Barbara Boxer

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, it is my honor to speak in memory of the late Coleen Jarvis, Vice Mayor of the City of Chico and strong advocate for women, children, and the less fortunate. She will always be remembered for her love of family, politics and the people whom she served so ably. Coleen Jarvis dedicated her time and energy to improving her community. She fought to improve conditions for women, children, and the homeless. Coleen served as coordinate for the local rape crisis center and worked at Legal Services of Northern California, giving legal aid to those in need. ``The community of Chico lost a resourceful, energetic, dedicated and smart leader in the too-soon death of Council Member Coleen Jarvis.'' said Butte County Supervisor Jane Doaln. ``I first met Coleen when she worked on behalf of victims of rape and we continued our friendship and shared work on behalf of our loved community in many venues. Coleen had a deep commitment and worked very hard to improve our community and to remind us of our rightful duty to recognize and resolve the needs of the poor. We all were better representatives due to her efforts. She is sorely missed.'' Coleen became an important community leader through her hard work. She was elected to the Chico City Council in 1966, and served almost 8 years. As a council member, she continued to fight for her progressive values. She was passionate about the issues and people she held dear. She was known by her colleagues and friends as a giving person who possessed great integrity, drive, intellect, and wit with an energy and spirit that drove her to fight for what she believed in. Chico Mayor Maureen Kirk reflected, ``Coleen was a public servant full of integrity, passion, commitment, empathy, inclusion, tolerance, and intelligence. Her legacy is the Torres Community Homeless Shelter, the first step in her quest to find a solution for homelessness. Coleen will be sorely missed. In her 46 years, she accomplished more than 99 percent of us would accomplish in twice as many years. Coleen Jarvis committed her life to her family and the world around her. She touched the lives of many, and her impact on her community will be long remembered.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, forty years ago this month, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wilderness Act, which set aside some of the most quintessential American landscapes in this vast country. This visionary law first protected about 9 million acres of public lands. Today, as a result of a bipartisan commitment by successive Congresses and Presidents, 105 million acres of land are protected in 44 States. California is blessed to have nearly 14 million acres permanently protected as wilderness for the public to enjoy and as a legacy for future generations. These areas include some of the most spectacular lands and diverse ecosystems, including forests, deserts, coastal mountains and grasslands. Americans have long recognized the need to protect our public lands and their vast resources. John Muir, along with U.S. presidents from both parties, including Teddy Roosevelt, foresaw the need for us to protect these precious lands, lest they be lost forever. Wilderness provides a place of refuge from urban pressures. Millions of Americans retreat to wilderness to fish, hunt, horseback ride, cross-country ski, hike and pursue other recreational breaks from everyday life. Wilderness protects watersheds that provide clean water to our cities and farms. Forests cleanse our air and provide habitat for countless plant and animal species, many of which are endangered. Wilderness provides something else that is harder to measure, solitude and peace. California's population of nearly 36 million will balloon to 50 million in the next 20 years, so space will become even more precious. I am pleased to cosponsor Senator Feingold's resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. I am also pleased to be the author of the California Wild Heritage Act, which would protect approximately 2.5 million acres of public lands as wilderness. The areas that would be protected by this legislation include: the King Range on the Lost Coast in Northern California; the White Mountains in eastern California, home to the ancient Bristlecone Pines; and Eagle Peak in San Diego County, which includes the headwaters of the San Diego River and is home to great plant and animal diversity. These and many other areas deserve the protection that was envisioned back in 1964, when the Wilderness Act was signed into law. I believe that our beautiful and varied landscapes help make us the people that we are. Today, we look back and are thankful for those who worked to set aside the rich tapestry that is our wilderness heritage. But looking back is not enough. We must also dedicate ourselves to securing the irreplaceable remaining unprotected wilderness areas as our legacy for those who follow us.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, today I am introducing legislation to protect communities from pollution emitted by heavy-duty diesel trucks. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Feinstein and Jeffords. The Clean Trucks Act will require all trucks operating within the United States to comply with Federal clean air requirements. It will also require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to collect and provide information on long-haul heavy-duty truck travel and fuel consumption to the United States Environmental Protection Agency to enable the EPA to estimate emissions. More than 130 million Americans continue to breathe dirty, unhealthy air. The Los Angeles and San Joaquin Valley air basins have the highest levels of ozone, or smog, pollution in the Nation, and are among the most polluted from particulate matter, or soot. Many other areas of California also face severe air quality threats, including the Imperial Valley as well as Riverside, Sacramento, and Ventura Counties. According to the California Air Resources Board, almost 59 percent of California's pollution is from mobile sources. Although overall mobile source emissions have decreased since 1975, the percentage contributed by diesel vehicles has increased. In California, heavy-duty diesel trucks account for 4 percent of vehicle traffic, but cause 40 percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions, which is a cause of smog. Emissions from diesel-fueled engines include over 40 other cancer causing substances, particulate matter, and ozone-forming pollutants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous pollutants in the air increase the risk of cancer--and 78 percent of that increased risk is due to diesel exhaust. Individuals are also at greater risk of developing asthma, respiratory conditions, and cardiovascular disease. Pursuant to the NAFTA and a recent Supreme Court decision, the United States will begin allowing foreign heavy-duty diesel truck to operate freely within the United States. But, under current law, those trucks will not be required to meet Federal or state air quality standards. This will only make the air quality problem and the health risk worse. The Clean Trucks Act is a reasonable measure to protect our communities as millions of foreign trucks are added to our highways. It simply says that all trucks, foreign and domestic, must meet the same emissions standards. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this measure.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, today I am introducing legislation to protect communities from pollution emitted by heavy-duty diesel trucks. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Feinstein and Jeffords. The Clean Trucks Act will require all trucks operating within the United States to comply with Federal clean air requirements. It will also require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to collect and provide information on long-haul heavy-duty truck travel and fuel consumption to the United States Environmental Protection Agency to enable the EPA to estimate emissions. More than 130 million Americans continue to breathe dirty, unhealthy air. The Los Angeles and San Joaquin Valley air basins have the highest levels of ozone, or smog, pollution in the Nation, and are among the most polluted from particulate matter, or soot. Many other areas of California also face severe air quality threats, including the Imperial Valley as well as Riverside, Sacramento, and Ventura Counties. According to the California Air Resources Board, almost 59 percent of California's pollution is from mobile sources. Although overall mobile source emissions have decreased since 1975, the percentage contributed by diesel vehicles has increased. In California, heavy-duty diesel trucks account for 4 percent of vehicle traffic, but cause 40 percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions, which is a cause of smog. Emissions from diesel-fueled engines include over 40 other cancer causing substances, particulate matter, and ozone-forming pollutants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous pollutants in the air increase the risk of cancer--and 78 percent of that increased risk is due to diesel exhaust. Individuals are also at greater risk of developing asthma, respiratory conditions, and cardiovascular disease. Pursuant to the NAFTA and a recent Supreme Court decision, the United States will begin allowing foreign heavy-duty diesel truck to operate freely within the United States. But, under current law, those trucks will not be required to meet Federal or state air quality standards. This will only make the air quality problem and the health risk worse. The Clean Trucks Act is a reasonable measure to protect our communities as millions of foreign trucks are added to our highways. It simply says that all trucks, foreign and domestic, must meet the same emissions standards. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this measure.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Will my colleague yield for a comment?

Mrs. BOXER. I urge us all, if we can possibly finish this tonight, as many of my colleagues know, it is a very important holiday for some of us tomorrow. I have to travel all across country, and others do as well, and it becomes tough to get it all in with families if we are not able to leave by 10 in the morning. So I hope my friends would offer amendments and vote on them tonight.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I will vote for the nomination of Porter Goss to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. I served with Porter Goss during my time in the House of Representatives. He is a good, intelligent man with a tremendous work ethic. He has served his country honorably in the Army, as a CIA officer, and as a congressman from Florida. He is the President's choice and I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt. However, the two days of nomination hearings held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence highlighted several areas of concern, and my vote today should not be seen as support for Congressman Goss to become the National Intelligence Director.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to recognize and share with my colleagues an important milestone for Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary will observe its 15th anniversary on October 2. Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established in 1989 when a House joint resolution was signed by the President. I was pleased to be an original cosponsor of the resolution which was sponsored by Congressman Doug Bosco. The sanctuary encompasses 530 square miles of marine waters, off the coast of Point Reyes National Seashore, about 45 miles north of San Francisco. The boundary includes a unique granite bank, the Cordell Bank, and is located along the continental shelf. The sanctuary encompasses exceptional and diverse marine life, both above and below the surface, providing a home for resident marine species and a destination feeding ground for many migratory marine mammals, fish and seabirds. Twenty-six marine mammal species live in the waters of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary as do over 250 fish species. It is among the most important feeding grounds in the world for the endangered Humpback and Blue whales. It also serves as a crucial foraging area for resident, migratory and seabound birds. In fact, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary is otherwise known as the ``Albatross capital of the Northern Hemisphere.'' In the 15 years since the sanctuary was established, threats to the Cordell Bank and other points along our coast have grown. California's population has continued to increase near the coast, and oil and gas exploration proposals continue to threaten our marine ecosystems. Because of these threats, I believe preserving and celebrating our protected areas off the California coast is particularly important. Since the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established, the sanctuary's resources have grown with it, providing better protection for the sanctuary's future. Staff has increased from one to five and a half full time employees. The staff now has an office, a sea-bound vessel, monitoring programs, an advisory council and a new management plan to serve the sanctuary and its mission into the future. I applaud everyone who has worked to protect the marine ecosystems of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and I wish the sanctuary staff and volunteers many years of ongoing success in protecting the California coastal environment. Please join me in celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Beale Air Force Base as the United States Air Force winner of the 2004 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts of the people who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations and who best utilize their resources to support the mission. In recognition of this prestigious accomplishment, Team Beale has been awarded $1 million for quality of life improvements. The Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award recognizes the best United States Military installations worldwide, demonstrating innovative programs that help sustain excellent base operations. Each base was evaluated in the following categories: improving work environment or physical plant; improving quality of life; enhancing productivity of the work force; increasing customer satisfaction or improving customer service; encouraging bottom-to-top communication and team problem solving; promoting unit cohesiveness and recognizing outstanding individual efforts; and, promoting environmental safety, compliance, remediation, and stewardship. In fiscal year 2003, Team Beale established itself as the benchmark for the United States Air Force. Teamwork was Beale's cornerstone among the core units, associate units, and the civilian community as they embraced the Installation Commander's motto, ``One Team, One Fight.'' Beale Air Force Base put intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance on the offensive with an unprecedented 3,450 sorties, 1,175 combat missions, and 13,300 combat hours during Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Team Beale led coalition forces in battle space preparation and time-critical targeting by producing more than 89,000 imagery products and 25,000 special intelligence products for two combatant commanders. In addition to Beale's history-making, record-breaking contributions to the United States' combat efforts, it also worked to improve in other areas. Beale Air Force Base took a lead role in its $180 million housing privatization efforts for 1,344 homes in conjunction with $114 million in base-wide improvements and $56 million in RQ-4A Global Hawk bed down initiatives. In recognition of their outstanding performance, individual and team awards included: United States Air Force Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; United States Air Force Maintenance Effectiveness Award; United States Air Force Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award; United States Air Force Explosives Safety Plaque; 33 Air Combat Command award; United States Strategic Command's Omaha Trophy; and, Eight Numbered Air Force awards. The men and women of Beale Air Force Base have set the Air Force standard for installation excellence. By embracing the Air Force core values of ``Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do,'' Team Beale used creative innovations to establish themselves as the best of the best. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Beale Air Force Base on the receipt of the prestigious Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I honor and share with my colleagues today the memory of a very special woman, Dorothy Hughes of Marin County, who died July 25, 2004. She was 80 years old. Dorothy Hughes was born on her parents' sheep ranch in Woodland, CA in 1923. As a young girl, she attended the Hamlin School in San Francisco and in 1943 she graduated from Stanford University. She went on to earn her master's degree in European history at California State University at Sacramento. Dorothy Hughes was a lifelong champion of humanitarian causes. Envisioning a ``world that works for all of us,'' she campaigned tirelessly for peace and social justice. Dorothy also deeply felt the need to ensure decent health and social services for her community, and her unwavering dedication left a legacy of community-based health organizations in Marin County. In addition to founding the Campaign for a Healthier Community for Children, Marin Suicide Prevention Center and Marin Family Action, she also served as executive director of the Marin Association of Mental Health for more than two decades. Throughout her life, Dorothy remained committed to her convictions, often in the face of powerful opposition. Dorothy Hughes was recognized numerous times for her invaluable contributions to the community. The Human Rights Commission's Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, and induction into the Marin Women's Hall of Fame are among the many honors she received. A dynamic figure in Marin County, Dorothy touched countless lives during the 35 years she resided there. She was a deeply-loved member of the community whose courage and conviction inspired others, and she will be greatly missed. We take comfort in the knowledge that future generations will benefit from Dorothy's dedication, vision and leadership.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the tremendous public service of Wilmer Amina Carter. Mrs. Carter has long served as a leader, mentor and an advocate for children in San Bernardino County. For her longstanding personal commitment to her community and to the academic achievement of young people, the city of Rialto's third high school will be named Wilmer Amina Carter High School in her honor. The Wilmer Amina Carter High School is the first high school in the Inland Empire to be named after a living African-American woman. Mrs. Carter earned this honor through the many pioneering and leadership roles she has assumed in her community. Born in an era when adequate public education for African-American children was not provided, Mrs. Carter was fortunate to receive an education from her grandfather. In her professional and personal pursuits, Mrs. Carter has always worked to provide others with the immensely important and empowering opportunities afforded her through education. She capped this service with 16 years as a member of the Rialto Board of Education. Mrs. Carter also served for 23 years as district director for the late, much revered United States Congressman George Brown, Jr. There, she carried out Congressman Brown's directive that everyone receive careful attention and compassionate service. Mrs. Carter used her scholarship and expertise to guide educational policy and curriculum in her community and beyond. Under her leadership, a school career education venture of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. and the United States Department of Labor became a nationwide model for high school career development programs. In her service to the Rialto Unified School District, Mrs. Carter became the first African-American member of the Rialto Board of Education in 1983 and served until 1999. Throughout her tenure on the board of education, Mrs. Carter sought to make education a valued community endeavor, helping both young people and parents navigate the school system to optimize positive outcomes. She has been an inspiring force in ensuring that our Nation's future leaders have the tools they need to achieve their dreams. The dedication of this school reflects the impact of a woman who has provided an outstanding model of determination and service. I am confident that, true to Mrs. Carter's life work, this school's name will serve as a constant reminder to the students who pass through its doors of their immense potential to achieve and effect positive change in their local and national communities. And knowing Mrs. Carter's penchant for hands on involvement, it would not surprise me to see her at the school, working to instill those values in its students. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Mrs. Wilmer Amina Carter on this much-deserved recognition.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the men and women of the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar which was recently recognized as the 2004 Commander-in-Chief's Top Marine Corps Installation. Annually, one military installation from each service receives the award for outstanding achievement in areas including mission support, family services, environmental stewardship, and quality-of-life programs. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego consistently excels as a supportive, productive, and contributing member of the community. Miramar hosts and supports many events that integrate the San Diego community into the work of the base. It stages the largest military air show in the United States, has Cockpit Days at the Flying Leatherneck Museum which hosts 16,000 visitors annually, bimonthly tours which give community members a chance to become familiar with the Marine Corps, as well as Educators' Workshops, Community Leaders' Forums, and it provides color guards at local events. Integral to the most powerful concentration of Navy bases in the Nation, Miramar is responsible for supporting combat-ready expeditionary aviation forces capable of worldwide, short-notice deployment as part of a Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force. Miramar is the home of Third Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters, Marine Corps Air Bases Western Area and Reserve Support Unit and more than 10,000 Marines, Sailors, and civilian Marines. Miramar's Marines continue to significantly contribute to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. While friends and family members are serving abroad, Operation Enduring Families, a support network for families of deployed service members, operates on the base. Miramar's dedication to defending our country while enhancing quality of life for its service members and broader community is evident as the Marines contribute to the San Diego community as speakers, teachers, mentors, and sport coaches. Miramar achieves excellence in environmental standards, innovation, safety, efficiency, and a dedication to teamwork, honesty, and integrity. Their exemplary service continues to lead the Nation and to innovate for the next generation. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Miramar and the women and men who support it for their receipt of the 2004 Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, this is a very simple amendment. I give tremendous thanks to Senator Tom Carper of Delaware who has worked so hard on this amendment, and Senator Biden for his strong support. They have been a real leadership team, in terms of real security for Amtrak. I am pleased we were able to work together. I also thank Senator Cochran enormously, because he has been so helpful to us, and of course Senator Byrd. Basically, last March we received what should have been a wake-up call when terrorists blew up a commuter train in Madrid, Spain, killing nearly 200 people and injuring 1,400. I don't think there is any American who will not remember our shock and sadness at what occurred. Obviously, we have to address the vulnerabilities of America's rail systems. We must act now. I am so pleased that the bill before us includes more than $207 million for rail and transit security. This amendment that Senator Carper has done so much work on and which I have worked with him on will make it clear that all rail operators will be eligible for this vital funding. This will allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to use full discretion to allocate funds to those operators with the greatest need regardless of whether they are local transit agencies, Amtrak, or freight railroad. This minor change will go a long way toward helping, and clearly many of us believe we need to do more. I proudly sit on the Commerce Committee. That committee has now twice voted out rail security bills that are very strong. But adding more dollars to rail security would enable us to do more checking on what may be lying on the railroad tracks and set up a system so we can be sure that baggage on trains does not contain bombs. We have K-9 teams. There are many things we want to do. It is a great frustration for me that even though Senator McCain and Senator Hollings and the whole committee in a bipartisan way passed railroad security not once but twice, that bill sits at the desk, as does the port security bill that we voted out, as does the nuclear plant security bill the Environment Committee voted out, and the chemical plant security bill. It is frustrating. But tonight, at least we have a chance to do a little bit more for rail security. I am very grateful for that. I know this amendment has been cleared on both sides. I see Senator Carper coming to the Senate floor, so I will yield the floor. But once more, I give him my tremendous thanks for his very hard work. It is wonderful to see that we can accomplish something when we reach across the aisle. We have taken a big step. Of course, we want to take even bigger steps to make sure our rail passengers are safe. I will yield the floor at this time. I would like to know, because I would like to leave the floor at this time, if it is OK to ask for this amendment to be adopted in a unanimous consent fashion at the conclusion of Senators who wish to speak.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. BOXER. My thanks to everyone involved. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER. All right. At the end of Senator Carper's remarks, if no other Senator seeks recognition, then he can make that request. Would that be appropriate at that time?

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask the pending amendment be set aside and that we take up amendment No. 3641, which has been cleared on both sides.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today, it is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to a fallen California firefighter. Firefighter Eva Schicke was killed on Sunday, September 12, when her crew was overwhelmed by flames after being dropped by helicopter to fight a wildfire in the Tuolumne River Canyon of the Stanislaus National Forest. Eva Schicke was part of an elite 7-person helicopter wildfire crew stationed at Columbia Air Attack Base in Columbia, CA. She and the six other members of this helicopter crew selflessly risked their lives trying to protect our communities and our treasured forests. A graduate of California State University at Stanislaus where she played basketball and majored in criminal justice, Eva Schicke worked part time as a firefighter for more than 4 years. When she died she was beginning to pursue a career in nursing--yet another testament to her generosity of spirit and her desire to serve the community. Not only was Ms. Schicke one of the few female firefighters to serve, she is now, tragically, the first ever female firefighter from the California Department of Forestry to die in the line of duty. I offer my sincere condolences to her family, friends, and classmates. I know they must be devastated by the loss of this courageous, young woman. I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the search and rescue team that went back in to recover Ms. Schicke's body. I also extend my gratitude and express my admiration for all of our firefighters, particularly the six members of the Columbia Helitack Team that fought by Ms. Schicke's side and were themselves injured in that fire. The people of California honor their work. May God bless them for their dedication and service.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, recognize Donald R. Doser, business manager emeritus of Operating Engineers, Local 3, as he prepares to retire. Donald Doser has been a man committed to excellence. He has been a major force in the construction trades since 1958. A graduate of Harvard University's trade union school, he dedicated his career to improving the lives of working men and women in the construction trades. Donald has served as Local 3's district representative and business manager. He also served as general vice president for the International Union of Operating Engineers. During his tenure with Operating Engineers Local 3, Donald organized, trained staff and diligently worked to keep business operations on a sound financial footing. The list of his achievements and accomplishments during his leadership over the years is long. He increased the membership of Local 3 and focused on organizing new workers, creating equalized health benefits for members and improved vision-care coverage. Donald Doser, in addition to his more obvious accomplishments, established and maintained a higher standard of integrity in his organization. He undertook his many tasks with great determination and dedication. I am pleased to congratulate and pay tribute to him, and I encourage m colleagues to join me in wishing Donald Doser and his family the very best as he embarks on the next chapter in his life.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased and honored to salute my good friend Jack Valenti, who retired last week after 38 years as president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, MPAA, and its international counterpart, the Motion Picture Association, MPA. Jack came to MPAA in 1966 directly from the White House, where he had served with distinction as special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson. His Government background prepared him to become an effective ambassador for the motion picture industry both at home and abroad. During his long and productive tenure at MPAA, he worked with eight Presidents of the United States and established an international ``diplomatic corps'' with offices around the world to promote the movie industry and protect its intellectual property rights. When Jack Valenti took the helm at MPAA, its member companies were focused on domestic production and distribution, with little thought about international markets. Today American films, TV programs, and home entertainment are shown in more than 150 countries worldwide, with international revenues of more than $16.5 billion a year. Along with his work in the global arena, Jack will be remembered as the pioneer of the film industry's voluntary movie rating system. In developing the system, Jack reached out to film studios, independent producers, writers, directors, theater owners, the religious community, and children's advocacy groups. The resulting system helps families to make informed decisions about the movies they see. Under Jack Valenti's leadership, the U.S. film industry has thrived and remained a vibrant source of entertainment, creativity, jobs, and economic growth. Along with moviegoers across America and round the world, I thank him for his brilliant work and wish him all the best in the years to come.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. I ask unanimous consent to have an article from the Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA, printed in the Record. In this particular area of my State, the Republicans are in most of the elected offices. They say every single day they are all on a different radio frequency and they don't have the ability to communicate. It is amazing, because it is 2004.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of myself, Senator Feinstein and Senator Harry Reid, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. BOXER. I have some articles, including this one from the PR Newswire Association. It says: Almost three years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of police and fire divisions in cities and counties across the USA still do not have coordinated communications capabilities. This unresolved national crisis--referred to as a lack of ``interoperability''--is prompting the First Response Coalition to reach out directly to more than 43,000 local police and fire officials to solicit their help to get Congress to. . . . I ask unanimous consent to have that printed in the Record.

Mrs. BOXER. And from the Contra Costa Times, ``Gaps in Communication'': We have a patchwork of communication systems out there, and we do what we must to make it work. . . . But there are times where we're only one step above tin cans and string. Further in the article: We can literally be rolling side by side with a unit from another city and not be able to talk to them. It's not too difficult to imagine how crazy things could get with several agencies converging for one incident. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I hope and pray the vote on this amendment is bipartisan. This amendment is paid for. It does not add to the deficit. It makes a choice between a frill of outside consultants coming in to tell management how to run the show. If the administration is not happy with who is running the show, fire those people and get somebody else. But do not spend 70 million bucks of the hard-earned taxpayer money, when these working men and women who are our first responders, who are our heroes, who we rely on, are telling us they are one step above tin cans and a string to communicate. I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.