Barbara Boxer

Mrs. BOXER

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. BOXER. I ask unanimous consent that the time from 2:15 until 5:15 be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees and that all quorum calls during that period also be equally divided.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, before I speak about the details of the impact of not helping students in this difficult economic climate with student loans that they can afford, I wish to say that I was stunned that my Republican friends refused to give us a vote to proceed to the issue. I think every student in America should turn their focus on this Chamber because the Republican Party made it impossible for us to lower the student loan rates today. They made it impossible. This is going to mean thousands of dollars over the life of a student's loans. So while the Republicans are calling for major tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires of $100,000, $200,000 a year in cuts, they don't have the heart to help middle-class students get a break on their interest rates for higher education. I find it appalling. If anyone wants to know the difference between the parties, start with this. Whom do we fight for when we are here? We all say we are for the next generation. We all have the speeches--oh, they are terrific; they are beautiful--each party. But when push comes to shove, who is voting to help our students get an interest rate they can afford so they are not shackled to a high interest rate at a time of historic low interest rates? Democrats are on their side. All we have to do is look at the vote today if nothing else. One does not have to understand any more than the Republicans blocked us from debating the importance of lowering interest on student loans. So I will be back to put in the record individual stories from my constituents. But let's wake up, America. Parents, wake up. Students, wake up. The Democrats proved today that we are on your side. The Republicans proved they are not. Period. That vote says it all. It is not complicated. They will make it complicated. They will talk about procedure and this and that. The bottom line is the bottom line. The Republicans voted not to allow us to vote on ways and methods to lower interest rates for our students. So don't be fooled. We will hear speeches on why they voted no, and they will come up with things. The bottom line is they wouldn't even let us debate this issue. I am stunned. I assumed we would be on this bill. So when Americans look at the Senate floor and don't see much activity except for a few of us coming to speak, and they thought today was the day we were going to vote to lower interest rates on student loans, wake up to reality. It is called a filibuster. We were stopped by the Republicans once again, just as they have stopped us time and time again. They come to the floor with every reason one can imagine. We have news. We have two independent scholars who wrote a very important paper. They are nonpartisan. What they said in this paper is that they used to think it was both sides that were stopping progress. Now we know it is one side. It is the Republican side. Today is yet another example. I hope everyone within the sound of my voice--and we will hear stories about what is happening, and I hope people will write us all and e-mail us with their stories and tell us what it means to them to have to spend thousands more unnecessarily on student loans. Give us the stories. Let us tell the stories. I hope Americans will send us those stories, and I hope we will send a message to those who voted to filibuster this very important legislation today that they are not on the side of the American people. They are not on the side of working families. They are not on the side of the middle class. They are not on the side of economic progress. They are not on the side of economic growth. I thank the President for the time, and I yield the time.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to express my strong support for California District Court Judge Jacqueline Nguyen, who has been nominated for a seat on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. When confirmed, Judge Nguyen will make history as the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Federal courts of appeals. Judge Nguyen has had a distinguished career. She is a former Federal prosecutor who secured the first-ever conviction of a defendant for providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist group. She served as a California Superior Court judge from 2002 until 2009, when she was nominated for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She was confirmed by a vote of 97 to 0. I congratulate Judge Nguyen and her family on this important and historic day and urge my colleagues to vote to confirm this well- qualified nominee to the Ninth Circuit. I thank the Chair and yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Dick Clark, one of our country's most beloved cultural icons who entertained grateful viewers in America and around the world for more than 60 years. He passed away on April 17, 2012, at age 82. Richard Wagstaff Clark was born on November 30, 1929 in Mount Vernon, NY. As a child, Dick looked up to his older brother, Bradley, who became a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. Dick became depressed after his brother's death, and the only thing that lifted his spirits was music. In some ways, Dick Clark was destined to work in the broadcasting industry. As a child, he became interested in radio after his parents took him to a live broadcast of the Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore show. Ever the affable young man, Dick participated in A.B. Davis High School's drama club and was elected class president. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in business administration, Dick began working on ``Bandstand'' at Philadelphia's WFIL Radio. The popularity of this program led WFIL TV to begin broadcasting it as an afternoon television show, which Dick started hosting in 1956. The following year, he pitched the show to the American Broadcasting Company, and it became nationally broadcast as ``American Bandstand.'' ``American Bandstand'' became a phenomenon, a trendsetting show that touched people around the world across lines of race, culture, and ethnicity. ``Bandstand 's'' integration of African Americans as musicians and dancers played a role breaking down racial barriers at a time when the civil rights movement was coming to the forefront. Over the next three decades, while the show moved from weekdays to Saturdays and from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, Dick Clark introduced American families to many artists who later became icons, including the Supremes, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince. Aretha Franklin recently noted, ``If you didn't go on `American Bandstand,' you hadn't made it yet.'' Over the course of his career, Dick Clark came to be known as one of the most hard-working people in show business. With Dick Clark Productions, founded in 1956, Clark produced television shows, made- for-TV movies, award shows, and beauty pageants. Unistar, which he cofounded and owned, distributed Clark's radio shows including ``Countdown America'' and ``Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remembers.'' In 1972 ``Rockin' Eve'' premiered, and since then generations of Americans have welcomed in the New Year with Dick Clark and watched with him as the ball dropped in New York City--a tradition that continued for 40 years. Throughout his time as host, Dick Clark only missed one New Year's Eve celebration in 2005 due to a stroke. The following year he was once again on the air welcoming the New Year with his beloved wife Kari and showing all of us that with tenacity, anything is possible. Throughout his career, Clark left an indelible mark on the landscape of American music and television, from his 1974 creation of the American Music Awards to his productions of the Academy of Country Music Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, Live Aid, and Farm Aid. For his successful career and tireless work ethic, Dick Clark was honored with Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards, Daytime and Primetime Lifetime Achievement Awards, and inductions into the Radio Hall of Fame, the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame, and the Philadelphia Walk of Fame. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Dick's wife Kari, his sons Richard Augustus II and Duane, his daughter Cindy, and his grandchildren. He will be missed by the millions of people worldwide who were touched by his work.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Deputy Robert ``Bob'' Paris, a dedicated public servant in the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office and a kind and loyal colleague, friend, and family man. On the morning of April 12, 2012, Deputy Paris was tragically killed in the line of duty while serving an eviction notice in north Modesto. A graduate of Tracy High School and the Ray Simon Criminal Justice Training Center in Modesto, Bob Paris joined the Stanislaus Sheriff's Department as a reserve deputy in May 1996 and became a full-time employee in 1998. During his tenure with the department, he served the community as a court bailiff, a patrol deputy, and as a member of the sheriff's water enforcement team. He was also the department's first- aid and CPR instructor at the sheriff's academy. For the past 16 years, Deputy Paris dutifully served the citizens and communities of Stanislaus County with great pride, integrity, and valor. His devotion to helping others, along with his passion for law enforcement, helped him become a respected member of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Paris served Stanislaus County with honor and bravery, and I send my heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator. If the Chair would tell me when I have used 5 minutes and then I will conclude.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to thank Senator Klobuchar for her leadership and Senator Feinstein as well. These are the two Democratic women on the Judiciary Committee who have been such leaders on this issue, as well as Senator Murray. I am proud to stand here today to call for the passage of the Violence Against Women Act. This is not a new bill, as has been painstakingly described to all of my colleagues. I can remember so well when then-Senator Joe Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act, and he came to me when I was in the House and asked me to carry it in the House. I was as honored as I am right now. Yes, it took us a while to pass it, but ever since it has been noncontroversial. For some reason our Republican friends, although we have 61 people as cosponsors, are slowing it down, and it seems to me very clear if they didn't have objections we could pass this by voice vote. Three women are killed by their abusive partners every single day. I will repeat that: Three women today will be killed by their abusive husbands. For every woman who is killed, there are nine more who are beaten or injured every single day. In the name of those people--in the name of the three women who will be killed today--we should pass this unanimously. Has the Violence Against Women Act worked? Yes. Incidents of domestic violence have decreased by 53 percent since we passed this law. Why on Earth, when three women are killed every day and nine women are injured, sometimes to the point of almost losing their lives--why on Earth, when a bill has brought down domestic violence by 53 percent, would there be objection? There is no reason whatsoever for objection. When we go back to the votes on the bill, there are overwhelming votes in favor every time. This year 47 attorneys general signed a bipartisan letter supporting the reauthorization. I have story after story from home, and I am going to read a couple to my colleagues. A mother in Alameda County with two children had been in a long-term abusive relationship. She separated from her abuser only to be stalked and brutally assaulted by him. She called 9 1-1. She hid the phone during the last beating so the police could hear what was going on. Because of the Violence Against Women Act, she was able to access a Family Justice Center where she received counseling, relocation assistance, and she worked with a deputy DA trained by program grants. She was pressured not to cooperate with the prosecution, but because of the Violence Against Women Act--the investigators had been trained by that act--she overcame her fear. She was protected as she cooperated and gained a strong conviction of her abuser. That is a case that shows the training works, and the training took place because of the Violence Against Women Act. This is a story of an immigrant woman in Los Angeles. This happened 2 years ago. She was stabbed 19 times by her boyfriend while she was 3 months pregnant. During her ordeal, her boyfriend drove her from one part of town to the other, refusing to take her to an emergency room even though she was bleeding profusely. She jumped out of the car, screamed for help, and the abuser fled. Thankfully, she received medical attention. The baby was not lost, she recovered, and because of the Violence Against Women Act she cooperated with the prosecutors. She got a U-visa, and she and her child could move on. The last case deals with Indian tribes. I know what a fierce advocate the Presiding Officer is in every way for Indian tribes. So I talked to my people back home. According to a 2008 report by the Centers for Disease Control, 39 percent of Native American women will face domestic violence--39 percent. Yesterday, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Murray, and I stood next to a woman who is the vice-chair of a tribe in Washington. She, for the first time, spoke out about the abuse she received as a toddler. I don't think Senator Klobuchar and I and Senator Murray will ever forget it. She said: I know how old I was because I remember I was the size of a couch cushion. This woman spoke out about how later on she saw the gang rape of her aunt. Because of the situation with Indian law, if the abuser is not from the tribe----

Mrs. BOXER. I will complete my statement in a moment. If an abuser is not from the tribe, there is no recourse--no recourse--in a place where 39 percent of the women will face domestic violence, and we have colleagues on the other side of the aisle who want to exclude people. I wish to ask a rhetorical question: If a person is walking down the street and sees three people bleeding on the street--one just has to know a little bit about being a Good Samaritan--a person doesn't ask them for their papers, they don't ask them who they are, they don't ask them where they live, they help them. Anyone on this floor who attempts to take out various groups from this bill is changing the Violence Against Women Act, which has never excluded any group. So let's be clear. Let's pass the bill. Let's get it done. I will say in closing, tribal chairman Stacy Dixon of the Susanville Indian Rancheria said the improvements in this bill will ``bring justice back to Indian country and will equip tribal governments with the needed authority and resources to protect our residents and restore faith in the justice system.'' Let's restore faith in the justice system not just for those on tribal lands but for those who live in any part of our lands. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, it is with great sadness that I speak in memory of five extraordinary sailors who recently died at sea during a boat race off the coast of California. On Saturday, April 15, the sailing vessel Low Speed Chase was one of 49 boats participating in the Full Crew Farallones Race, which has been run annually from San Francisco to the Farallon Islands and back since 1907. As the yacht rounded an island, it was broadsided by huge waves and crashed onto the rocks. Three sailors survived and were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Tragically, the lives of five others--Alexis Busch, Alan Cahill, Jordan Fromm, Marc Kasanin, and Elmer Morrissey--were lost. Alexis Busch, who as a teenager had been a beloved batgirl for the San Francisco Giants, managed the Ross Valley Swim and Tennis Club and crewed in sailing races from San Francisco Bay to Australia. Her longtime boyfriend and sailing partner, Nick Vos, was one of the survivors on the Low Speed Chase. Alan Cahill was a married father of two children and a master marine craftsman who served as caretaker for many boats at the San Francisco Yacht Club. Originally from Cork, Ireland, Alan moved to the Bay Area to pursue his love of racing. He was a talented sailor and good friend, who served as the best man at the wedding of his crewmate, Bryan Chong, one of the three survivors. Jordan Fromm was a lifelong sailor who was a fixture at the San Francisco Yacht Club, where he had been a member since childhood and participated in its youth sailing programs. Fromm planned to start his own yacht restoration business. Marc Kasanin grew up in Belvedere, started sailing at age 5, and spent most of his life on the water as a sailor and a nautical artist. His artwork was recently displayed at the Tiburon Art Festival. Elmer Morrissey earned a Ph.D. in energy engineering and worked as a software designer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In addition to sailing, he enjoyed playing music and rugby and writing humorous sports blogs. These crew members were some of the Bay Area's best sailors. Their loss is a devastating blow to their families, to their friends, to their crewmates, and to the entire sailing community. At this most difficult time, my heart goes out to them all.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am very pleased with what just happened at the desk. For those who didn't follow it, the majority leader, Senator Reid, and Senator McConnell, just named the conferees so we can get moving with the House and settle our differences and move forward with a very important transportation bill. We all know how hard it has been on the construction industry. We all know the housing crisis has made it very difficult for our construction workers to get work. We all know at the same moment we have had this real problem in the construction industry--where we have well over 1 million construction workers out of work and tens of thousands of businesses that want to do construction work--70,000 of our bridges are failing, half of our roads are in disrepair, and the American people expect an infrastructure that meets the needs of the strongest economy in the world, our economy. So I am very pleased with what just happened. I am very pleased we see the continuation over here of bipartisan support for a transportation bill. We have Senator Reid working together with Senator McConnell to name the conferees, and we had a unanimous vote in our committee last year on this bill. It has been a very tortured path to get to where we are now because, for some inexplicable reason, the Republicans over in the House have insisted on just going to their own party to reach agreement rather than going to the Democrats so we can have bipartisanship over there. But I am very hopeful, with the naming of these conferees today, the House will now do its job and name conferees. I have been