Mark Begich

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I rise to speak of the enormous contributions to this body and to our nation of our former colleague, the late senior Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy. When I took the oath as a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2009, I have to confess to a fair amount of trepidation. Many great statesmen have served before me in this esteemed body. For a former mayor from a State so distant from Washington, DC, taking a seat among these American leaders was a little intimidating. No sitting Senator was a larger giant than Ted Kennedy and he impacted my life long before I arrived here. As a boy born and raised in Anchorage, my parents spoke of the great pride in public service the Kennedy family inspired in our family and in our Nation. My father, the late Nick Begich, served for 2 years in the Congress with Senator Kennedy, before my dad's death in 1972. In many ways, Alaska and Massachusetts can't be further apart. Alaska is just celebrating its 50th year of admission to the United States and is a vast land rich in natural resources and of conservative, independent-minded people. The Bay State was the site of one of America's first settlements more than four centuries ago, is well developed, and its residents decidedly more liberal. Yet in the first week of April 1968, those differences faded when Senator Kennedy traveled to Sitka to deliver a speech to the Alaska Democratic State Convention. The days-old assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. still ached in the hearts of Americans. In a scratchy tape recording of his speech, Senator Kennedy calls on Americans to rise above the frustration and fury they felt and to rededicate ourselves to ``wipe away cynicism and to introduce the understanding that we wish to see future generations exercise so they will not suffer as their mothers and fathers have suffered.'' The transcript of that speech shows that Alaska U.S. Senator Ernest Gruening and the gathered Alaskans rose to a standing ovation as Senator Kennedy concluded his inspirational remarks. Today, 41 years later, those words continue to serve as an inspiration to me. Mr. President, I had the opportunity to meet Senator Kennedy only once, when he welcomed me as a Member of this body just a few months ago. The intimidation I felt as a new Senator melted in his warmth and graciousness. It will be a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I understand there are three bills at the desk. I ask for their first reading en bloc.

Mr. BEGICH. I now ask for the second reading en bloc and object to my requests en bloc.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, at a later time I will have a floor statement. Mr. President, I note the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside and I call up amendment No. 2646.

Mr. BEGICH

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

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

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 310, submitted earlier today.

Mr. BEGICH. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and that the Agriculture Committee be discharged en bloc of the following: PN486, PN620, PN831, PN789, PN817, PN818, PN925, PN926, PN1021, PN1022; and that the Senate then proceed en bloc to their consideration; that the nominations be confirmed and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that no further motions be in order and any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BEGICH. I ask unanimous consent that the deadline for tributes to Senators Kennedy and Martinez to be submitted to the Congressional Record be extended until Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 484, the nomination of LTG David M. Rodriguez, reported today by the Armed Services Committee; that the nomination be confirmed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order, and any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record; the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with the Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to speak on an amendment I have filed with my colleague from Alaska, Senator Murkowski. This amendment will repeal a provision contained in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill each year since 2004, which has prevented tribes in certain areas of Alaska--and only in Alaska-- from receiving any Federal funds to support their programs. This rider was added several years ago as part of a dispute over tribal sovereignty, but I join with Senator Murkowski to say to our colleagues that whatever the merits of the past dispute, this provision is having real and adverse impacts on the administration of justice in Alaska. Perhaps no place is seeing the negative impacts of this policy quite as acutely as Sitka, AK. This provision is currently harming the efforts of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to work with the judicial system of the State of Alaska, and everyone in that part of the State--Alaska Native or not--is paying the price. The Sitka Tribe has been working with the State of Alaska's court system to create a collaborative effort to battle substance abuse in their community. Tribal leaders and local court officials created the Tribal Youth Diversion Effort, TYDE, which currently takes on the nonviolent drug possession cases of both native and non-native minors, rather than forcing local youth to go through the State court system. This program has reduced the caseload of the both the State courts and city attorney. Perhaps even more importantly, the TYDE program provides the youth with a comprehensive program to deal with substance abuse. It is a successful program, and both tribal leaders and local criminal justice officials would like the opportunity for the Sitka Tribe to receive Federal funds to support and expand their important work. Currently, because of this 2004 rider, the Sitka Tribe cannot receive any Department of Justice funding for their programs. I believe we should do more to support local programs such as the TYDE in their efforts to prevent alcohol and drug abuse. This is a problem for American youth wherever they live, but it is an especially devastating circumstance for Alaska Natives. Tribal governments in the lower 48 do not face similar restrictions, and along with my colleague Senator Murkowski, I respectfully request that my colleagues support this important amendment.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 7 minutes.

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I rise today to seek the continued support of my colleagues for recognition of a group of patriotic heroes who defended our Nation and Alaska from our enemies in World War II. In 1935, famed Army GEN Billy Mitchell told Congress: I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world. General Mitchell was right. Less than a decade later, Alaska became the first American soil occupied by a foreign enemy since the Revolutionary War. To counter Japanese aggression against the territory of Alaska during World War II, a group of Alaskan Natives voluntarily formed the Alaska Territorial Guard. These brave men engaged in direct combat, as described by my colleague from Alaska, Senator Murkowski, with the enemy in protecting all of Alaska. They shot down Japanese air balloons, conducted scouting patrols, carried out rescue missions of downed airmen, and built military airstrips and rescue shelters. They played a key role in logistics support for the U.S. military stationed in Alaska by delivering food, ammunition, and other equipment to the forces. Their actions were vital to successful U.S. military efforts, preventing our enemies from securing a strategic location during the war. As you can see by these photos surrounding me, the Alaska Territorial Guard was a unique group. They were mostly subsistence hunters and fishermen--the main breadwinners in their families--living in some of the most remote villages in the entire country. Receiving no pay or recognition for their service, the territorial guard mission was driven by a single value: patriotism. Many of these members continued their service for years in the U.S. military after the Alaska Territorial Guard was disbanded in 1947. Unfortunately, the contributions of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II went unrecognized for half a century. In 2000, Congress finally acknowledged our Nation's debt to these brave men by qualifying their time spent in the Alaska Territorial Guard as Federal service. Congress also directed the Secretary of the Army to issue discharge certificates to all those who served in the territorial guard. These discharge certificates entitled ATG members to veterans' benefits and was interpreted by the Department of Defense to count as service in the Alaska Territorial Guard toward retirement credit. Twenty-six former members of the Alaska Territorial Guard finally began receiving a well- earned pension from the government. At long last, the sacrifice and the contributions of Alaskan Natives during World War II were recognized. Then in January of this year, abruptly and without warning, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service stopped issuing pensions to these 26 guardsmen. This was based on the finding that their service was not Federal and, therefore, the payments were not legal. Thankfully, former Army Secretary Pete Geren issued temporary payments to ease the economic hardship experienced by these heroes while we worked on a more permanent solution. To its credit, the Alaska legislature stepped up where the Federal government fell short. The State is paying their pensions until Congress can provide a permanent legislative solution or until February 2010, whichever comes first. I cannot imagine another situation where Congress would stand by and let veterans' entitlements be revoked and their sacrifices go unrecognized. Luckily, my Senate colleagues also recognized this injustice. I thank my colleague, Senator Murkowski, who introduced S. 342, a bill to provide for the treatment of service as a member of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II as active service for purposes of retired pay to restore pensions. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation. Working together with the leader of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Levin, and the ranking member, Senator McCain, we were able to secure similar legislation to restore those pensions in an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for the year 2010, supported unanimously by the Senate. Most recently, the Senate Appropriations Committee included the same provision in the Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010. However, I was extremely disappointed to learn in the statement of administration policy for fiscal year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that the national administration has voiced objection to the provision that would count Alaska Territorial Guard service as active-duty time for retirement purposes. I remind my colleagues that the Alaska Territorial Guard members were not State employees. They were patriotic Alaska Natives answering the call of duty from their country. Allowing their service in the Alaska Territorial Guard to count as Federal service cannot set a precedent because there is no other group like them in this country. They served the United States in a time of war by defending an American territory from the enemy. They engaged in combat. And they did this because they felt the same sense of patriotism during World War II that every active member of the Army and Air Force and every other military branch did. These brave Alaskans are now in their 70s and 80s. Just this past Monday, one of them--Nicholai E. Nicholai of Kwethluk--passed away before he could see this issue resolved. I ask my colleagues for their continued support to ensure that the now 25 Alaskan Natives who defended this Nation receive their earned pension by supporting the provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010. I also join my colleague Senator Murkowski in asking the administration to reexamine their objection to restoring the retirement payments and honoring our World War II veterans. Our time is running short to correct this injustice and restore these modest payments. The Federal Government turned its back on these men at the end of the war. I hope Congress and my colleagues in the Senate won't let that happen. I yield the remainder of my time.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I thank Senator Merkley. I am pleased to stand here again with my freshmen colleagues and resound the call for meaningful health insurance reform. We know reform is critically important and long overdue. We know reform will provide coverage to tens of millions of currently uninsured Americans. As I said last week, we know reform will bolster America's small businesses and help rebuild the economy. Here is something else we know: We must have reform that bends the cost curve and slows down the growth of health care costs. If we extend insurance to millions more people but do nothing to slow skyrocketing health care costs, we will not have reformed anything. We only will have added to the problem of an overburdened, unsustainable health system. Today we stand together to offer our ideas for reducing overall health care costs. My focus this morning is on promoting good health and preventing the burden of chronic disease. The HELP and Finance Committees have done a great job on this subject. I commend them. I also want to make sure that when the final reform bill comes to the floor, we will not waiver on our commitment to prevention. I want to frame these brief remarks around a handful of words: nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, and personal responsibility. Common sense tells us that smart investments that reduce the burden of chronic disease will make a huge difference not only in cost savings but also in healthier and more productive lives. The dollar amounts are staggering. Here are a few examples of why health reform must include a substantial commitment to prevention and good health. Each year we spend $2.2 trillion on health care, and 75 percent of all health care costs go to treat chronic diseases, many of which could have been prevented. Each of our States is paying the price. Listen to the most recent numbers from the State of Alaska and think again of poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and the toll of tobacco. Alaska currently spends $600 million annually for heart disease and stroke hospitalization, $419 million for treatment related to diabetes, $491 million for medical care related to tobacco use and lost productivity from tobacco-related deaths. We spend $477 million on direct medical costs of obesity. We need to do something, and we need to start now, in my State and every State. We know prevention can work. Even though youth smoking in Alaska is still too high, it has been cut in half since 1995, thanks to sustained antitobacco funding. I know as a former mayor, when I came into office we had double-digit increases in health care costs; when I left, a less than 1-percent increase. Why? Because we created wellness programs, created personal responsibilities and incentives for people to live a healthier lifestyle. Let's make a similar commitment in health reform this year. Let's promote personal responsibility. Let's give more American families the tools they need to take charge. Let's improve our Nation's highways and transportation systems. And as we do it, let's make sure sidewalk trails are part of the package. Let's hire more PE teachers and build upon proven community programs. Let's save lives and save dollars by keeping tobacco away from kids. As reform moves forward, our promise is to keep it deficit neutral, now and into the future. Health care reform, health insurance reform now, is important. I yield the floor.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 186, which was received from the House.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, October 1; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then proceed to a period of morning business for 90 minutes, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half; that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 3326, Defense appropriations.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.