Barbara Boxer

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, just in conclusion, did the Senator from Iowa and I have word from the Senator from Michigan that during conference negotiations with the House of Representatives regarding this bill, he will work to ensure that contractor employees are covered by a reasonable limit so taxpayers are not on the hook for excessive salary reimbursements?

Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Chairman.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of James ``Jim'' Capoot, a dedicated husband, proud father, loving son, devoted friend, and respected colleague. Officer Capoot lost his life in the line of duty while serving the Vallejo Police Department on November 17, 2011. He was 45 years old. Jim Capoot was originally from Little Rock, AR and served in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a California highway patrol officer before joining the Vallejo Police Department in 1992. Officer Capoot was a highly decorated officer having received the Vallejo Police Department Officer of the Year Award, the Medal of Merit, the Life Saving Medal, and twice awarded the Medal of Courage. In addition to his work with the police department, Officer Capoot was the volunteer coach of the Vallejo High School girls' basketball team and led the team to a section championship in 2010. Officer Jim Capoot, like all those who serve in law enforcement across California, put his life on the line to protect his community. I extend my deepest condolences to his loving wife Jessica and three daughters. My thoughts and prayers are with them. We are forever indebted to him for his courage, service, and sacrifice.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to honor Harry Pachon, one of our Nation's most dedicated scholars and civil rights leaders, who passed away on November 4, 2011. Harry Pachon was born to immigrant parents in Miami, FL, in 1945 and spent part of his childhood in Colombia. He returned to the United States, where he completed high school in Montebello, CA, and earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in government from Claremont Graduate University. Mr. Pachon dedicated his life to public service and fought tirelessly to elevate the role of the Latino community in politics. After serving as the chief of staff for Los Angeles Representative Edward R. Roybal, Harry became a founding board member and executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Beginning in 1993, Mr. Pachon became the president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute in California. Under his leadership, the institute conducted groundbreaking research on key issues facing the Latino community, including immigration, education, and political participation, and brought national attention to the needs of Latinos. In 2003, the institute moved to the University of Southern California, where Harry was a beloved and respected professor of public policy. I invite all of my colleagues to join me in honoring Harry Pachon and extending our deepest condolences to his wife Barbara; his children, Marc, Melissa, Nicholas, and Andrew; and his four grandchildren. He will be deeply missed.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 33 servicemembers from California or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since July 5, 2011. This brings to 309 the number of servicemembers either from California or based in California who have been killed while serving our country in Afghanistan. This represents 17 percent of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan. SSG Nicanor Amper IV, 36, of San Jose, CA, died July 5 in Khowst, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. Staff Sergeant Amper was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, KY. LCpl Norberto Mendez Hernandez, 22, of Logan, UT, died July 10 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Mendez Hernandez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. LCpl Christopher L. Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, HI, died July 15 of wounds suffered July 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Camero was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA. SSG James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, CA, died July 19 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant Christen was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. SGT William B. Gross Paniagua, 28, of Daly City, CA, died July 31 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Sergeant Gross Paniagua was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. SSgt Leon H. Lucas Jr., 32, of Wilson, NC, died August 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Lucas was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA. SPC Jinsu Lee, 34, of Chatsworth, CA, died August 5 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Specialist Lee was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. SSgt Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, CA, died August 6 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Staff Sergeant Harvell was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, NC. PO1 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, CA, died August 6 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Petty Officer Pittman was assigned to a west coast- based Naval Special Warfare Unit. PO1 (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, CA, died August 6 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Petty Officer Benson was assigned