Mark Begich

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I pay tribute to a Mr. David D. Rasley, Sr., who passed away on May 8, 2009. Mr. Rasley was a 50-year resident of Alaska. Working in the construction field, he was highly regarded in the Fairbanks labor community. He also gave tirelessly to community causes before and after his retirement. Dave was very proud of his Army service. I have included his obituary below and ask that it be printed in the Record. Interior Alaskans mourn the loss of Dave Rasley and join in offering condolences to his wife of nearly 58 years, Luella, sons David, Ron and Brian and his grandchildren, Michael and Carolyn. The information follows: David Dale Rasley Sr. died May 8, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on December 2, 1928, in Deer River, MN. Dave lived in Fairbanks for more than 50 years and came to Alaska for good in 1959 shortly after statehood. Dave had come first to Alaska in 1948 with some family and friends to work on post-World War II projects in Anchorage, Kodiak and Fairbanks. He returned to Minnesota and was drafted into the Army in 1950. Dave married his wife, Luella, June 7, 1951, in Port Townsend, WA, while he was in the Army. He loved Luella very much, and they were married for almost 58 years. He was proud of his military service and was stationed at Camp Desert Rock, NV, and participated in at least three atomic bomb tests during the early 1950s. His unit helped build some of the test facilities and participated in what are now known to be dangerous post blast tests. Shortly after moving to Alaska in 1959, he worked on the Cold War DEW line installations at Barter Island and Clear Air Force Station. In 1961 he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare neuromuscular disease and was told he might not survive long, or would be wheelchair-bound. He underwent experimental surgery at the University of Washington and with medication was able to function normally. He began classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business in 1966. He worked in the construction industry for two years, then took a job with the Operating Engineers Union Local 302 as a field agent. He eventually became the head agent for the northern region of the state and was involved in the trans- Alaska oil pipeline and related work contract agreements for IUOE Local 302 until his retirement in 1989. Dave was also proud of his 32 years of work as a board member of the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and a past president of the board. He was involved in FMH projects such as the Denali Center, Imaging Center, Cancer Treatment Center and several general hospital expansions. Dave and Luella were big sports fans supporting UAF hockey, men and women's basketball, volleyball, and other UAF activities. They were fixtures and season ticket holders for Gold Kings, Ice Dogs, UAF hockey teams and Fairbanks Goldpanners baseball team. Dave was a Goldpanner board member for many years and was not afraid to get involved when a volunteer was needed. David is survived by his wife, Luella; sons, David Jr. (Beverly), Ron (Stephanie), Brian; and by his grandchildren, Michael and Carolyn. David was a true Alaskan and will be missed.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate the life of a very special resident of my home State of Alaska, Peggy Burgin. Mrs. Burgin was the embodiment of a true Alaskan. While living in Alaska, she witnessed such historical events as the 1964 earthquake and the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. Mrs. Burgin devoted much of her life to volunteering for many community groups. She leaves behind many friends who are grateful to have known this remarkable woman. On behalf of her family and her many friends, I ask today we honor Peggy Burgin's memory. I ask that her obituary, published May 12, 2009, in the Anchorage Daily News, be printed in the Record. The information follows: [From the Anchorage Daily News, May 12, 2009] Peggy Arlene Burgin, 89, died peacefully May 5, 2009, at Alaska Regional Hospital, where she received exceptional loving care from the entire staff. A celebration of life is being planned for June. Born Aug. 16, 1919, in Bellingham, Wash., to Michael and Minnie Burns, she worked from an early age to help her widowed mother and younger brother. She went to business college, was president of the Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority and was a lifelong Democrat. She moved to Anchorage in July 1947 to marry Lee Morrow, a veteran Air Force pilot with postwar Alaska dreams. Ten months later the small plane he was co-piloting disappeared in the Susitna Valley and was never recovered. Shaken, she returned briefly to Washington, but her love for Alaska drew her right back. Working for an air cargo firm and later First National Bank of Anchorage, she made an impact as a single determined woman in a rough young town. She met and married another Alaska enthusiast, Fred Burgin, and together with their children, Salli, Jim and Judi, they experienced many adventures including the 1964 earthquake, pipeline construction and homesteading in Point MacKenzie. There she homeschooled the kids, shot a bear that tried to join them in the cabin and ran the homestead while Fred was away at construction jobs. As a Teamster, Peggy was hired to start the Teamster Credit Union (now Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union), where she achieved her goal of helping members start businesses and buy homes. Politically involved, both Peggy and Fred received their territorial voter registrations from Senator E.L. ``Bob'' Bartlett and often canceled each other's vote. Peggy was one of the founding members of the Bartlett Democratic Club, rarely missing the weekly meetings. She chaired and worked on many campaigns and was a delegate for Alaska at Clinton's presidential caucus. Although busy with career and family, she was the ultimate volunteer and contributor with this partial list of organizations that benefited from her enthusiasm: Inlet View PTA, Alaska Regional Hospital Auxilliary, Alaska Native Hospital gift shop, Anchorage Senior Activity Center, Anchorage Unitarian Fellowship, Teamster 959 Retirees, Alaskan Commission on Aging, Pioneers of Alaska, STAR, Victims for Justice, Blood Bank of Alaska, women's equality groups and several credit unions. Peggy was a devoted friend to people of all ages and walks of life, always willing to give kids a hand up or a haven. She valued education, writing and courtesy and was described by one friend as one of the last true pioneer ladies--elegant, gracious, generous and as tough as nails. She loved traveling to Hawaii, Washington and New York and even toured China. She enjoyed staying connected to her myriad friends, watching Alaska politics on cable and getting her hair ``fluffed'' (her word) at Trendsetters. Peggy was predeceased by her daughter Judi, and her husbands, Lee and Fred. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim Burgin and Janice Ray, daughter, Salli Burgin; grandchildren, Erin Malone (Jason Dallman), Devin Malone, Dante Modaffari, and Bryant Burgin; great- granddaughters, Ava and Lena Malone-Dallman, all of Alaska and Washington; and by her brother, Robert Burns and family of Idaho. The family wishes to thank Peggy's doctors, Kathleen Case and Vernon Cates, for her many years of energetic health.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I am proud to announce a class from West Anchorage High School represented the State of Alaska by winning national distinction at the National We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals. These outstanding students, through their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, won Alaska's statewide competition and earned the chance to come to our Nation's Capital and compete at the national level. This competition involved a 3-day academic competition simulating a congressional hearing in which students demonstrate their knowledge and skills as they evaluate, take, and defend positions on historical and contemporary constitutional issues. The students from West Anchorage High School were the Nation's top performers in the competition's unit on How the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shaped American Institutions and Practices. This year is the 50th year of Alaska's statehood and while we may be one of the youngest States, the performance of these students is indicative of the unique contributions Alaska has made to America's institutions and practices. I had the distinction of meeting these students so it makes me even more proud to recognize them on behalf of the State of Alaska. The names of these outstanding students from West Anchorage High School are: Grace Abbott, Sinivevela Aho, Spencer Bailly, Gizelle Baylon, Colby Bleicher, Blake Young, Jacqueline Braden, Santina Chamberlain, Caitlin Cheely, Jon Derman Harris, Christa Eussen, Christina Hendrickson, Ryan Hunte, Terra Laughton, Logan Miller, Jasmine Neeno, Madeleine Overturf, Luke Park, Kassandra Smith, Krista Soderlund, Chelsea Thompson, Luicia Valencia, Stacy Wheeler, Sophie Wiepking-Brown, Amanda Xayasane, and Ethan Zinck. I also commend the teacher of the class, Pamela Orme, who is responsible for preparing these young constitutional experts for the national finals. Also worthy of special recognition are Maida Buckley, the State coordinator, and Todd Heuston, the district coordinator, who are responsible for implementing the We the People program in Alaska. I congratulate these young ``constitutional experts'' on their outstanding achievement and for their proud representation of the State of Alaska.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I commend Senators Reed and Bond for bringing up the HEARTH Act in the form of their amendment, and for all the commitment they have shown to addressing homelessness in our Nation. While this amendment seeks to protect the homeless by expanding the definition of homelessness used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, to a certain degree, it also places many unfortunate limitations on people living in several circumstances common to those who find themselves or their families temporarily without permanent lodging. For instance, the definition proposed by my colleagues, Senators Reed and Bond, would seem to exclude those who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons, and those who are staying in motels due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations. It would include people staying in motels if they only have enough money to stay for 14 days, and people in doubled-up situations only if there is ``credible evidence'' that the owner/renter of the housing will not then stay for more than 14 days. More troubling is the fact that children, youth, and families who meet other federal definitions of homelessness are included in the HUD definition only if they have been without permanent housing for a long period of time, and have moved frequently over that time, and can be expected to stay without permanent housing due to numerous barriers. Over 70 percent of the homeless children and youth identified by public schools across the country last year--more than 500,000 students--were doubled-up or in motels, and therefore ineligible for HUD Homeless Assistance. In my home State of Alaska, the Anchorage School District, the largest in our State, has seen a quantum leap this school year in one category for which no school superintendent or resident can be proud: The number of school children in this State of being ``doubled-up'' numbers have increased 100 percent over last school year. Don't think for a moment that doubled-up families have more stable housing than those in shelters. Doubled-up families change locations 3-12 times in the course of a school year. Families are in shelters generally for 30-90 days. The Reed-Bond amendment would have the unfortunate effect of continuing to exclude most of these children and youth from HUD services and attention. The failure of the HUD definition to include these families and youth compounds educational problems and makes the task of providing a stable education much more difficult. I hope we can continue to work on this issue to ensure that HUD adopts a definition of homelessness that matches the reality of homelessness among families and youth, and is similar to definitions used by the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 61, the nomination of Ladda Tammy Duckworth to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs; that the nomination be confirmed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order; that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record; that 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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, April 23; 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 the Senate resume consideration of S. 386.

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 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 related to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 18, submitted earlier today.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order with respect to a vote in relation to amendment No. 999 be vitiated, that the amendment be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

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 for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I understand that H.R. 1664 has been received from the House and is at the desk.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order following the remarks of Senator Durbin.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, tomorrow, the Senate will resume consideration of the Fraud Enforcement Recovery Act, and rollcall votes are expected to occur throughout the day in relation to the pending amendments. Earlier today, the majority leader announced if the Senate is unable to complete action on the bill tomorrow, the Senate would remain in session through the weekend. In addition, the Senate will turn to the consideration of the House message to request a conference with respect to the budget resolution when it is available. Senators should expect rollcall votes in relation to motions to instruct the conferees during tomorrow's session.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 110, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I was not able to be present in the Senate at the time of the confirmation votes on the nominations of Tony West, Lanny Breuer, and Christine Varney, to be Assistant Attorneys General of the United States, and the cloture vote on the nomination of Christopher Hill, to be our Ambassador to Iraq. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the confirmation of each of the Assistant Attorneys General nominees, as well as ``yea'' on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Christopher Hill. I ask that the Record reflect how I would have voted had I been present at the time of the votes.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate the life of a very special resident of my home State of Alaska, Curt Menard. Mayor Curt Menard passed away March 3, 2009, after a long battle with myeloma. Mayor Menard was the embodiment of a true Alaskan. Honorably serving in our Nation's Air Force took him to our State where he left his mark. Curt and his wife Linda purchased one of the original homesteads in the Matanuska-Susitna--Mat-Su--valley and Curt became one of the first dentists in the area. He devoted his life to the people of the Mat-Su, and for that we are all grateful to this remarkable man. On behalf of his family and his many friends, I ask today we honor Curt Menard's memory. I ask that his obituary, published March 5, 2009, in the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, be printed in the Record. The information follows: [From the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Mar. 3, 2009] Curtis Delbert Menard, 64, died March 3 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, from complications of multiple myeloma. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wasilla High School with Pastor Larry Kroon of Wasilla Bible Church officiating. The following are pallbearers: Curtis C. Menard, Larry, Sgt. Maj. Ret. Ritchie, Nancy, Jim, Gabrielle, Tanner, Harrison, Sullivan, Brock, Grant, Jack, Alexandra, Jane and Charles Menard, and Lewis Bradley. Burial will take place later in the spring at the Menard homestead. Dr. