Mark Begich

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Allegations of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Security Contracts at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.''

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The Committee will meet in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 3 p.m.,

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 2:30 p.m.,

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on June 10, 2009, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Continued Importance of the Violence Against Women Act.''

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 10 a.m.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 9:45 a.m.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 10, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 11 a.m.

Mr. BEGICH

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

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

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading en bloc, and I object to my own request en bloc.

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

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, following the remarks of Senator Chambliss, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, tomorrow at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a rollcall vote on passage of the FDA tobacco legislation.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, June 11; that following the prayer and the 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 that there be a period of morning business until 2 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the first hour equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the second 30 minutes; that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, with the time until 2:30 p.m. equally divided and controlled between Senators Dodd and Enzi or their designees; that at 2:30 p.m., all postcloture debate time has expired, the Senate proceed to vote on the passage of the bill, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill S. 1122 be discharged from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and that it be referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; that the committee-reported title amendment be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 70, S. 407.

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 the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, it is my pleasure to rise today in honor of the military men and women serving our country across the country and overseas. As Memorial Day approaches, I want to personally recognize the sacrifice these service men and women and their families are making for our Nation. In 233 years of American history, the struggle for freedom has remained ever present. During this time, our Nation has surrendered its bravest men and women to liberate the oppressed and to ensure freedom for future generations. In doing so, battle lines were drawn and blood was spilled on both U.S. and foreign soil. I am certain the dedicated service and sacrifice of our men and women who met the challenges defined by those battle lines safeguarded the freedom and democracy we all cherish. In recognition of that fact, we pause each year on Memorial Day to recognize and honor those who have given their all on the field of battle. There is simply no greater service and no braver act than a warrior willing to stand in the face of evil and selflessly make the ultimate sacrifice. We must never forget these brave Americans and their actions which have earned them a place in our hearts and their names on the role of honor for this State and this Nation. This year we also pause to specifically honor those Alaskans who have given the last full measure of devotion on the battlefield in defense of freedom and democracy. We recognize them with the Alaska Decoration of Honor. Alaska celebrates the 50th anniversary of its statehood this year. There will be hundreds of events and celebrations to mark this anniversary, but one of the most important ones is this weekend in Anchorage when every Alaska soldier killed in action is presented with the Alaska Decoration of Honor. I thank the families of these soldiers for traveling to Alaska to be part of the ceremony, and again honor our current service men and women on this Memorial Day. 2008 Alaska Decoration of Honor Medal Recipients Shawn G. Adams, Jesse Bryon Albrecht, Christopher M. Alcozer, Eugene Henry Eli Alex, Charles D. Allen, Carl Anderson Jr., Thomas Edward Andrson, Kurtis Dean Kama-O- Apelila Arcala, Brian D. Ardron, Michael Dean Banta, Edward Nasuesak Barr, Thomas M. Barr, Daniel D. Bartels, Richard Gene Bauer, Ryan J. Baum, Shane R. Becker, Larry LeRoy Betts, Jeffrey Dean Bisson, Alan R. Blohm, Jeremiah J. Boehmer. Matthew Charles Bohling, Matthew T. Bolar, John G. Borbonus, Christopher Robert Brevard, James L. Bridges, David Dee Brown Jr., Charles Edward Brown, William F. Brown, Gary Edwin Bullock, Jaime L. Campbell, William Steven Childers, Johnathan Bryan Chism, Donald Georg Chmiel, Donald V. Clark, Brad A. Clemmons, Adare William Cleveland, Ryan D. Collins, Clinton Arthur Cook, Jason Jarrard Corbett, Daniel Franklin Cox. Shawn R. Creighton, Eric B. Das, George W. Dauma Jr., Carletta S. Davis, David J. Davis, Michael W. Davis, Wilbert Davis, Dustin R. Donica, William Bradley Duncan, Scott Douglas Dykman, William Albert Eaton, Michael Ignatius Edwards, Cody J. Eggleston, David Henry Elisovsky, Robert Thomas Elliott III, Shawn Patrick Falter, Sean Patrick Fennerty, David Lynn Ferry, Sean P. Fisher, Nick Ulysses Fleener. Victor M. Fontanilla, Phillip Cody Ford, Kraig D. Foyteck, Lucas Frantz, Grant B. Fraser, Jacob Noal Fritz, Charles F. Gamble Jr., Brennan Chriss Gibson, Micah S. Gifford, Dale Anthony Griffin, Howard Wayne Gulliksen, Daniel Lee Harmon, Dustin J. Harris, Raymond L. Henry, Irving Hernandez Jr., Adam Herold, Patrick W. Herried, Kenneth Hess, William Earl Hibpshman, Michael Thomas Hoke. Jaron D. Holliday, Jerry Verne Horn, Michael R. Hullender, Christian P. Humphreys, Kurt Int-Hout, Sam Ivey, Steven R. Jewell, Christopher C. Johnson, Jeremiah Jewel Johnson, Wayne Elmer Jones, Alexander Jordon, Jason A. Karella, Adam P. Kennedy, Gilbert Ketzler Jr., George Gregory Kilbuck, Jeremiah C. Kinchen, Donald Harry Kito, Howard Mark Koslosky, Russell A. Kurtz, Kermit Harold La Belle Jr. Jason K. LaFleur, Mickey Daniel Lang, Jason Lantieri, David Alen Lape, Michael H. Lasky, Aaron Latimer, Robert Edward Lee, Henry W. Linck, James T. Lindsey, Norman Lewis Lingley, Joseph I. Love- Fowler, Jeremy M. Loveless, Bryan C. Luckey, Bradley W. Marshall, Thomas M. Martin, Brian McElroy, Jackie L. McFarlane Jr., Patrick M. McInerney, Jacob Gerald McMillan, Phillip David McNeill. Benjamin E. Mejia, Jacob Eugene Melson, Kenneth Bruce Millhouse, Johnathon Miles Millican, Robert J. Montgomery, Trista L. Moretti, Christopher R. Morningstar, Shawn Matthew Murphy, Jason L. Norton, Toby Richard Olsen, Warren Paulsen, Joshua M. Pearce, Coty J. Phelps, William Francis Piaskowski, Heath K. Pickard, Larry Joe Plett, David Shelton Prentice, Cody A. Putman, Lloyd Steven Rainey, Daniel F. Reyes. Stanley B. Reynolds, Andrew William Rice Jr., Floyd Whitley Richardson, Norman Franklin Ridley, Michelle R. Ring, Timothy J. Roark, Donald Robert Robison, Jessy S. Rogers, Jonathan Rojas, Donald Ray Sanders, Daniel R. Sexton, Frederick M. Simeonoff, Nicholas R. Sowinski, Donald Walter Sperl, Clifford A. Spohn III, Lance Craig Springer II, Derek T. Stenroos, Joseph A. Strong, Stephen Sutherland, William Arthur Thompson. Douglas L. Tinsley, Chester William Troxel, Colby J. Umbrell, Joe Wayne Vanderpool, John S. Vaughan, Dustin S. Wakeman, Mark A. Wall, William Francis Walters, Shannon Weaver, Mason Douglas Whetstone, Arthur Joseph Whitney Jr., Jamie Duggan Wilson, Daniel Eugene Woodcock, Shane William Woods, James R. Worster, David Reese Young Jr.