to an east coast- based Naval Special Warfare Unit. MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, CA, died August 6 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Master Chief Petty Officer Langlais was assigned to an east coast-based Naval Special Warfare Unit. Sgt Adan Gonzales Jr., 28, of Bakersfield, CA, died August 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Gonzales was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. Sgt Joshua J. Robinson, 29, of Omaha, NE, died August 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Robinson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. PFC Rueben J. Lopez, 27, of Williams, CA, died August 11 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Private First Class Lopez was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. SPC Kevin R. Shumaker, 24, of Livermore, CA, died August 31 in a stateside hospital of a noncombat related illness. Specialist Shumaker was assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. SPC Koran P. Contreras, 21, of Lawndale, CA, died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device September 8 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Specialist Contreras was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. SPC Douglas J. Jeffries Jr., 20, of Springville, CA, died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device September 8 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Specialist Jeffries was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. SSG Daniel A. Quintana, 30, of Huntington Park, CA, died September 10 in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Quintana was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Schweinfurt, Germany. Cpl Michael J. Dutcher, 22, of Asheville, NC, died September 15 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal Dutcher was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. PFC Carlos A. Aparicio, 19, of San Bernadino, CA, died September 23 in Wardak, Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Private First Class Aparicio was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, LA. SGT Tyler N. Holtz, 22, of Dana Point, CA, died September 24 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Sergeant Holtz was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. SPC Garrett A. Fant, 21, of American Canyon, CA, died September 26 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Specialist Fant was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS. SSgt Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, MI, died September 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Sprovtsoff was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, CA. Sgt Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, NM, died September 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Diaz was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA. LCpl Benjamin W. Schmidt, 24, of San Antonio, TX, died October 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Schmidt was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. SPC Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, of Salinas, CA, died October 8 in Logar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Specialist Cerros was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. CW3 James B. Wilke, 38, of Ione, CA died October 10, in Doha, Qatar. Chief Warrant Officer Wilke was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, TX. SFC Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, of San Diego, CA, died October 22, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Sergeant First Class Domeij was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. LCpl Jordan S. Bastean, 19, of Pekin, IL, died October 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Bastean was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA. LCpl Jason N. Barfield, 22, of Ashford, AL, died October 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Barfield was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA. SSgt Stephen J. Dunning, 31, of Milpitas, CA, died October 27 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Dunning was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. SGT Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, died October 29, in Kabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Sergeant Eugenio was assigned to 756th Transportation Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, Van Nuys, CA. LCpl Nickolas A. Daniels, 25, of Elmwood Park, IL, died November 5 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Daniels was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA. I would also like to pay tribute to the one servicemember from California who has died while serving our country in Iraq since July 5, 2011. This brings to 892 the number of servicemembers either from California or based in California who have been killed while serving our country in Iraq. This represents 20 percent of all U.S. deaths in Iraq. PFC Steven F. Shapiro, 29, of Hidden Valley Lake, CA, died October 21 in Tallil, Iraq. Private First Class Shapiro was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families during Military Family Month 2011. Each November marks Military Family Month. This is an important time for Americans to recognize and honor the commitment and sacrifices of our extraordinary military families. And it is a time to express our gratitude. We know that when a servicemember puts on a uniform, the entire family sacrifices for our country. Military