Barbara Boxer

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Will the Senator yield to me?

Mrs. BOXER. Again, I thank the Senator for his leadership on this issue.

Mrs. BOXER. Yes.

Mrs. BOXER. All right. Very good.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, what I was going to ask the Senator--but it is more a rhetorical question--is, Why does China need this money anyway? We already owe China $230 billion they have loaned us buying our Treasury bills. We pay them now billions of dollars of interest-- billions, multibillions. I was going to ask my friend a question, but it was a rhetorical question. The Chinese do not need any more dollars. They have dollars all right. They have so many dollars it is unbelievable: dollars from the trade deficit that is huge and climbing. They have the interest payments that we pay them. Now they need another $5 billion? This is the most outrageous thing I have seen come across my desk. I will tell you this: If we cannot win this amendment, I say to my friend, I do not know who we are here fighting for. It does not make any sense. Set aside our differences on nuclear power, that does not even have to come into it. My friend from Pennsylvania says there is not a risk? Give me a break. Talk to any American businessman who has done business in China. I meet them all the time in California. Oh, everything is promised. Oh, it is all going to be great. Somehow it does not happen, and they are left holding the bag. I wish I could protect my California businesspeople. I cannot. But I sure can protect my California taxpayers. For 5,000 jobs in Pennsylvania--which, by the way, the Chinese Government admits they are going to take the technology. They admit it. I will give them that. And they are going to replace those 5,000 workers. In light of what the general said 4 days ago: The Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of or two hundreds of or even more cities will be destroyed by the Chinese with nuclear weapons--he says: We'll have to respond with nuclear weapons--that is what he said in light of a conversation about Taiwan. So what is wrong with this picture? We are putting taxpayers on the hook for $5 billion in loans and loan guarantees to a British- Government-owned subsidiary, where it will create, in the short term, 5,000 jobs, what the Chinese say will not be long-lasting, to give them nuclear technology so they can build better weapons against us and have more materials to use against us. It makes no sense. I want to create 100,000 jobs in America. I want to create 2 million jobs in America. Do you know how we can do that? By cracking down on the way the Chinese deal with their currency. If they would allow their currency to float, we would create more than 2 million jobs in America, and it would not put the taxpayers on the hook for anything. As my colleague from Oklahoma said--as we both have said--if you want to put up $5 billion in loan guarantees, why not do it for American small businesses, and instead of creating 5,000 jobs, create 100,000 jobs. If that is my choice, I come down on the side of the American worker. This is 5,000 jobs, at $1 million a job. This makes no sense whatsoever--and putting the taxpayers on the hook. So no matter how I look at it, the Chinese do not need this money. And do you know what I say? Let the Russians have this deal. Let the French have this deal. Let the French put their taxpayers at risk. Let the Russians put their taxpayers at risk. I am not moving forward toward this deal, which is the largest deal ever done by Ex-Im Bank, to benefit a country that has threatened us with nuclear weapons, at least the major general has. This is insane. If anything should garner a big bipartisan vote, it is the Coburn-Boxer amendment. We do not team up that often. We have a couple times. This is really interesting. And we do it for different reasons. But do you know what? Overall, it is looking out after the taxpayer. That is the bottom line of this particular amendment. There are many issues where I could stand up on this floor and say to my tax-paying constituents: There are certain things that I think are worth investing in. I think it is worth investing in No Child Left Behind and making sure our kids can read and write. Yes, it is going to cost money. Yes, it is a bit of a risk because some of the kids may not learn, and that is a problem. I guess you could argue with that. But I think, overall, the benefits outweigh the risks. What is the benefit here to give over technology that the Chinese say they are going to learn; they are going to replace the American workers; they will have technology they can use against us? I think it is a bad deal. It is bad for the American taxpayer. It is a terrible message to send from a foreign policy point of view. The jobs we are creating are costing $1 million a job. They are very few jobs. They will not last long. I cannot say enough how I hope this amendment will be adopted with an overwhelming vote. Mr. President, I reserve the remainder of my time and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. BOXER. Yes, I do.