reading in the press that perhaps that will happen tomorrow. So I am very hopeful. Mr. President, it is 10:20 in the morning on Tuesday, and I want to call attention to the fact we are now on the path we need to be on, starting at this moment, to get to conference. There is no reason we can't do that very soon when so much is at stake. The Senate bill is a reform bill. There are no earmarks in that bill. That bill is fully paid for. It doesn't add to the deficit. It protects 2 million jobs and creates another 1 million jobs. What good news will it be for this economy to have this bill pass. I know there are those who predicted this could never happen; that, A, we would never get a bipartisan bill out of our committee, but we did it; that, B, we would never get it to pass on the floor, but we did it with 74 votes; and, C, that the House will never act, and the House actually did act to move to conference. It took them a long time, but we are there. So there is no reason we cannot work together to get this done. If Senator Inhofe and I can agree, then I think we should be able to get a very strong bill through both Houses. On my committee--the Environment and Public Works Committee, which I am so privileged to chair--we have very conservative members, such as Senators Inhofe and Sessions, and very progressive members, such as myself. We have Senator Vitter on the other side and Senator Sessions, and on this side we have Senators Sanders and Cardin. So we have members who reach the entire ideological spectrum, and if we can all vote for a bill, then this can happen and it will send a great signal to this country. I thank all the groups that have worked so hard to bring pressure on all of us to keep this moving forward. It starts with a coalition that includes the AFL CIO and the chamber of commerce. Good for them. They do not always agree, but they agree on this one. Then we have all the business community that is behind us--the granite people and the cement people and the general contractors. The list goes on and on. There are many groups that have come together to push forward on this bill. So I want to mark this moment. I am happy I was able to be on the Senate floor when the conferees were named. It is a great list of conferees. We have in this bill the RESTORE Act, which will rebuild the gulf after the terrible BP spill, and we have people on this conference who were very instrumental in writing the RESTORE Act, including Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Richard Shelby. Senator Vitter also was involved, and I want to take a moment to thank Senator Landrieu, who was a driving force on this bill. There is no question that without her insistence this wouldn't have happened. So what an opportunity we have. Now, there are certain things I think we should keep out of this conference, and that is things that tear us apart. There is no reason to have controversy built into this conference. We can save those battles for another day. I think, with this conference, we should just all rally around the consensus of what has to be done. If it is something outside the scope of the conference, if it is unanimous and everybody thinks it is a good idea--such as the RESTORE Act--then let's do it. There is a provision in the bill that helps our rural counties use the proceeds from timber sales for their schools--this is so critical-- and for their local governments. One could argue it is not part of the transportation program, but it is a consensus. It is a coming together, and where we can do that it is very important we stick with those consensus items and stay away from the highly charged controversies. We have plenty of time for that. We don't have to put that into this conference. So I look forward to the House naming their conferees so we can get this done. I also want to say how important it is that we pass the Violence Against Women Act. This bill, which has 61 cosponsors--it is my understanding that is the case--is a strong bill, and it makes sure people who are the victims of violence are taken care of, and it continues a great program that was put together by then-Senator Joe Biden. I remember it well because I was in the House at the time and then- Senator Biden, now Vice President Biden, doing such a great job, spoke to me and said: Congresswoman Boxer, would you be willing to carry the House version of the Violence Against Women Act? This was in the early 1990s. I looked at the bill, read the bill, and said I would be honored to do so. I was so proud to work with Joe Biden on this issue. We had worked together on coastal issues and now we worked together, at that time, on violence against women. I was able to get a couple of the provisions passed--a couple of, I would say, smaller provisions passed: safety on campuses, campus lighting, and some other things. But the heart of the bill did not pass until I actually was over here in the Senate, when Senator Biden really picked up steam and drove that bill through. My understanding is that Senator Schumer--at that time in the House--picked up the bill and did the same in the House. This has been the law of the land--the Violence Against Women Act-- since the 1990s, so we don't need to have any arguments about it. I was very glad to hear Senator McConnell say he didn't intend to have any arguments about it because in this bill we cover even more people: people who were brutalized, women who were brutalized, and it is very key. I see my colleague, Senator Harkin, has come to discuss a very important matter, a labor matter, and I would tell him I will finish in about 3 minutes, if that is OK with him. I want to conclude by saying that the Violence Against Women Act is what we call a no-brainer. It is a serious problem in our Nation. Senator Reid said three women are killed every day because of violence against women. The shelters in our States are doing incredible work. They take in women and children. They make sure there is protection and crack down on the violators and there is no reason to argue about that. The last thing I wanted to talk about in the last couple minutes goes to the heart of what Senator McConnell said in his leader time. I have noticed that almost every time Senator McConnell has a chance on the Senate floor he comes and attacks President Obama and he goes after President Obama and blames him for everything under the sun. I have to say I support Senator McConnell's right to say whatever he wants to say. He has every right to use his leadership powers to attack the President and do it as much as he wants. So I am not complaining about that. But I am just saying it is very unfortunate for this country that the Republican leader in the Senate said, and I quote--I am not quoting directly the words, but this is what he said--that his highest priority was making President Obama a one-term President, and he is carrying it out on the floor of this Senate. The things he blames this President for are unbelievable. The way he attacks the President for being out around the country--he doesn't attack the Republican candidates for President for traveling around the country. Let's face it, it is a few months to the election. Does he expect the President to stay in the White House? I am glad the President is getting outside. I am glad the President is making speeches. I am glad the President is fighting for students. I am glad the President is fighting for senior citizens. I am glad the President is fighting for small business. I am glad he is fighting for fairness. Why should a billionaire pay a lower tax rate than a secretary? I am glad this President is doing all that. To hear him attacked day after day after day is absolutely discouraging when we have so much work we can do that we can talk about in our leader time. But I have decided I am going to follow this, and every time Senator McConnell does this I am going to use my privileges as a Senator to come down. Let's never forget, this President inherited the worst economy since the Great Depression from a Republican President who left us bleeding 800,000 jobs a month, who left us with an auto industry flat on its back, who left us with a credit system that was frozen. This President, through his leadership, stepped up and led us out of that mess. The other voices, the naysayers, said: Let Detroit go bankrupt. Stay out of everything. This President didn't listen because he is a fighter for change. If this floor is going to be used to attack this President, count me in to stand and make sure the record is set straight. I hope we can go back to the work we need to do instead of using the floor of this great body to attack our President, the President of the United States of America. Everyone has a right to do it. Believe me, I don't argue that. But I also have the right as a Senator--and so do others--to come to clear the record on that, and I intend to do that. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the Enzi resolution. If enacted, this resolution would prohibit the National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, from implementing commonsense, straightforward changes to the union representation process that will ensure union elections are conducted in a more fair and efficient manner. The new rules, which will go into effect on April 30, will make it easier and less burdensome for workers and employers to navigate the union election process. Workers and employers will now be able to electronically file election petitions and other documents. Timely information essential to both sides being able to fully engage in the election process will be shared more quickly. Timeframes for parties to resolve issues before and after elections will be standardized. Duplicative appeals processes that cause unnecessary delays will be eliminated. Both sides will be required to identify points of disagreement and provide evidence at the outset of the election process, helping to eliminate unnecessary litigation. The modest reforms proposed by the NLRB do not mandate timetables for elections to occur, as some of my colleagues will allege; rather, the new rules simply eliminate existing barriers that get in the way of providing employees and employers with access to an open and fair election process. As Catholic Healthcare West, which employs most of its 31,000 workers in my State of California, wrote during the public comment period: ``[the] reforms proposed by the NLRB are not pro-union or pro-business, they are pro-modernization.'' I urge my colleagues to support modernization and oppose the Enzi resolution.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to solemnly recognize the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide based in part on the horrific crimes perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people between 1915 1923. Yet, in the 63 years that have passed since the Convention was adopted, successive U.S. administrations have refused to call the deliberate massacre of the Armenians by what it was--a genocide. For many years, I have urged these administrations to right this terrible wrong, and I do so again today, calling on President Obama to acknowledge unequivocally--as he did as a Senator--that the Armenian genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The Armenian genocide--along with the Holocaust--is one the most studied cases of genocide in history. A number of sovereign nations, ranging from Argentina to France, as well as 43 U.S. States have recognized what happened as genocide. Yet, successive U.S. administrations continue only to refer to the Armenian genocide as annihilation, massacre or murder. Every day that goes by without full acknowledgment by the United States of these undeniable facts prolongs the pain felt by descendants of the victims and the entire Armenian community. There is no room for discretion when dealing with unspeakable crimes against humanity; genocide must be called genocide, murder must be called murder. And every day that goes by without the U.S. acknowledgment of what happened to the Armenian people in the early 20th century undermines the United States' role as a beacon for human rights around the world. The United States' credibility is particularly important as we seek to compel international condemnation of and active response to those who are perpetrating extreme violence today--whether it be in individual cases of human rights abuses or in cases of government- driven attacks against citizens protesting for greater freedom and opportunity. The United States cannot and does not turn a blind eye to atrocities around the globe. In fact, the United States is often the first to speak out in the face of violence and unspeakable suffering. But sadly, our Nation is on the wrong side of history when it comes to the Armenian genocide. It is long past time to do the right thing. So this April 24, as we pause to remember the victims and to honor the countless contributions Armenian Americans have made to our great country, I hope that the U.S. will finally and firmly stand on the right side of history and officially condemn the crimes of 1915 1923 by their appropriate name--genocide.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, earlier this month, California and the Nation lost one of our true environmental heroes when Peter Douglas, the longtime executive director of the California Coastal Commission, passed away. Peter was truly a giant among California conservationists, and our State is a much better and more beautiful place because of his life's work. Peter Douglas was there at the creation of the California Coastal Commission, which for four decades has worked to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the California coast and ocean for current and future generations. As a legislative aide in the early 1970s, he helped draft the 1972 Coastal Initiative and the California Coastal Act of 1976, which made the Coastal Commission a permanent public institution. After 7 years as the Commission's Chief Deputy Director, he was named executive director in 1985 and served brilliantly in that capacity for more than 25 years. When Peter was diagnosed with cancer, he faced it as he did all the other challenges in his life with intelligence, courage, grace, and good humor. Last spring, Peter began writing a cancer blog. As he noted in his first posting, his doctors were ``quite pessimistic and advised I get affairs in order and focus on my bucket list. But I am an inveterate and aggressive activist not about to give up on life, especially not my own. My time will come, but not quite yet I hope. Besides, I am too busy to die.'' Peter kept writing, producing a remarkable record of his final battle with cancer along with his political autobiography and some profound personal insights. He advised his readers to ``live mindfully and fully every moment. Keep hope alive. . . . When the time comes to pass over to the other side, try to embrace that passage with dignity and grace knowing you have done well.'' Peter Douglas certainly did just that. On behalf of the people of California, who have benefitted so much from Peter Douglas's life work, I send my deepest gratitude and condolences to his sons, grandchildren, brother, sister, and extended family and friends. Peter's memory and legacy will live on with everyone who loves the California coast and our priceless natural heritage, which he did so much to preserve and protect.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I salute the life and achievements of Bea Abrams Cohen, who at 102 years old is California's oldest living woman veteran. Still active in veterans and community affairs, Mrs. Cohen was recently the guest of honor at a California Department of Veterans Affairs, CalVet, reception honoring the achievements of women in the military during Women's Military History Week. As CalVet noted, ``Women have contributed to the rich military history of our country even before they were officially allowed to serve. The first known American woman soldier was Deborah Sampson of Massachusetts who, disguised as a man, served in the Revolutionary War. Throughout the history of our country, women have consistently shown themselves as dedicated patriots, willing to put their lives on the line in order to protect our nation and the freedoms of our people.'' The life of Bea Cohen is a living testament to the incredible contributions our service women make each and every day. Born in Romania in 1910, Bea Abrams came to America through Ellis Island in 1920 with her mother, brother, and sister. When the United States entered World War II, Bea vowed to do all she could to help her adopted country. She went to school to learn the machinist trade and then worked at Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica as a real-life Rosie the Riveter. Though she loved this work, Bea wanted to do more. In 1942, at age 33, she joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, WAAC, turning down a salary increase at Douglas. After going through basic training in Iowa, she did administrative work for the WAAC in Utah and Colorado. By 1943, Bea took a second oath to become part of the new Women's Army Corps, WAC, which unlike the WAAC was now a part of the Regular Army. She was soon shipped overseas. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a ship that zigzagged to avoid enemy submarines, Bea arrived in England just in time for D-day. There, she worked in Army headquarters producing documents and operating a low-cost printing machine called a mimeograph. After 2 years of service, Bea was honorably discharged and returned to Los Angeles. In late 1945, Bea met Marine MSgt Ray Cohen through family friends. Ray Cohen had served in the Pacific and had been a prisoner of War on the Philippine island of Corregidor for 3\1/2\ years. Bea and Ray were married the following year and had two daughters, Janiece and Susan. Later, during the Korean war, Ray was deployed for over a year while Bea raised the girls and volunteered with the Jewish War Veterans of the United States. After Ray retired in 1955, the Cohens remained active with the Jewish War Veterans. To this day, Bea volunteers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Los Angeles. For her 102nd birthday party, Bea displayed her lifelong dedication to troops by asking her guests to bring socks for veterans rather than presents for herself. Bea has dedicated more than 70 years to providing support for American troops and their families. She is an enduring reminder of the contributions of this nation's veterans. Mr. President, I know all of my colleagues will join me today in honoring Bea Abrams Cohen.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I support the Paying a Fair Share Act because it will help bring fairness to our Tax Code. In large part because of the irresponsible policies of President George W. Bush, the very wealthiest taxpayers have seen their tax rates drop by half over the last 50 years, even as their incomes have skyrocketed. The Tax Code has become so out-of-balance that one in four millionaires pays a lower tax rate than do millions of middle-class families, and in 2011 an estimated 7,000 millionaires paid no Federal income tax at all. Responsible millionaires understand that a fair tax system is in our country's best interest. One Californian, Andy Rappaport, told my staff that over the past 8 years, his average Federal tax rate has been only 16 percent after charitable contributions. Meanwhile, working families making $60,000 to $100,000 per year pay average Federal tax rates of 17 or 18 percent. Mr. Rappaport said: ``Those of us who are doing unprecedentedly well have built our success on a foundation of widespread well being and opportunity, not to mention adequate investments in education, research, and infrastructure. . . . It's not fair to ask those who make less than us to do without or to shoulder more than their share of our national investment burden.'' California entrepreneur Garrett Gruener wrote in the Los Angeles Times: ``For nearly the last decade, I've paid income taxes at the lowest rates of my professional career. . . . For the good of the country, we need to tax people like me more.'' In addition to opposing this common-sense proposal, our Republican colleagues want to cut valuable social programs to pay for another tax cut for the rich. The House-passed Ryan Budget would give high-income taxpayers an additional tax cut of at least $150,000 per year--a tax cut equal to three times the median household income, and more than ten times the average annual Social Security benefit--while cutting programs like food stamps and Pell Grants which provide security and opportunity to millions of lower-income Americans. Our Republican colleagues seem devoted to the interests of the wealthiest 1 percent above all else. The Paying a Fair Share Act would only affect the top one-tenth of 1 percent of taxpayers, those with adjusted gross income over $1 million per year. It preserves the incentive for charitable giving, which is so important for our religious organizations, nonprofits, and universities. And these millionaires and billionaires are not the ``job creators'' the Republicans say they are, because the vast majority of job creators are small business owners who earn far less than $1 million per year. In 2009, only 1.3 percent of taxpayers with business income made more than $1 million per year. The bill is supported by small business groups including the Main Street Alliance, American Sustainable Business Council, and the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity. It also has the support of AFCSME, AFL CIO, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Auto Workers, the National Education Association, and many others. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, which will bring much-needed fairness to our Tax Code.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. More than that--about 4,500.

Mrs. BOXER. I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 minutes and then return the floor to Senator Durbin.

Mrs. BOXER. I was going to wait until the House actually sent over this extension before saying anything, but I was so impressed with Senator Durbin's explanation that I felt I should come to the floor and thank him so much. His leadership on this and also, Madam President, your deep concern for your State, which actually has the largest job loss numbers because they are being very conservative about what they do on the ground--not everybody understands the way the transportation programs work in our States. The Federal Government pays for about 75 percent of many projects and the State pays 25 percent. But the States go out and they front the money and then they bill the Federal Government. Well, the signal that has been sent from the House today is a disastrous signal because it is a signal to all of our States that they better beware because there is no guarantee they will ever get those funds back from the Federal Government. You know, I love it when we make history here, but I love it when we make good history here. Today, by the House's action, I believe they have become the first House of Representatives ever to allow this highway trust fund to go bankrupt because right now the fund is not sufficient and has to be filled. That is why part of the wonderful result of the Senate bill--and Senator Inhofe and I appreciate getting a lot of credit, but we actually had four committees that did their work: Senators Johnson and Shelby over in Banking, and we had Senators Rockefeller and Hutchison over in Commerce. But a very tough job was given to Senator Baucus, and he worked hand-in-glove with the Republicans, particularly with Senators such as Senator Thune, to come up with a pay-for. Well, here we have an extension with no revenues in it, Madam President, so naturally your State is very worried, as are all of our States, and I am going to quickly go through what we know so far. We know that Illinois is having big trouble because their contract-letting cannot go forward in 12 particular jobs, and that is going to result in a scaleback of 4,500 jobs. They are scaling back right now, as Senator Durbin said, at a time when we need jobs. North Carolina has 41,000 jobs that cannot be filled. Nevada has 4,000 jobs, Maryland has 4,000, and Michigan has 3,500. I see the great Senator from Rhode Island here. We got word from his director, Mike Lewis, from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, that there are job delays, and it looks as if 1,000 jobs will not be filled. In West Virginia, 1,200 jobs will not be filled. We are in trouble. You know what, it is like taking a hammer and hitting your head: Why do they do it? They don't have to. They don't have to do this. They are wreaking havoc on the Nation with this extension. And Chairman Mica said today: This must be the last extension. Fine. It should not even be an extension. They should take up and pass the Senate bill. How many bills do we have that have 74 votes in favor? And if Senator Lautenberg had not been at a funeral, it would have been 75. Three-quarters of this Senate came together around this bill. So the House is wreaking havoc on the Nation. Right now, you could fill 14 Super Bowl stadiums with unemployed construction workers--1.4 million. And why are they doing it? Because they don't want to deal in any way with the Democrats. Senator Inhofe and I were so thrilled to work together. I see the senior Senator from Alaska who helped us draft our bill with Senator Begich. They crossed party lines. We have a great bill. Is it perfect? Of course not. Is it strong? Yes. Is it paid for? Yes. Will it protect 1.9 million jobs and create an additional million? Yes. That is great news. But the House has decided--the only people in America not to get this is the House of Representatives over there, the Republicans. I see my colleague here, and I am glad to yield for him.

Mrs. BOXER. Well, the question is very important. This is the worst possible time because now, if you can't enter into new contracts, you lose the building season. And it is particularly brutal right now on the businesses and on the workers. Let me be clear. This is a 90-day extension without any hopes of them finishing their work. They didn't say that in the 90 days, they would get the job done, get to conference, and get the bill to the President; they are just saying 90 days with no commitment to go to conference. I will come back and we will attempt to attach the Senate bill to the extension. Madam President, I hope you will have the opportunity to work on that with me because our States are counting on us, and we have to be strong and we have to keep fighting for one simple premise: that the House should have the right to vote on the Senate-passed bill. I am very proud to be here. I will be here this afternoon as long as it takes. I say to my friend from Rhode Island, I hope he can be there, as well as my friend from Illinois. As soon as we get their extension, which makes no commitment to go to conference, we are going to try to attach the Senate bill to the extension and send it into conference, and I hope my friends will be here to help me with that. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Reserving the right to object.

Mrs. BOXER. There are several of us who reserve our right to object. What the House has done is guaranteed job losses for this country. They are already dithering on the Senate bill. Their not taking it up for a vote has cost us about 100,000 jobs. Thousands of businesses are at stake, and eventually we are talking about 3 million jobs at stake. The fact that they would do this without any commitment to get to conference, without any commitment to finish their job and run off on vacation is the reason I am reserving the right to object. I ask that the unanimous consent request be modified so an amendment, which is at the desk, the text of S. 1813, the surface transportation bill, passed by the Senate on March 14, 2012, by a large bipartisan majority vote of 74 to 22, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I know my colleague Senator Collins is waiting to speak. I will be very brief. Let's be clear what just happened. What just happened is the House sent us a 90-day extension of our transportation programs with not one dime of revenue in there to fund those, and the highway trust fund is on the road to bankruptcy. So they are the first in my memory--the first legislative body in the Capitol--to ever extend for this period of time without a dollar, which means an acceleration of bankruptcy of the trust fund. What else did they do? They just guaranteed 100,000 people are not going to get their jobs, and they guaranteed hundreds of businesses are not going to get jobs. They sent out a signal that America should be ready for hardship because they didn't even have the decency to put in that extension a written commitment to produce a bill, to get to conference with us, and to get a bill to the President. No, they run off on their vacation and leave people twisting in the wind. Well, I want it to be known I am one of the chairs who worked on the bill. There are many other people who were fantastic on this bill from both sides of the aisle. I know--I spoke to Senator Inhofe today about this--we want this bill done. I am going to use every tool at my disposal as one Senator to keep the pressure on the Republican House. Speaker Boehner: You are not Speaker of the Republicans, you are Speaker of the House. Reach your hand across the aisle, as Senator Inhofe reached across the aisle to me and I reached across to him; and Jay Rockefeller reached across to Senator Hutchison and she reached across; and Tim Johnson reached across to Shelby and he reached across; and Max Baucus had an array of Republicans work with him in the Finance Committee. We know we can do this. But what the House has done is send a very clear message of job loss and hardship. It is unacceptable. I look forward to working on this every single day. Now we have 90 days. Tomorrow it will be 89, and then 88. We are going to count down, and we are going to keep the pressure on, and we are not going to let this transportation program go up in smoke because it has been in place since Dwight Eisenhower was President. It is a sad day for America today, a very sad day. But we will never give up over here, and James Inhofe isn't going to give up, and we are going to fight hard to get a bill.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United Farm Workers of America, the Nation's largest farmworkers union. In 1962, Cesar Chavez, the preeminent figure in the movement for farm laborers' rights in the 20th century, founded the National Farm Works Association, which later became the United Farm Workers, UFW. Mr. Chavez's steely determination and use of nonviolent protest tactics in the Delano grape strike of 1965 1970; the fasts of 1968, 1972, and 1988; and numerous other strikes around the Nation became an organizing model and inspiration for the labor movement. Driven by its core values of integrity, innovation, empowerment, nonviolence and ``Si Se Puede'' attitude, the UFW has worked valiantly and tirelessly over the past half century to achieve a number of historic gains for farmworkers. The vigorous advocacy of the UFW has enabled farmworkers to secure higher wages and safer working conditions, reduced exposure to the use of harmful and toxic pesticides, and equality and opportunities for their families. Today, the UFW remains an ardent protector and advocate for the rights and interests of farmworkers in 10 States. The union's proud legacy of social justice and civil rights is alive and thriving. The story of the first 50 years of the United Farm Workers is a testament to the value of perseverance and social justice. I applaud the indefatigable commitment of all UFW members, past and present, to bring justice and equality to farmworkers and to future generations. As the members and friends of the United Farm Workers gather to celebrate this auspicious occasion, I congratulate them on their 50th anniversary and wish everyone a memorable anniversary and continued success.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. What is the parliamentary situation at this time?