John Barrasso

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes today to discuss the issue of giving legal government documents to people who are in the United States illegally. There is no question our immigration process is broken. People who attempt to enter the United States legally--to work, to join their families--well, they often face bureaucratic redtape and incredible delays. Legal entry into the United States has become more difficult as a result of the events of September 11, 2001. There is no question that should be the case. Unfortunately, illegal entry remains a significant problem. It is estimated that between 13 million and 20 million people are illegally in the United States. The fact that the estimates are so far apart should in and of itself give us all cause for concern. What should also give us concern is that there are efforts in the United States today to provide driver's licenses to those in this country illegally. I believe such efforts are inappropriate and are a serious threat to our national security. There is no question that legally issuing driver's licenses or other government documents to people who are here illegally puts our entire Nation at risk. I am troubled by those who argue that we will be safer if we provide official government papers to those who have come to our country illegally. I believe this is the wrong path. It is the wrong path for us to take, and it is contrary to the lessons we should have learned from the events of September 11. To receive a driver's license, any State used to require proof that someone could drive and proof of identity through a legally issued government document. This was often done through a notarized birth certificate or a passport. Over time, criminals have found ways to forge these documents, and they made it easier for individuals to illegally acquire identification, such as a driver's license. Some of the 9/11 hijackers had acquired identification documents through forged papers. It should be a wake-up call to all of us. More must be done to prevent this from happening in the future. This past year, in the Wyoming State Senate, I worked with Representative Pete Illoway to pass legislation making it a crime to use false documents to conceal a person's identity, to conceal a person's citizenship, or to conceal their resident alien status in order to obtain public resources or public services. We specifically identified driver's licenses in the law in Wyoming because of the significance that document plays in allowing individuals to freely move about the country. The bill was passed by the legislature and was signed into law. The value of legally issued driver's licenses cannot be underestimated in maintaining our national security. In Wyoming, we get it. I, along with many people in America, cannot understand the arguments supporting the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. To me, giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants will compromise our national security. We have an immediate situation before us where illegal immigrants in certain parts of the country will be provided government documents that will allow them to freely travel all across our great Nation. It is inconceivable to me that this will make our Nation safer. The Federal Government has a responsibility to secure our borders and to secure the interior of the United States. Though that effort has come up short over the years, it does not mean we should throw up our hands and do nothing. I believe we must take action--aggressive action--to address this issue. Today, I am introducing a straightforward legislative proposal. It is S. 2334. It is a straightforward legislative proposal to deal with States that provide driver's licenses to those who are in our Nation illegally. Simply stated, my legislation would require States to verify lawful presence in the United States before granting a driver's license. States that refuse would lose a part of their Federal transportation funds, and those Federal transportation funds would then be redistributed to the States that do follow the law. I do not know if this is a perfect solution. I do know that issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants is wrong. Rewarding illegal immigrants--people who have broken into our country--with a driver's license is a flawed idea. It is an idea that deserves Congress's immediate attention. We cannot allow our country to go down this path. The time for action is today.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes today to discuss the issue of giving legal government documents to people who are in the United States illegally. There is no question our immigration process is broken. People who attempt to enter the United States legally--to work, to join their families--well, they often face bureaucratic redtape and incredible delays. Legal entry into the United States has become more difficult as a result of the events of September 11, 2001. There is no question that should be the case. Unfortunately, illegal entry remains a significant problem. It is estimated that between 13 million and 20 million people are illegally in the United States. The fact that the estimates are so far apart should in and of itself give us all cause for concern. What should also give us concern is that there are efforts in the United States today to provide driver's licenses to those in this country illegally. I believe such efforts are inappropriate and are a serious threat to our national security. There is no question that legally issuing driver's licenses or other government documents to people who are here illegally puts our entire Nation at risk. I am troubled by those who argue that we will be safer if we provide official government papers to those who have come to our country illegally. I believe this is the wrong path. It is the wrong path for us to take, and it is contrary to the lessons we should have learned from the events of September 11. To receive a driver's license, any State used to require proof that someone could drive and proof of identity through a legally issued government document. This was often done through a notarized birth certificate or a passport. Over time, criminals have found ways to forge these documents, and they made it easier for individuals to illegally acquire identification, such as a driver's license. Some of the 9/11 hijackers had acquired identification documents through forged papers. It should be a wake-up call to all of us. More must be done to prevent this from happening in the future. This past year, in the Wyoming State Senate, I worked with Representative Pete Illoway to pass legislation making it a crime to use false documents to conceal a person's identity, to conceal a person's citizenship, or to conceal their resident alien status in order to obtain public resources or public services. We specifically identified driver's licenses in the law in Wyoming because of the significance that document plays in allowing individuals to freely move about the country. The bill was passed by the legislature and was signed into law. The value of legally issued driver's licenses cannot be underestimated in maintaining our national security. In Wyoming, we get it. I, along with many people in America, cannot understand the arguments supporting the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. To me, giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants will compromise our national security. We have an immediate situation before us where illegal immigrants in certain parts of the country will be provided government documents that will allow them to freely travel all across our great Nation. It is inconceivable to me that this will make our Nation safer. The Federal Government has a responsibility to secure our borders and to secure the interior of the United States. Though that effort has come up short over the years, it does not mean we should throw up our hands and do nothing. I believe we must take action--aggressive action--to address this issue. Today, I am introducing a straightforward legislative proposal. It is S. 2334. It is a straightforward legislative proposal to deal with States that provide driver's licenses to those who are in our Nation illegally. Simply stated, my legislation would require States to verify lawful presence in the United States before granting a driver's license. States that refuse would lose a part of their Federal transportation funds, and those Federal transportation funds would then be redistributed to the States that do follow the law. I do not know if this is a perfect solution. I do know that issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants is wrong. Rewarding illegal immigrants--people who have broken into our country--with a driver's license is a flawed idea. It is an idea that deserves Congress's immediate attention. We cannot allow our country to go down this path. The time for action is today.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I wish to discuss an amendment today authorizing the Minor Use Animal Drug Program. This is a program which carries out valuable research at land-grant institutions across the country for veterinary pharmaceutical research, such as research being done right now at the University of Wyoming. This program is currently being administered by the USDA in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration. It is identified as National Research Project No. 7. It is called NRSP-7. Minor species industries nationwide represent about $1.5 billion in State and local farm revenues each year. Processing and export of minor species food and fiber projects represent an additional $4.5 billion in revenue each year. Now, individually, these minor species represent drug markets which are too small to cover the high cost of developing new veterinary drugs. As a result, few approved drugs are available to treat diseases in these minor animal species. The USDA established a national Minor Use Animal Drug Program in 1982. So over the last 25 years, this program has been used to facilitate research for the drug approval process. NRSP-7 offers an opportunity for producers of minor animal species, such as sheep, goats, fish, and honeybees, to have veterinary drugs approved for their use. This project is of particular importance to the American sheep industry and to the people in the State of Wyoming. The American sheep industry produces a superior product. Lamb is a delicacy around the world. In fact, our recent guest, the President of France, enjoyed an American lamb dinner when he dined at the White House on Tuesday evening. I have no doubt his meal was exquisite thanks to the American ranchers who prepared those animals for the plate. There are over 69,000 sheep producers in the United States. Those producers care for their animals and they produce valuable wool and lamb products for the country and the world. In Wyoming, 900 sheep producers care for close to a half million sheep. There are almost as many sheep in Wyoming as there are people, so it is almost a one-to-one ratio. Nationwide, the sheep industry may be considered minor. Drug companies may not see profit potential in the sheep industry based on the nationwide numbers. But in Wyoming, we see opportunity, opportunity in the sheep industry, and we see a pressing need for development of veterinary drugs to promote growth of the sheep industry. The industry is a big part of our heritage in Wyoming. Sheepherders have been incredible stewards of rangelands for more than a century. In Wyoming, we believe in a ranching way of life. We believe every man or woman who has the courage to work hard on the range can build a future for his or for her family, and they have. The sheep industry has supported that dream for thousands of people in Wyoming over the decades. Sheep ranchers take care of their animals, and their animals provide a valuable industry. Treating animals for injury or for disease is a major component of a successful ranching business. The Minor Use Animal Drug Program offers sheep ranchers the same opportunity as other livestock operators to maintain a healthy herd and healthy businesses. Having the right drugs to treat animal health problems is of great importance. New threats evolve each year and research carried out by the Minor Use Animal Drug Program helps keep the sheep industry up to date. To give a for-instance, NRSP's No. 7 research has led to approval of three drugs for respiratory diseases and two drugs for lung worms in sheep. Researchers are currently testing florfenicol for respiratory infections and a progesterone delivery method for breeding purposes. Without sheep-specific research produced for these drugs, producers are left to guess at adjusting the doses from what they use in cattle and other animals. This can lead to problems of antibiotic resistance and it raises questions about drug residues in meat products. NRSP-7 provides the right research on appropriate drugs for responsible uses so that sheep producers know they are getting the best treatment for their animals. The United States is far behind the rest of the world in vaccines, in reproductive aids, and in approved antibiotics for sheep and goats. NRSP-7 gives American sheep producers a fighting chance to keep up with the competition, and it is international competition. It is not only the sheep industry that benefits from NRSP-7. For the last 25 years, NRSP-7 has facilitated drug approvals for species as varied as pheasants, quail, bighorn sheep, catfish, goats, partridges, lobster, shrimp, and the list goes on. At a time in our country when questions about animal disease are running rampant--when we face threats from avian influenza, from brucellosis, and from West Nile virus--it is the role of good government to protect human safety and animal safety. Having well-researched and approved drugs at the ready to meet animal disease threats needs to be a priority for our Nation. NRSP-7 provides an opportunity for Government to create a level playing field for all agriculture sectors. Authorizing the Minor Use Animal Drug Program helps prepare us for the future and for the future of agriculture production. I hope my colleagues will support this effort, this amendment to authorize NRSP-7, the Minor Use Animal Drug Program. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Jack and Lola Bradley who will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their wedding during Thanksgiving week. On November 20, 1937, Jack Bradley and Lola Davis made a commitment to one another to become lifelong partners. True to their word, they have remained as husband and wife for 70 years. Jack met Lola in Cheyenne, WY, while they were students at Cheyenne High School. The story goes that it was love at first sight. The couple maintained their relationship while Jack went to the University of Wyoming and Lola finished up her high school education. They started their lives together by moving to Newcastle, WY, to run the family business, Manewal Bradley Refinery--and they remain active in the operation today. They raised three children: Linda, Jack and Lolly. Jack and Lola are respected members of the community. They've supported local charities, they donated land for a city park, and even allowed the use of their property for a community baseball diamond. Every candidate for public office in Wyoming knows Jack and Lola. They are the go-to people in Weston County. During campaign season, Jack and Lola continue to provide advice, support, and time to candidates at all levels of government. Through the challenges of running a business, raising a family, and serving their community, it was the undying love for each other that made such a strong relationship that it would last well into the 21st century. I am pleased to take this moment to express my congratulations to Jack and Lola and join with their family and friends in wishing them the very best in the years to come.