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, the Coburn-Boxer amendment will stop us from putting at risk $5 billion of taxpayer money. My colleague from Pennsylvania can say all he wants that he believes the Chinese will never default, no problem, just come and talk to the business people who have made investments in China. It hasn't been a pretty picture. The fact is, if this is about creating jobs, the Senator from Oklahoma and I and others have shown much better ways to create far more jobs that will really benefit the American people. This is something that we should not do. I am on the Foreign Relations Committee with my colleague in the chair, and we are very proud of that committee. We want to be known as ``Uncle Sam.'' We don't want to be known as ``Uncle Sucker.'' I think we have a chance tonight to say we are Uncle Sam; we are not Uncle Sucker. We are going to protect the taxpayers and American jobs. I hope we will have an overwhelming vote, just as the House voted for a similar amendment. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to honor the memory of Deputy Jerry Ortiz, a 15-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on June 24, 2005. As a young child growing up in Southern California, Jerry Ortiz knew that he wanted to dedicate his life to protecting his fellow citizens. So it came as no surprise when he enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after his graduation from El Monte High School in 1988. Only 2 years later, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a police officer when he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Ortiz's strict work ethic and dedication quickly made him a well-respected member of the Department and earned him a position with the elite antigang unit at the Lakewood Station. Although this was a formidable task with great responsibilities, he knew that in this capacity he could truly make a difference in the community and help at- risk youth. Deputy Ortiz did just that. Jerry Ortiz was an important part of the Sheriff's Department family. He was well known for his sense of humor, positive attitude, and athleticism on the Department boxing team. Over his 15-year career, he became an integral part of the fight against gang crime in the area and went above and beyond to protect the innocent citizens caught in the unfortunate gang violence in their communities. Days before his tragic murder, Deputy Ortiz received word that he was being promoted to detective. All who knew him said that he loved his job but that he was first and foremost a family man. Ortiz spent most of his free time with his two sons, Jeremy, 16, and Jacob, 6. He was a sports fan and enjoyed sharing this passion with his sons. Only three weeks before his death, Jerry Ortiz married his wife, Chela, and those close to him say he was happier than ever. I am truly saddened to lose this remarkable public servant. Deputy Jerry Ortiz died doing what he loved--providing protection for his community. He was a leader, an inspiring mentor, a hero, and a wonderful father and husband. We will always be grateful for Deputy Ortiz's heroic service to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the community that he so bravely served.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to honor the memory of Deputy Jerry Ortiz, a 15-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on June 24, 2005. As a young child growing up in Southern California, Jerry Ortiz knew that he wanted to dedicate his life to protecting his fellow citizens. So it came as no surprise when he enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after his graduation from El Monte High School in 1988. Only 2 years later, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a police officer when he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Ortiz's strict work ethic and dedication quickly made him a well-respected member of the Department and earned him a position with the elite antigang unit at the Lakewood Station. Although this was a formidable task with great responsibilities, he knew that in this capacity he could truly make a difference in the community and help at- risk youth. Deputy Ortiz did just that. Jerry Ortiz was an important part of the Sheriff's Department family. He was well known for his sense of humor, positive attitude, and athleticism on the Department boxing team. Over his 15-year career, he became an integral part of the fight against gang crime in the area and went above and beyond to protect the innocent citizens caught in the unfortunate gang violence in their communities. Days before his tragic murder, Deputy Ortiz received word that he was being promoted to detective. All who knew him said that he loved his job but that he was first and foremost a family man. Ortiz spent most of his free time with his two sons, Jeremy, 16, and Jacob, 6. He was a sports fan and enjoyed sharing this passion with his sons. Only three weeks before his death, Jerry Ortiz married his wife, Chela, and those close to him say he was happier than ever. I am truly saddened to lose this remarkable public servant. Deputy Jerry Ortiz died doing what he loved--providing protection for his community. He was a leader, an inspiring mentor, a hero, and a wonderful father and husband. We will always be grateful for Deputy Ortiz's heroic service to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the community that he so bravely served.