families endure frequent moves, long separations, interruptions in careers and education, and the anxiety that comes with having a loved one in harm's way. They face these unique challenges with grace and courage. We also know that the security of our Nation and the readiness of our military are inextricably linked to the strength of our military families. Not only do these families support our brave men and women in uniform, they come together to support each other and generously dedicate their time to make a difference in their communities. As cochair of the Senate Military Family Caucus, I am deeply grateful to these incredible men, women and children for their strength and their sacrifice. Their selfless service to their communities and our Nation is an example for us all. President Obama eloquently stated in proclaiming Military Family Month 2011 that ``With every step we take on American soil, we tread on ground made safer for us through the invaluable sacrifices of our servicemembers and their families.'' While we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude we owe our military families, we can do everything possible to lessen their burden and provide for their needs. I encourage all Americans to take time this month and all year round to recognize and honor our military families for the countless contributions they make each and every day for our great Nation.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, would the Chair let me know when I have used 5 minutes, and then I am going to yield to Senator Reed for up to 8 minutes.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to be clear about this. If the Paul resolution passes--which I don't think it will, it is so extreme-- people in 38 States, 248 million people, will be adversely impacted with filthy, dirty air. In the Senator's own State of Kentucky, the prediction is, based on science, that between 530 people and 1,400 people will succumb to premature death. So we are not talking about some political argument. We are talking about the very life and death of the people we represent. I wish to thank Senators Durbin, Whitehouse, Lautenberg, Shaheen, and Ayotte for already speaking out on the floor against the Paul resolution. I hope we will have a big vote because we are dealing with the health of the people, with the health of the children, with the ability of people to work--because if we cannot breathe, we cannot work--and we are dealing with jobs, many jobs, over 1 million jobs that are created as a result of clean technology. Senator Paul insulted the people of America. There was a poll just taken last month where 67 percent of voters support the cross-state air pollution rule. That is 85 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Independents, and 48 percent of Republicans. Are they extremists? No. They are mainstream. Are the groups who support this rule extremists? I think the Senator owes an apology to the American Lung Association for making it sound as if they are for air pollution rules because they are getting some kind of payoff. It is an outrage, a complete outrage. Does he think the National Association of County Health Officials is extremist? He said the American Lung Association. He already attacked them. How about the American Nurses Association, does he think they are extremists? Does he think President Richard Nixon was an extremist when he signed the Clean Air Act and he said: ``Clean air, clean water, open spaces--these should once again be the birthright of every American.'' Does he think Richard Nixon was an extremist? Let's talk about what he wants to do. He wants to repeal a very important rule that is going to clean up the air, that is going to reduce toxic poison soot and smog-forming air pollution that impacts air quality for over 240 million people. Let me say this. I know all 100 of us in this Chamber would condemn it if somebody took all their garbage and put it on the lawn of the next-door neighbor. That is what this cross-air pollution rule is about. It is about States that don't crack down on pollution. They have smokestacks that blow the pollution into other States and they say: Isn't it wonderful? We don't have any problem here; it is your problem. When I made this analogy, Senator Carper corrected me. He said: The Senator is right. It is a good analogy as far as it goes, but garbage is not usually poison. I will amend my analogy to say this: If we knew that someone had garbage that included poison and they took that garbage that included poison and put it on someone else's front lawn, that would be a terrible thing to do, and it would be the moral responsibility of that party to clean it up and not do it again. That is what this rule is about. I wish to talk about specifics rather than be vague. This rule that Senator Paul seeks to cancel and repeal prevents up to 34,000 cases of premature death, 19,000 emergency room and hospital visits, 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma attacks, and 1.8 million lost work and schooldays. It is estimated to provide up to $280 billion in annual benefits by 2014. So all this flailing around of arms and calling people extremists simply cannot erase the fact that what Senator Paul is doing is extreme and is hurtful to our people. How many people feel good when they look at a child such as this who is desperately seeking air? Here is the exhaler, this plant, and here is her inhaler. Exhale from these dirty plants and inhale clean air. It reminds me of a story I just read in the New York Times that talks about China.

Mrs. BOXER. I ask unanimous consent for 1 minute, and then I will yield 8 minutes to Senator Reed.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, if my colleague would withhold for just 50 seconds.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, how much time remains on each side?

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, we have heard the same theme over and over from our Republican friends: We need time, give us time. The EPA is rushing this. Well, how much time do they need to fix a problem that is forcing children to put on these inhalers? How much time do they need to enforce a rule that is keeping people from dying prematurely; that is keeping them from getting heart attacks? Here is the deal. In 1997, several States went to the EPA and said: Something is really wrong. We have kids like this gasping for air, and the air pollution isn't coming from our State. It is coming from the States to the west of us. Now, I want to make it clear that my State of California doesn't have a dog in this fight. We are not involved in this. We don't pollute. We don't have a lot of coal-powered plants. And we are in the far west. Frankly, having that ocean along our State helps us. We have plenty of air pollution, but we are not getting it from another State to our west. So I stand here speaking, frankly, as a Senator who cares about clean air, who cares about the public health, and who also sees this as a moral issue. I have said this every way I can say it. It is immoral to take poison and put it on someone else's front yard. It is immoral to walk away from your responsibility, particularly if you have a truck to put it in and take it away. Well, we have the technology to make cleaner utilities, to make cleaner power. And as my friend Tom Carper so eloquently stated, clean tech creates jobs. We have the technology. We have the ability to create jobs cleaning up the environment. We have an ability to make sure fewer children, such as this beautiful child, don't have to resort to inhalers if we clean up our powerplants, and we have the ability to do that. The other side is crying, We need time. That is all we need, we need time. Well, I think 14 years is enough time. Then in 2005, the courts said again how important it was to do this. So they knew about this in 1997, they knew about it in 2005, and now they are crying bitter tears and they want to continue to dump poison in States next door. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the Republican Party's desire to repeal important health and safety regulations. The American people do not agree with it. Let me show you a poll that was taken last month in terms of where people stand. This cross-State air pollution rule is very popular with the people of this country because they see very clearly. I think when we were kids our moms always said, clean up your room. You know, you owe it to the rest of the family, clean up your room. Polluters have to clean up their room. Polluters can't pollute at will and, as Senator Carper said, build these big smokestacks and blow that pollution over to, in this case, 38 other States and hurt the people in those States. That is not the American way. What Senator Paul is doing is the height of irresponsibility. I want to put back the picture of that child again. How is it responsible to allow the pollution to go on and on and on when you have the technology developed to stop it, and when it is moving out of your State and going to another State and harming children?

Mrs. BOXER. I would be happy to yield.

Mrs. BOXER. It would.

Mrs. BOXER. In China, the leaders there are arrogant and they are elitists and they surround themselves with air purifiers in their offices, in their homes, in the great hall of the people where they work, which is opulent, but the rest of the people in China have to breathe filthy, dirty air. In a recent trip there, our group did not see the sun for 7 days. ``Chinese leaders are largely insulated from Beijing's famously foul air.'' That is the story in the Times. ``The privileges of China's elites include purified air.'' Well, I don't think anybody ought to be able to insulate themselves from the quality of the air. We have to clean up the air for everybody, not just an elite few. So I think Senator Paul's resolution under the CRA should be soundly defeated. At this time, I yield 8 minutes to Senator Jack Reed.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to address that, if I could for a moment, for the benefit of Senator Coats. I was going to speak for a much longer block, but I didn't. I yielded the time to Senator Reed, and I retain the time I have. So I only did it because he was trapped in a hearing. But it is up to the Senators, however they want to proceed.

Mrs. BOXER. I am happy to do that. I will retain my time and yield to the Senator from Indiana.

Mrs. BOXER. I am retaining my time.

Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Senator. I would like to make a quick point before my colleague, Senator Sessions, leaves the floor. I want to first of all thank the Senator very much for working with us in the EPW Committee. As I said to the Senator privately, in our committee, when it comes to infrastructure, we are all very closely tied, and we support each other. When it comes to the environment, we see things differently. I want to say to my friend who is very wise in many ways, I do not know why he would question--he has a total right to question the EPA's assertion--that if we pass the Rand Paul repeal, it would result in 34,000 premature deaths. I want to point out he is not a cardiovascular specialist or a lung specialist. Neither am I. But I think it is important to rely on those who are, such as the American Association of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehab, the American Association of Respiratory Care, the College of Preventive Medicine, the Lung Association, the Nurses Association, and I will not go on because I only have 1 minute. But I will list these. I would hope we would look to these groups because I do not know of anyone in this body who is a specialist in cardiovascular or lung conditions. And these groups oppose the Paul resolution because they think people will get ill and they will die prematurely. I yield 8 minutes to Senator Alexander.

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Menendez go for 5 minutes and Senator Blunt for 10 minutes following that.

Mrs. BOXER. How much time remains on the Republican side and on this side?

Mrs. BOXER. Thank you. I will use some time on our side until we have another speaker, which will probably about be 5 minutes. I know Senator Reid will want to have the floor. Mr. President, this is a very important vote that is coming up. I wish to put into perspective what we are talking about. In 1997--by my calculation, that is 14 years ago--several States went to the EPA and said their people were suffering because certain States were producing horrible pollution--toxic, dirty pollution--and it was floating right over to their States and then their States had to face the impact of that pollution, which was causing asthma attacks, heart attacks, cardiovascular problems, all sorts of problems and that their State, the recipient of the dirty air, was then expected to clean it up. I liken that to this: If you had toxic garbage in your house and went and dumped it on your neighbor's front lawn and said now it is your problem. That is not what we believe in America. We believe in responsibility. But the Paul amendment would say, no, we cannot ask those States that are producing pollution that is floating to other States and harming their people to do anything about it. That is what this rule is about. It is the cross-State air pollution rule. The pollution goes across one State into another. I believe 38 States would be adversely impacted if the Paul resolution were to pass. Let's look at this. I am not just being rhetorical. The scientists have looked at this. They said that if the Paul amendment were to pass and we repeal this cross-State air pollution rule and States could feel very fine about dumping their pollution in another State, there would be 34,000 cases of premature death, there would be 19,000 emergency room and hospital visits, 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma attacks, and 1.8 million lost work and schooldays, and we would lose up to $280 billion in annual benefits by 2014. So anyone who stands in this Chamber and tells us that by voting for the Paul resolution we are helping people, don't fall for it. It is wrong. If anyone comes to this floor and says: Oh, this is about jobs, it is wrong--because if we cannot breathe, we cannot work. Lost days at work are an economic burden. If we turn the clock back, all this great clean-tech economy we have, which is exported to the rest of the world--and it is huge; it employs more than 1 million people--we hurt those jobs. So the Paul resolution, which would cancel out a very important protective air pollution rule that helps our people--that resolution is one of the worst things to come before this Senate. Let me tell you who backs me on this: The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab, the American Association of Respiratory Care, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Lung Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association, the American Thoracic Society, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the National Association of Medical Direction of Respiratory Care, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the National Home Oxygen Patients Association--which sees people gasping for air. Have you ever seen a child gasp for air? It is something you don't forget. I will show a photo of a beautiful child who is forced to wear one of these inhalers too often because she cannot breathe. We hear lots of things: Oh, we need more time for this. How about the polluters knew about this since 1997? How about since 2005, when they learned the Bush administration rule was too weak--how about that? I see Senator Carper. Since we are going back and forth, this would be a good time for Senator Lee to speak. How much time is Senator Lee going to need?

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 5 minutes for Senator Lee, followed by 8 minutes for Senator Carper.

Mrs. BOXER. I will respond on my time; the Senator can respond on his. Let me tell you something. As far as I know, we do not have one person in this Senate who is a physician with a degree in lung specialty, thoracic specialty, cardiovascular specialty; therefore, we need to look to those people. You are right. When you go to the hospital and talk to physicians, they will tell you about children dying in their arms. I have seen that testimony, I have heard it in front of our committee. The fact is, this rule will prevent 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma attacks and 1.8 million lost work and school days. This is factual. I want to say that hearing people come on this floor questioning whether there is an association between soot in the air and asthma attacks, frankly, is to me unimaginable. And we have all of the health organizations that disagree with Senator Paul on that.

Mrs. BOXER. Absolutely. I don't know of any medical groups that support the Paul resolution. But I do have in my hand a letter signed by many groups, which I wish to quote from. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record this important letter Senator Durbin is speaking of.