Mr. BARRASSO

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

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be allowed to speak as in morning business.

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise because today is Wyoming's day, literally. It is a long awaited day, a day that is special, a day that is as special as the mountain range that this day centers on, and as special as the State for which this mountain range is named. This is a day of which I am proud to be a part, joining with the strong majority of Wyoming people who want the legislation I am introducing. It is the Wyoming Range Legacy Act of 2007. Energy development is a proud part of Wyoming, and it is an important part of our Nation. But equal to that energy heritage is tourism and recreation--also a proud part of Wyoming and an important part of this Nation. Wyoming is special. Reflecting both aspects of our economy, our people want a special balance between two of our top industries: energy and tourism and recreation. Some of Wyoming's significant and important energy contributions to this great Nation encompass thousands of acres for our natural gas and energy fields. Meanwhile, independent and strong stands an isolated mountain range 100 miles long and 12,000 feet high. This range is named for our great State. It is that independent and wild mountain range-- the Wyoming Range--that I want to focus on today, and well into the future, for the best future for Wyoming and for our people. As leaders, there are things we do, defining actions, actions that go well beyond everyday issues. They surmount the daily noise and the disagreements, and they rise to the level of something else: It is to doing the right thing. Today goes beyond the average day for Wyoming. As I said, today is Wyoming's day. It is a great day because it is today that a bill is introduced that will keep this special place on the map for tourism, for recreation, and for sportsmen forever. We, as a State--the Governor and I--come together, cooperatively, to join in the memory of our dear friend Craig Thomas to finish his work, to keep and enhance the tourism, recreation, hunting, and sportsmen economy of the Wyoming Range, to preserve a key part of Wyoming's heritage. This legislation, this initiative Craig Thomas was ready to introduce the week he passed goes to the very heart and soul of the great State of Wyoming. Indeed, this is a place where the heart and the soul of Wyoming run free and run wild. This is 1.2 million acres for Wyoming tourism, sportsmen, and recreationists. This will mean that new, future leasing for oil and gas will be welcomed elsewhere in the State, and the Wyoming Range will remain in the recreational-based economy that now exists. For those leases that have already been issued, this legislation provides a process for groups or individuals who are focused on conservation to buy back the value of those leases under voluntary purchase, and then retire them forever. We all must recognize that the issued leases do have a value because they are now legal property. At the same time, we can encourage all at the table--leaders, conservationists, and the private sector--to work toward doing the right thing. That process is now appropriately outside of the legislation and is ongoing. For the recently issued leases that amount to some 44,000 acres, I have great confidence we will be able to work out creative solutions with respect on all sides. But let us look at the bigger picture in this bill, with emphasis on an important, central point: What was the last bold move for Wyoming tourism? I proudly say, 1.2 million acres for Wyoming tourism, for Wyoming sportsmen, and for Wyoming outfitters and guides--all of whom contribute millions to our economy. This is not a bill that ``locks up'' land. To the contrary, it is a bill for economic prosperity, for recreation, and for tourism. What we do in this important piece of legislation is to recognize an economic base and then enhance it. Let me repeat--because this is a very important point--we are taking the existing economic base and enhancing it in the Wyoming Range. The Wyoming Range is a recreational-based economic zone. Yes, there are symbolic reasons for this initiative. It is the Wyoming Range, after all. But there is hard math at the core of this legislation. Tourism and recreation in our Wyoming economy matters. And doing the right thing matters. It matters for future generations of Wyoming people who will someday hunt and fish and hike in these mountains. It is also a place where Wyoming's agricultural industry has thrived for years. With this legislation, grazing and Wyoming's cowboy heritage will continue to thrive. I want to read you something from 1961 that still applies very much today. It goes to the heart of maintaining proper balance and multiple use of our land: Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future, we--you and I, and our government--must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without asking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow. Those words were spoken by President Dwight Eisenhower in his final address as he left the Presidency. The children who were listening to his words back then are now grown and have grandchildren of their own. The Wyoming Range--the range named for our beloved State--has symbolic meaning, inherent values. It is the heart and the soul of a great State, a spiritual heritage, now a physical reality. Mr. President, today is Wyoming's day, for the Wyoming range, and for the people who love it.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise because today is Wyoming's day, literally. It is a long awaited day, a day that is special, a day that is as special as the mountain range that this day centers on, and as special as the State for which this mountain range is named. This is a day of which I am proud to be a part, joining with the strong majority of Wyoming people who want the legislation I am introducing. It is the Wyoming Range Legacy Act of 2007. Energy development is a proud part of Wyoming, and it is an important part of our Nation. But equal to that energy heritage is tourism and recreation--also a proud part of Wyoming and an important part of this Nation. Wyoming is special. Reflecting both aspects of our economy, our people want a special balance between two of our top industries: energy and tourism and recreation. Some of Wyoming's significant and important energy contributions to this great Nation encompass thousands of acres for our natural gas and energy fields. Meanwhile, independent and strong stands an isolated mountain range 100 miles long and 12,000 feet high. This range is named for our great State. It is that independent and wild mountain range-- the Wyoming Range--that I want to focus on today, and well into the future, for the best future for Wyoming and for our people. As leaders, there are things we do, defining actions, actions that go well beyond everyday issues. They surmount the