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to honor an extraordinary actor, entertainer, and humanitarian. Upon his passing, Eddie Albert leaves a legacy of talent, determination, and good will. Eddie Albert Heimberger was born in Illinois on April 22, 1906, and moved to Minneapolis as a child. It was there that Mr. Albert began his stage career, hosting magic shows and singing in small venues to put himself through drama school. After becoming a crowd pleaser in Minnesota, he decided to pursue his creative passion in other cities and on the radio. After dropping his last name to avoid being mistakenly called Eddie Hamburger, he shifted his focus to comedy. His success on the airwaves led to his 1935 Broadway debut in the comedy ``O Evening Star.'' Mr. Albert went on to appear on Broadway several times before making it to Hollywood in 1937 as Bing Edwards in the film ``Brother Rat.'' His fame grew, and in 1939 Mr. Albert started entertaining audiences as an aerialist and clown in a traveling Mexican circus. During his time there, he began providing intelligence to the U.S. Government on Japanese and Nazi activity in Mexico. His career was put on hold when he bravely served in the Marines during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his courageous fighting in the Battle of Tarawa. Upon returning from his service overseas, he started Eddie Albert Productions and worked behind the camera to make sex education films, a rarity in their time. One of his best known roles was in the 1960s sitcom ``Green Acres,'' in which he portrayed lawyer turned farmer Oliver Wendell Douglas. Appearing in nearly 100 films, Mr. Albert earned two best supporting actor Academy Award nominations for his parts in ``Roman Holiday'' (1953) and ``The Heartbreak Kid'' (1972). Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Albert traveled the world and became interested in the fight against poverty and preserving the environment. In the 1970s, he established the City Children's Farms and dedicated his free time to publicly speaking about the importance of nutrition for the world's children. He served as a special envoy for the philanthropic mission ``Meals for Millions'' and as a consultant for the World Hunger Conference. An avid outdoors man, Mr. Albert treasured the beaches, trails, and wildlife near his home in Southern California. He used his fame to bring much needed attention to the harmful effects of DDT and, on his birthday in 1970, Mr. Albert helped inaugurate the first Earth Day. Later that year, he and his wife opened a community arts center in Los Angeles, which is still in operation today. In 1945, Mr. Albert married actress Margo, nee Maria Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O'Donnell. She preceded him in death in 1985. Eddie Albert died of pneumonia on May 26, 2005, at his home in Pacific Palisades, CA. He is survived by his son, daughter, and two grandchildren. Whether as an entertainer or philanthropist, Mr. Albert will be remembered for his passion and dedication to making others smile. His talents and kindness will surely be missed.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to honor an extraordinary actor, entertainer, and humanitarian. Upon his passing, Eddie Albert leaves a legacy of talent, determination, and good will. Eddie Albert Heimberger was born in Illinois on April 22, 1906, and moved to Minneapolis as a child. It was there that Mr. Albert began his stage career, hosting magic shows and singing in small venues to put himself through drama school. After becoming a crowd pleaser in Minnesota, he decided to pursue his creative passion in other cities and on the radio. After dropping his last name to avoid being mistakenly called Eddie Hamburger, he shifted his focus to comedy. His success on the airwaves led to his 1935 Broadway debut in the comedy ``O Evening Star.'' Mr. Albert went on to appear on Broadway several times before making it to Hollywood in 1937 as Bing Edwards in the film ``Brother Rat.'' His fame grew, and in 1939 Mr. Albert started entertaining audiences as an aerialist and clown in a traveling Mexican circus. During his time there, he began providing intelligence to the U.S. Government on Japanese and Nazi activity in Mexico. His career was put on hold when he bravely served in the Marines during World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his courageous fighting in the Battle of Tarawa. Upon returning from his service overseas, he started Eddie Albert Productions and worked behind the camera to make sex education films, a rarity in their time. One of his best known roles was in the 1960s sitcom ``Green Acres,'' in which he portrayed lawyer turned farmer Oliver Wendell Douglas. Appearing in nearly 100 films, Mr. Albert earned two best supporting actor Academy Award nominations for his parts in ``Roman Holiday'' (1953) and ``The Heartbreak Kid'' (1972). Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Albert traveled the world and became interested in the fight against poverty and preserving the environment. In the 1970s, he established the City Children's Farms and dedicated his free time to publicly speaking about the importance of nutrition for the world's children. He served as a special envoy for the philanthropic mission ``Meals for Millions'' and as a consultant for the World Hunger Conference. An avid outdoors man, Mr. Albert treasured the beaches, trails, and wildlife near his home in Southern California. He used his fame to bring much needed attention to the harmful effects of DDT and, on his birthday in 1970, Mr. Albert helped inaugurate the first Earth Day. Later that year, he and his wife opened a community arts center in Los Angeles, which is still in operation today. In 1945, Mr. Albert married actress Margo, nee Maria Marguerita Guadalupe Teresa Estela Bolado Castilla y O'Donnell. She preceded him in death in 1985. Eddie Albert died of pneumonia on May 26, 2005, at his home in Pacific Palisades, CA. He is survived by his son, daughter, and two grandchildren. Whether as an entertainer or philanthropist, Mr. Albert will be remembered for his passion and dedication to making others smile. His talents and kindness will surely be missed.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, the Reid-Levin Rockefeller-Biden amendment is very clear. I will read it again so that, hopefully, the American people know what we are debating. This is what we are debating: No Federal employee who discloses, or has disclosed, classified information, including the identity of a covert agent of the Central Intelligence Agency, to a person not authorized to receive such information shall be permitted to hold a security clearance for access to such information. Why is this important? It is important because when this story broke, CIA agents and folks at the CIA were absolutely horrified that the name of a covert agent had been leaked, putting that covert agent in grave danger. Now who could vote against this? I don't know. We are going to find out. But let me state what I think it is about. Either you stand on the side of these brave undercover operatives who risk their lives every day, without people with a political agenda going after them to reveal them, or you stand on the side of those who would play politics and have played politics with their identity. Why did it happen in this particular case? Because this particular administration did not like what they heard from a particular gentleman, and to punish him, they went after his wife. And they didn't care. You cannot tell me because you didn't use her everyday name that it was hard to find out who she was. If somebody says Senator Boxer's husband did thus and so, even if he had a different last name, it would not be too hard to find out who my husband is. So here we had a political agenda and Senator Coleman talks about how horrible it is to play politics on the floor of the Senate. Publishing an ``enemy's list'' is the worst form, and the lowest form, of politics you can have. This took it to a whole other level when it involved someone who was an undercover agent. I want to say a word about the second-degree amendment, which is unbelievable. Under the second-degree amendment, if this passes, every single Member in the Senate will lose their security clearance. Anyone in this Senate who ever came down to the floor and said anything about the pictures at Abu Ghraib will lose their clearance. Anyone who ever came to the floor and said, I think it is important, when the President makes a nomination, we get all the information, including reading an FBI report. Let me say, and I guess I will lose my clearance, but I will say it right now, up against this amendment, this ridiculous second-degree amendment--I say right now, whenever the President nominates someone for a high position and there is an FBI file, I say to my friends, you are not doing your job if you do not read it. Under this, I guess I lose my security clearance. So be it. But I think everyone in this Senate has lost their security clearance because every one of us has spoken about the Iraqi war. Now my colleague says we don't have a security clearance. You have read this. You have written this. So there you go. Your side wrote, can't have a security clearance. So all I can say is, one side can say you are playing politics, the other side can. Put that aside. Read this amendment. It is the right thing to do. Either you stand on the side of the brave men and women who risk their lives undercover every day or you stand on the side of politics. You make up your mind. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER. Will my friend yield for a question?

Mrs. BOXER. Could you yield now on your time?

Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Chair so much. I call up amendment No. 1216, on behalf of myself and Senator Inhofe.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators Jeffords, Voinovich, and Carper be added as cosponsors.

Mrs. BOXER. I thank my colleagues. Amendments Nos. 1140 and 1144, as Modified, En Bloc

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, since 9/11, those of us on the Environment and Public Works Committee, in a very bipartisan way, have attempted to bring legislation to the Senate to begin the process whereby we can protect our nuclear power plants, first by making sure that there is an assessment made on each power plant, what are their vulnerability needs, and then making sure that these plants are protected from terrorists. We know that on September 10, 2002, in a taped interview on Al- Jazeera, it included a statement that al-Qaida initially wanted to include a powerplant in its attacks on the United States. And we on the committee passed out a bill and passed another one last month. This amendment says it is the sense of the Senate it should pass bipartisan legislation to address nuclear powerplant security prior to the August recess. Colleagues, we have a limited time. We need to move forward. I would accept a voice vote, if that is OK with Senator Gregg, and I think he would prefer that. But we would like to have a clear voice vote if we could at this time.

Mrs. BOXER. I send up a modification.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, on the way from California to Washington this morning, my plane had engine trouble, and I had to return to California. As a result, I was not able to make the vote on the resolution condemning the terrorist bombings in London last week and expressing sympathy for the people of the United Kingdom. Had I been present, I would certainly have voted for the resolution. I hope that it serves to strengthen our resolve to go after the terrorists and to do everything we can to protect the people of the United States, particularly by doing more to secure our rail and transit systems. (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am opposed to and will vote against the Central America Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA. I am not against trade agreements, provided they are fair. But when those agreements unfairly disadvantage American workers and businesses, I oppose them. I could vote for CAFTA if it meant more jobs in America and a stronger American economy. But, I do not believe that is the case. Because of CAFTA, Americans will lose jobs and manufacturing will move overseas. CAFTA will not foster free trade; it will result in unfair competition. Most of the Central American governments are notoriously lax in enforcing their labor laws. Under CAFTA, the Central American countries pledge to enforce their labor laws and strive to ensure workers' rights are protected, but these are merely ``paper pledges.'' Moreover, unlike other trade agreements, the mechanisms for forcing the Central American governments to enforce their own labor laws are limited and the penalties for noncompliance are negligible. Worse still, nothing in CAFTA prohibits a country from further relaxing its existing laws. In addition, most Central American countries do not have strong environmental protection laws, and enforcement of the laws that do exist is limited. Companies are permitted to destroy the environment and harm their workers in order to produce cheaper products for export. U.S. manufacturers and workers are the best in the world. Their productivity and innovation cannot be matched. But even they cannot-- nor should they have to--compete with foreign companies that have weak labor protections and that ignore the environment in order to cut prices. After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that CAFTA will result in American workers losing their jobs, U.S. companies closing their doors, a downward pressure on wages, and a worsening trade deficit. For these reasons, I cannot support CAFTA and will vote against it.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to honor the memory of a most dedicated public servant, California Assemblyman Mike Gordon. Assemblyman Gordon passed away on June 25, 2005. He was 47 years old. Assemblyman Gordon began his political career at the young age of 18 as a voter registration coordinator for Assembly Speaker Leo McCarthy and later joined the staff of Assemblyman Bruce Young (D-Downey). In 1982, Gordon began his 3-year tenure as executive director of the California Democratic Party and in 1995 co-founded Gordon and Schwenkmeyer, Inc., a successful polling and fundraising firm that is still operating today. Mike Gordon was elected to the El Segundo City Council in 1996 and as the city's mayor in 1998, 2000, and 2002. During this time, he focused on revitalizing El Segundo's downtown and helped increase funding for police, fire and recreation. As cofounder of the Los Angeles Air Force Base Alliance, he fought against the closure of the base and focused his attention on finding a solution for regional air and road traffic. Of all his great work as councilman and mayor, Mike's focus on education and funding for the El Segundo Unified School District made him a hero in the community. In 2004, Mike Gordon ran successfully for the 53rd California Assembly seat in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. Assemblyman Gordon introduced 22 bills during his first 2 months in the assembly and was appointed chair of the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs and as the body's representative to California's Milton Marks Little Hoover Commission. His strong leadership skills and passion for public service were instrumental in his early success in the assembly. Assemblyman Mike Gordon knew firsthand the concerns and needs of his community and dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Southern California. He grew up in La Mirada, CA where he attended Neff High School and in 1979 graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in political science. Whether as mayor or assemblyman, he used his knowledge, influence, and skills to better the lives of his constituents. Assemblyman Gordon is survived by his wife Denise and children, Ryan, Erika, Amanda, and Gordy. He was a deeply loved member of both the California State Legislature and the South Bay community for his willingness to champion the causes of those he represented. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, what is the order? As I understand it, Senator Burns will be offering an amendment, or has an amendment, and there will be a vote on my amendment and his side by side. First, mine; is my understanding correct?

Mrs. BOXER. And then his.

Mrs. BOXER. The time is equally divided an hour a side to debate both amendments; is that correct?