became one of the first shelters of its kind in the nation. Evangel Home helps women through a variety of programs. Women enter Evangel Home through Crisis Home, an emergency shelter where women may stay for up to 28 days. At Crisis Home, up to 24 women and children can receive services such as meals, shelter, clothing, and counseling. Following the initial stay at Crisis Home, women may be eligible for the CrossRoads Residential Program. Through the CrossRoads Residential Program, Evangel Homes offers a 9-month program of courses and services to help women make better choices for themselves and their families. The courses are intended to help residents develop their life skills for parenting, finances and setting boundaries. The GARDEN Residential Recovery Program, or God Answers, Redeems, and Delivers Everyone who draws Near to Him, is an alternative sentencing program. It is designed to rehabilitate women in a structured environment as an alternative to serving a jail or prison term. The GARDEN program accommodates as many as six women and includes courses and counseling programs tailored to teach women responsibility and decision making skills. Lastly, the Community Connection Graduate Program involves graduates from the CrossRoads and GARDEN programs. Community Connection encourages women to work and attend school while providing them with a support network to ensure their success. The success of Evangel Homes is evident in the many women and children who have walked out of its doors to productive and successful lives. Annually, Evangel Homes gives shelter to more than 300 women and 200 children. The mission of Evangel Homes goes far beyond giving material support to women in need. Instead, Evangel Homes gives women nurturing support in a structured environment so that they may be taught self-reliance and responsibility. Evangel Homes recognizes that those who seek its help have the ability to make their own choices. Through spiritual guidance and counseling, Evangel Homes strives to erase the effect of what it calls ``disaffiliation'' or the feeling of isolation and disassociation from anything positive in their lives that many women and children feel as an effect of their disordered lives. Through programs designed to give women and children the structure, the hope, and the tools for rebuilding their lives, Evangel Homes gives women and children a ``chance for change.'' I congratulate Evangel Homes on their 50th anniversary and wish them much continued success.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate Mr. William H. (Harry) Armstrong on receiving the 2005 Rose Ann Vuich Ethical Leadership Award. The Rose Ann Vuich Leadership Award, sponsored by the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno, the Fresno Business Council and the Fresno Bee, is a prestigious award that celebrates excellence and integrity in public service. Harry Armstrong began his distinguished career in public service when he was appointed to the Clovis Planning Commission in 1966. In 1970, Harry was elected by the residents of Clovis to serve on the city council for nine consecutive terms. During this period, Harry also completed four highly successful terms as the mayor of Clovis. He is currently the longest-serving councilmember in California. Harry Armstrong's remarkable tenure on city council has coincided with the growth of Clovis from a quiet small town to one of the most vibrant and dynamic communities in the Central Valley. Clovis' status as one of the most desirable places to live, raise a family, and conduct business is made possible in no small part by Harry's extraordinary vision and steadfast commitment to serve the overall good of the community and advance the interests of his beloved constituents. In addition to his immense contributions to the city of Clovis, Harry Armstrong has been very generous in lending his considerable talents and passion for public service to a number of other statewide and regional causes over the years. A former president of the League of California Cities, Harry is the current chairperson of the Fresno County Transportation Authority as well as serving in the same capacity for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. Harry is widely regarded as one of the Central Valley's foremost experts on transportation and water issues. As important is the high level of ethical leadership that has been the hallmark of Harry Armstrong's tenure of public service. As his colleagues, constituents, and many admirers would attest, Harry Armstrong is a truly deserving recipient of an award that honors the importance of integrity, character, ethics, consensus building, and commitment to the common good in public service. Throughout his career in government, Harry has consistently embodied the best ideals of a dedicated public servant. I congratulate Harry Armstrong on receiving the 2005 Rose Ann Vuich Ethical Leadership Award and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Rancho Buena Vista Little League Team of San Diego, CA, that represented the Western Region in the Little League World Series. The Rancho Buena Vista Team treated fans to a thrilling season, including an amazing 24-game winning streak. Their season culminated in a 5 to 4 victory over the team from Chiba City, Japan to win third place at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. On August 14, 2005, Rancho Buena Vista defeated Tracy, California 7 to 2 in the West regional championship game, finishing with a 6 to 0 record. The Vista Little Leaguers became the sixth U.S. region representative and 14 overall to qualify for the 2005 Little League World Series. The team displayed commitment to teamwork, gamesmanship, and a love of baseball as a team sport as they each played fair, strived to win, and always did their best. Vista's pitcher Kalen Pimentel struck out 18 batters in 1 regulation game to tie a Little League record. On September 10, 2005, in the City of Vista, the Rancho Buena Vista Team will celebrate their victory with fellow San Diegans. The team will be joined by their friends, family, supporters, and coaches Randy Reznicek, Joseph Pimentel, and manager Marty Miller in a parade. They come together to celebrate the team's strength of character, level headedness, pride, and commitment which lead them to victory. It is with great pleasure that I commend the athletes of the Rancho Buena Vista Little League Team for the determination, composure, and sportsmanship they exhibited throughout the 2005 Little League World Series and for their many accomplishments on the field throughout the tournament. I wish them great success in the future.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Reserving the right to object----

Mrs. BOXER. I have absolutely no problem with this. I know Senator Clinton is trying to make it from an airplane to get to the floor. So as I understand it, Senator Mikulski has the time until 5:30; is that correct?

Mrs. BOXER. Hopefully, she will make it. If I could cover us and say 5:35, and then it would go to Senator Gregg, would that be OK?