daily noise and the disagreements, and they rise to the level of something else: It is to doing the right thing. Today goes beyond the average day for Wyoming. As I said, today is Wyoming's day. It is a great day because it is today that a bill is introduced that will keep this special place on the map for tourism, for recreation, and for sportsmen forever. We, as a State--the Governor and I--come together, cooperatively, to join in the memory of our dear friend Craig Thomas to finish his work, to keep and enhance the tourism, recreation, hunting, and sportsmen economy of the Wyoming Range, to preserve a key part of Wyoming's heritage. This legislation, this initiative Craig Thomas was ready to introduce the week he passed goes to the very heart and soul of the great State of Wyoming. Indeed, this is a place where the heart and the soul of Wyoming run free and run wild. This is 1.2 million acres for Wyoming tourism, sportsmen, and recreationists. This will mean that new, future leasing for oil and gas will be welcomed elsewhere in the State, and the Wyoming Range will remain in the recreational-based economy that now exists. For those leases that have already been issued, this legislation provides a process for groups or individuals who are focused on conservation to buy back the value of those leases under voluntary purchase, and then retire them forever. We all must recognize that the issued leases do have a value because they are now legal property. At the same time, we can encourage all at the table--leaders, conservationists, and the private sector--to work toward doing the right thing. That process is now appropriately outside of the legislation and is ongoing. For the recently issued leases that amount to some 44,000 acres, I have great confidence we will be able to work out creative solutions with respect on all sides. But let us look at the bigger picture in this bill, with emphasis on an important, central point: What was the last bold move for Wyoming tourism? I proudly say, 1.2 million acres for Wyoming tourism, for Wyoming sportsmen, and for Wyoming outfitters and guides--all of whom contribute millions to our economy. This is not a bill that ``locks up'' land. To the contrary, it is a bill for economic prosperity, for recreation, and for tourism. What we do in this important piece of legislation is to recognize an economic base and then enhance it. Let me repeat--because this is a very important point--we are taking the existing economic base and enhancing it in the Wyoming Range. The Wyoming Range is a recreational-based economic zone. Yes, there are symbolic reasons for this initiative. It is the Wyoming Range, after all. But there is hard math at the core of this legislation. Tourism and recreation in our Wyoming economy matters. And doing the right thing matters. It matters for future generations of Wyoming people who will someday hunt and fish and hike in these mountains. It is also a place where Wyoming's agricultural industry has thrived for years. With this legislation, grazing and Wyoming's cowboy heritage will continue to thrive. I want to read you something from 1961 that still applies very much today. It goes to the heart of maintaining proper balance and multiple use of our land: Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future, we--you and I, and our government--must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without asking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow. Those words were spoken by President Dwight Eisenhower in his final address as he left the Presidency. The children who were listening to his words back then are now grown and have grandchildren of their own. The Wyoming Range--the range named for our beloved State--has symbolic meaning, inherent values. It is the heart and the soul of a great State, a spiritual heritage, now a physical reality. Mr. President, today is Wyoming's day, for the Wyoming range, and for the people who love it.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, today I bring to the attention of this body and the Nation the remarkable service of Roy Scuderi. For over 18 years, Roy has served A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans with diligence, dedication and commitment. Roy has helped make Presidential Classroom the premiere civic education program for high school students in America. On October 5, 2007, Roy Scuderi will retire from his position as chief financial officer and vice president of this national nonprofit organization. In his role, Roy has established financial projections, overseen investments, negotiated contracts, and facilitated the annual audits--all of this done with professionalism and integrity. Roy Scuderi's commitment to Presidential Classroom's success and performance has inspired the well-deserved trust and affection of the board members and his colleagues. His judgment has improved every aspect of Presidential Classroom. Roy's daily efforts to ensure the program's quality and viability have sustained a record of unmatched dedication and achievement over the course of the organization's nearly 40-year history. I have had the personal honor and privilege as a board member, chairman of the board, and now as honorary board member of Presidential Classroom to work closely with Roy Scuderi throughout his entire career with Presidential Classroom. Presidential Classroom is stronger as a result of Roy's dedication and commitment to the classroom. Throughout his 18 years, the staff and board members of Presidential Classroom have relied on Roy Scuderi for his outstanding leadership and service. Today, we salute Roy Scuderi for the central role that he has played in helping Presidential Classroom fulfill its mission of inspiring and challenging the leaders of tomorrow to devote their talents and energies in the service of our constitutional government on behalf of a better nation and a better world.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to address this body and our Nation in my first official speech as Wyoming's newest Senator. Today I share with you how I got here, who I am, what I believe, my vision for the future, and what I hope to accomplish. All of us in this body and everyone in the State of Wyoming lost a great friend when we lost Senator Craig Thomas. I have heard it in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle and throughout this building, and I have heard it all around Wyoming: We have lost a great friend. Susan Thomas and the memory of Craig Thomas have been recognized all across Wyoming this summer at rodeos, county fairs, the State fair, parades, and at special events. The new visitors center at the Grand Teton National Park has appropriately been named in his honor. Craig was a forceful and courageous voice for his constituents. He always did what he saw as right for Wyoming and right for America. He was a cowboy and a marine. The Marines say ``Semper fidelis.'' Craig Thomas was always faithful. God, country, and Wyoming--that was Craig Thomas. He has left huge boots to fill. No one can truly do it. I am very honored to be the person to succeed Senator Thomas. I am humbled to be given the opportunity and the responsibility to represent the people of Wyoming in the U.S. Senate. Wyoming is the Equality State. It is a State of high altitude and low multitude and a State of great natural beauty blessed with remarkable mineral resources. The law in Wyoming says a Senate vacancy must be filled by the Governor from a list of three names. The three names are supplied by the central committee of the political party where the vacancy occurred. Thirty-one Republicans in Wyoming applied for this Senate seat. The number was then reduced to 10, and then 5, and then 3 by a series of speeches and forums. The Governor then made his selection from the three finalists. I am very grateful to Gov. Dave Freudenthal for the confidence he and the people of Wyoming have placed in me. During the selection process, I made a simple pledge to the people of Wyoming: I told them they could count on me to show up, to stand up, to speak up, and then to shut up. I would show up early for work and be here for votes. I would show up at home in Wyoming on weekends to listen to people and to host a town meeting in every county by Labor Day and to show up when people from Wyoming visit the Capitol. As Craig Thomas did, I will only work in Washington but continue to live in Wyoming. I will stand up--stand up for Wyoming people and Wyoming values, stand up against big government and Washington's one-size-fits-all approach, stand up against those who try to take away the rights of Wyoming people. And I will speak up--speak up for limited government, lower taxes, and fewer regulations, speak up for a strong defense and secure borders, and speak up to make Wyoming values the values for all of America. And then I will shut up. That is because words are no substitute for action, and the most important thing a Senator can do is listen to Wyoming people, their hopes, their dreams, their concerns for themselves, their children, their families, their communities, and for all of Wyoming, and because the best things about Wyoming and America don't need long speeches but are expressed in single words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, compassion, hope, opportunity, life, and liberty. I have kept my pledge to visit every county in Wyoming before Labor Day and listen to people. I have held 30 town meetings and heard from thousands of people. Many brought their children. I have heard about their hopes for their families, their communities, Wyoming, and our Nation. And I have heard about their dreams for our future. Parents in Wyoming want what all parents want for their children: the opportunity for a better life. It is what all of our parents wanted for us. My dad had to quit school in ninth grade because of the Depression. He fought in World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge. As a cement finisher, he did backbreaking work to put food on the table for the family. That is where I really learned about hard work, by pushing wheelbarrows of heavy, wet cement every summer in high school and college. Every day growing up, my dad would say: You should thank God every day you live in America. You don't know how fortunate you are. It is the same lesson I try to pass on to my children Peter and Emma, because in America, through hard work, even the son of a cement finisher can have the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Senate. My dad would have been 90 when I was sworn in. We lost him 2 years ago. I had his dog tags from World War II in my pocket when I took the oath of office. Now, my mom's lesson was different. Since the day I started kindergarten, my mom would always say: This year, this one right now, is the most important year of your life. What she was saying is that whatever you are doing, focus on it, do it right because the future depends on what you are doing today. In the Senate, I want to spend this next year, this most important year, working for a better future for our families--the families of Wyoming and the families of America. In Wyoming, many people refer to me as Wyoming's doctor. For over two decades, folks have invited me into their homes with statewide television and radio health reports. I give people information on how to stay healthy and how to keep down the cost of their medical care. I end each report by saying: ``Here in Wyoming, I am Dr. John Barrasso, helping you care for yourself.'' That is also my philosophy for Government--helping people help themselves. I believe there is a role for Government, but that role must be limited. Government should not do for people what they can and should do for themselves. Nor should Government put obstacles in the way of people pursuing their American dream. Limited Government means limited in size, limited in scope, and limited in spending--limited but effective. That means a government that gives us value for our tax dollars. Speaking of values, to me that means families, schools, communities, and charities. I believe, as Ronald Reagan believed, we should rely more on ourselves and less on our Government. That is why I will champion legislation to cut wasteful spending and to make sure taxpayers get value for their money. Now, some may wonder why and how an orthopedic surgeon became interested in serving his community in elective office. As a high school senior, I attended a program right here on Capitol Hill. The program is called A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. It is the Nation's premier program in civic education. Both of my children have attended. This past year, 50 Wyoming students attended on scholarships. I would enthusiastically recommend A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans to any high school student. I have been privileged to serve in the Wyoming State legislature. It is a true citizen's legislature. Through the years, it has been a great training ground for the folks Wyoming sends to Washington. During my two terms in the Wyoming State Senate, I built a reputation for getting the job done by working with members of both parties. That includes being a strong advocate for our veterans and members of the National Guard, working to keep our roads safer for young drivers, and reducing the tax burden on all the people of Wyoming by eliminating the sales tax from groceries. I was one of the original sponsors of the Hathaway scholarship program. The Hathaway scholarship is designed to give opportunity for all Wyoming high school students to further their education at the University of Wyoming or one of our community colleges. It is a way we used our State's mineral wealth to invest in our people and in our future. The original bill was introduced by four State senators, two Republicans and two Democrats. Members of the senate and members of the house improved the bill considerably. The bill was signed by Governor Freudenthal, a Democrat, and named for former Governor Hathaway, a Republican. It is a great example of members of both parties working together to improve the quality of life for our citizens. Now, as a Senator, I will continue to work with all people, regardless of party, on issues that are important to the people of Wyoming. As one of only two physicians in the Senate, people are already coming to me to ask about health issues. Well, health issues go way beyond a twisted knee or a painful shoulder. The concerns include those of people living longer and needing care; the concerns of access to care, of affordable care; the concerns of substance abuse and mental health; and the concerns of what to do with a sick child or elderly parents when the caregivers are not available because they are working full time, and sometimes more. This country deserves a serious discussion on our health care needs and our health care system. I will be actively engaged in that discussion, along with my Wyoming Senate partner, Mike Enzi. Craig Thomas knew that rural States such as Wyoming have special needs when it comes to health care. He was cochair of the Rural Health Caucus for over 10 years. There are obstacles that our hospitals and providers must overcome to deliver quality care to families in an environment with limited resources. The week he passed away, Senator Thomas was set to reintroduce a followup health care bill, along with Senators Roberts, Conrad, and Harkin. This bill has been renamed the Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act. I will ask to cosponsor the legislation and to join the Rural Health Caucus. While health care is near and dear to my heart, I am very pleased to be serving on three committees that are critical to Wyoming. So much of Wyoming's heritage and Wyoming's future is tied to our land, our people, and our natural resources. Wyoming has been represented on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for over a century. I am grateful that my Republican colleagues recognized that long tradition and allowed me to keep Wyoming's voice on the committee. The Environment and Public Works Committee also has a major influence on daily activities in the Equality State, and the Select Committee on Indian Affairs will allow me to continue to serve the needs of our Native American citizens, as I have done before as a trauma surgeon. Energy, Public Lands, and the National Parks are all vital to our State's economy and our Nation's. I will work to make sure that public lands remain open to multiple use, while at the same time ensuring our environment is protected. As an outdoorsman and a conservationist, Craig Thomas worked on two bills affecting the western part of Wyoming that were very close to his heart. While he is not here to carry on the work, the work needs to continue as part of his legacy. One is called the Snake River Headwaters Legacy Act of 2007. The bill, S. 1281, designates sections of the Snake River and several tributaries as ``wild and scenic.'' This will create a lasting legacy for Wyoming people and for future generations. The designation of wild and scenic announces to the world that this river is the best of the best. The legislation he was working on also ensures that access, multiple use, and private property rights are not restricted. As a tribute to Senator Thomas, and in recognition of his years of leadership in the Senate, and specifically the Energy Committee, I will ask that my name be attached to S. 1281. I will work hard for passage of the bill that achieves Senator Thomas's vision, while balancing the concerns shared with me during August by private landowners and the agriculture community in Wyoming. The second bill affecting the western part of Wyoming deals with a very special area named the Wyoming range. The Wyoming range is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. As a strong supporter of multiple use, Senator Thomas still believed there are areas of our State that are so sensitive that they must be protected from development. In 2005, Senator Thomas said: We ought to seek a balance of energy development and conservation. We can have both. Wyoming's economy is thriving because of the positive role of energy in our State. And most folks live in Wyoming because of our outstanding natural resources and quality of life. A bill to protect the Wyoming range was in the final stages of development when Senator Thomas died. I had talked with him about it. I have his draft bills. I have visited the Wyoming range and listened to those whom the legislation affects. I am completing that work and will soon be introducing a bill in the Senate to protect the undeveloped areas of the Wyoming range from any future oil and gas leasing. My legislation is intended to achieve that goal while respecting private property rights that currently exist in the Wyoming range. When I think of the history of our great State, I am reminded of one rugged individualist who loved Wyoming--Teddy Roosevelt. We take our kids to Mt. Rushmore to see his face chiseled into the mountain, along with Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson. He gave a speech at the University of Wyoming about 100 years ago. There were 10,000 people in the crowd. Now, back then, that was a huge number for a sparsely populated State. He said: People of Wyoming, I believe in you and in your future. The government can only supplement the work of the individual. The work of the individual depends on the character of the individual. Here we are, 100 years later, and the lesson is still the same: The Government can only supplement the work of the individual. It is the same message Ronald Reagan delivered in Cheyenne, WY, 25 years ago. He talked of why he loved the frontier spirit of the West. He said: Wyoming is a place where people are still sure that the future is ours to shape. Still sure that the future is ours to shape. In Wyoming, we do believe the future is ours to shape. To shape the future, you need to have a vision for the future. I can see a specific future for Wyoming that helps all Americans. Imagine a future where America breaks its dependence on foreign energy. Imagine a future of affordable domestic sources of energy. Imagine a future where we solve the issue of carbon emission. And imagine a future where we can accomplish all of this while we protect the environment. That is the future I see for America, and that is the future I see for Wyoming. Wyoming is blessed with incredible resources--coal, natural gas, oil, and alternative sources of energy, with wind leading the list. The University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources is prepared to become the leading energy research institute in the world, converting coal to liquid, converting coal to gas, pumping carbon dioxide back into the earth to enhance our ability to get more oil. The world's most powerful computer is being assembled in Wyoming to help make this possible. We can and we will do it while preserving the natural beauty and the wildlife of our State. That is the future I see for Wyoming. As a Senator from Wyoming, I am always asking myself: What can I do today for Wyoming's future? I will tell you what I heard at 30 town meetings since I have been sworn in. What I heard is: Fight for Wyoming, fight every day, fight for our future, fight for quality education for our children, fight for quality jobs for our families, fight for health care, and fight for our core values--the values that come from within us, from our families, our communities, and how we were raised. That is what I plan to do every day because, like my mom's lesson, this is our most important year. Mr. President, I conclude by thanking the Members of the Senate who have all been so gracious in making me feel so welcome. I also want to tell you I feel very blessed. I am blessed with a wonderful team of Wyoming folks with whom I serve--Vice President Cheney, Senator Enzi, and Representative Cubin. I am blessed with a wonderful staff, who served with Senator Thomas. And I am blessed with a wonderful family-- my children Peter and Emma--and the love of my life, Bobbi Brown, and her daughter Hadley. Bobbi is a breast cancer survivor. She is a remarkable person. At last month's Race for the Cure in Wyoming, we announced our engagement. I joked with the crowd that I believed if I ever made anything out of myself I would ask Bobbi to marry me. The newspaper headline told the story: ``Barrasso proposes--Brown says yes.'' And I am very grateful. There is a passage in the Bible, a letter from Paul to Timothy, which says: In the end, he fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith. As I enter the Senate, it is my goal to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to keep the faith--faith in God, faith in my family, faith in Wyoming, and faith in America. With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Thank you, Madam President. Today, I rise to speak about health care for children. We are talking about the SCHIP program, and I come to the floor with great interest because the ``S'' in SCHIP stands for State, and the ``C'' stands for children. For the last 5 years, I spent time in the Wyoming Legislature on the Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee, where we worked closely on the issue of children's health, and specifically worked closely with SCHIP. I have been a fan and a supporter of children's health, and specifically of SCHIP. In Wyoming, SCHIP has been a very successful program. In Wyoming, right now, there are over 5,000 young people who are in this program. Madam President, 5,642 was our count in July. We call the program Kid Care. That is because kids can be born with club feet. Kids can fall at the playground. Kids can have problems with measles or mumps. Nationwide, this very successful program has covered over 6 million children. It is a good program. Some folks confuse SCHIP with Medicaid. They are very different. Medicaid is designed for people below the poverty level. SCHIP is for people above the poverty level, but in that income range of up to 200 percent of the Federal poverty level. For us, that is an income of about $40,000 a year for a family of four. In Wyoming, if you talk to anyone in the legislature, from both parties, they will tell you this program has been cost effective. It is not an entitlement. It is done through a combined partnership with Blue Cross-Blue Shield, a public-private partnership. It covers the people in Wyoming who are intended to be covered. Many Government programs do not work well or produce results. Yet SCHIP very successfully achieved what it set out to do about 10 years ago when the program began. We have significantly reduced the number of uninsured children in America. It has worked. That is why I want to be clear from the outset, as we go into this debate, I am 100 percent committed to reauthorizing this very important safety net program for kids. I strongly supported the program as a State senator. I will continue to do so in my capacity as a U.S. Senator. Madam President, 5,642 Wyoming children depend on SCHIP right now to stay healthy. There are additional young people in our State who are eligible for SCHIP but who are not yet enrolled. So I want to do more in terms of outreach, working on outreach and enrollment efforts to find these people, to target these low-income children, and get them enrolled in the program. I want to support and enhance public-private collaborations to make sure we are doing the most cost-effective, efficient, and quality health care possible for these young people, but mostly I want to make sure this Senate and this Congress produces a reasonable, commonsense piece of legislation that we can send to the President and that he will sign. I have concerns with the bill that is in front of us. This bill, this piece of legislation, reported out of the Finance Committee, takes a successful spending program and uses it as a vehicle to create a new entitlement. The bill that I look at today covers high-income people, covers people who already have insurance, and covers adults. To me, this bill should be all about children. Well, let's look at those three concerns. High-income people: This bill allows families at 400 percent of the poverty level to be covered. In New York State, that is an income of $82,600 a year. In New Jersey, 350 percent of the poverty level is an income of over $72,000 a year. At home in Wyoming, we play by the rules. It is 200 percent of the poverty level. That is what we need. That is what works. Are there kids in New York and New Jersey who need to be covered? Of course. There are kids everywhere who need to be covered. But why the different rules for different States? And why so many high-income people as part of the program? So that is No. 1. No. 2, people who already have health insurance: When you start to cover children in families above that 200 percent of the poverty level, many of those children are in families where they already have insurance. Madam President, 77 percent of the children in families between 200 and 300 percent of the poverty level have private health insurance. When you go above that, above the 300 percent level, between 300 and 400 percent of the Federal poverty level, 89 percent of those children are in families where they have private health insurance. When you do the math and look at the numbers, people in those categories will be financially compelled to take their children off of the private, usually employer-sponsored health care plans, and put them on the taxpayer-supported plans. The Congressional Budget Office looked at this, and they think, with this plan, 2.1 million people will move from private coverage to Government dependency, if this legislation is enacted. This is supposed to be a program to help children, children who do not have health insurance. It seems as if some in this body may be trying to use this plan to nationalize health insurance. The third thing I see that is a concern with this plan is in some places it covers adults, not just children. It covers the parents of children. Nowhere--nowhere--in the word ``SCHIP'' is there the letter ``A'' for adults. The ``C'' stands for children. This country does need to have a serious debate on health care, and it should not be on the backs of these children covered under SCHIP. In the future, we need to debate health care in America, how we pay for health care, how we encourage people to better care for themselves, to take more responsibility for their own health, what incentives we can have for people to stay well, how insurance is used in this Nation. Should it be deductible for all, instead of just in businesses and not by individuals? Should there be tax credits? Is there a way we can set up small business health plans to help people who need insurance? I find that people are very thoughtful when it comes to how they spend their own money. So often, in the medical world, very few people spend the same kind of time making those financial decisions as they do when they are spending money out of their own pocket, when it is a third-party payer who is doing the spending. In the future, we need to have a debate and discussion about how we handle medical errors in this country: No. 1, how to prevent them from ever happening; and, No. 2, how to deal with the fact that when they occur, we want to make sure people are taken care of quickly, and that anything that goes to them goes more to the injured party than it does to the system. We need to find ways to lower the significant cost in America of defensive medicine. These are all very serious issues. They all deserve a serious national debate, and that day will come. But the bill today wrongly attempts to massively expand a successful program under excessive spending for many people who do not need it, and it avoids a debate we need to have on health care in America. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. BARRASSO

Mr. BARRASSO. Thank you, Mr. President. This is the first time I am addressing this body. I am filling the seat of former U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, a marine, a warrior, and an American hero. He was a gentleman from Wyoming who has left large boots to fill. Now, some people have suggested that when I give my first speech, I do it at a time during the day when many people back home in Wyoming would be watching television. Mr. President, you are also from the Rocky Mountain Time Zone, and you know people get up early. But at home it is now 3 a.m., and I doubt we have many viewers at home. I was sworn in a little over 3 weeks ago, but it is like I have never left home. As a physician, an orthopedic surgeon, trauma surgeon, I am used to getting up at this hour and working at all unusual hours. People of Wyoming know that, and they call on me day and night. That is why I am here at this hour. About 21 hours ago, we had a bipartisan breakfast to discuss this very issue. At that body, I told the whole group I was the most prepared to be up at this hour working. I am delighted to be with you. But we are here debating a very serious issue. I spent a lot of time with Senator Thomas in the last year, driving him around the State of Wyoming, discussing the war, visiting about the war, about his trip to Baghdad, talking about the fact that we are threatened in a global war on terror, and that this is a threat to our way of life. As a background, as a trauma surgeon and also as a Wyoming State Senator in the State Senate, I chaired the Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee. In that position, I asked to go and make sure that the Wyoming troops were getting everything they needed in Afghanistan and Baghdad. I was unable to make that trip. The arrangements could not be made. But I was able to go to Walter Reed. At Walter Reed, I was able to visit the troops, the wounded warriors, because I wanted to make sure that both as a State senator and as an orthopedic surgeon those folks were getting the kind of care they deserved. What I saw were hero warriors, people who lost a limb or two limbs, and they wanted to return to combat. They wanted to do anything they could to get back with their buddies and fight for freedom. Wyoming has paid the price, as has every State. I have been to services for young people who have lost their lives. I have held and tried to comfort family members. A little over a month ago, I got a call from my physician assistant. Her son is in Iraq. Her nephew was also in Iraq, and she had just gotten the news that her nephew had been killed. I went to visit the family. These are brave warriors. These are people doing everything they can for freedom and for our Nation. They did not die in vain. This past weekend, I was home in Wyoming. I had a town meeting in Douglas. I was also home over the Fourth of July. I had town meetings in Jackson and in Lander. I went to a couple rodeos, as I am sure you do as well. I talked to hundreds of folks traveling around the State. When I went to the rodeos--whether in Casper, or on the Fourth of July in Cody, where I attended it with a former U.S. Senator from Wyoming who has served on the Iraq Study Group--when they ride into the arena holding the American flag, people stand, take off their hat, and put their hand over their heart. The announcer does not have to tell them to do that. They just do it. At both of those rodeos, in Casper and in Cody, they dedicated the ``Star Spangled Banner'' with a salute to Craig Thomas, former marine. Susan Thomas was there at both events and received the love of the crowd. Then, at both events, the announcer asked for prayers for the bravest men and women in the world, those who are fighting to keep us free. What I heard from people all around Wyoming was: Do not quit. Do not pull out. Support the troops. What are the consequences of withdrawal? Well, we heard it today with the Cornyn amendment. It passed today 94 to 3. The purpose: ``To express the sense of the Senate that it is in the national security interest of the United States that Iraq not become a failed state and a safe haven for terrorists.'' We can go through the findings. The Senate makes the following findings: A failed state in Iraq would become a safe haven for Islamic radicals, including al Qaeda and Hezbollah, who are determined to attack the United States and United States allies. The Iraq Study Group report found that ``[a] chaotic Iraq could provide a still stronger base of operations for terrorists who seek to act regionally or even globally.'' The Iraq Study Group noted that ``Al Qaeda will portray any failure by the United States in Iraq as a significant victory that will be featured prominently as they recruit for their cause in the region and around the world.'' We can go on and on, but to me, the Iraq Study Group's final report, page 67, says it best: The point is not for the United States to set timetables or deadlines for withdrawal, an approach that we oppose. With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.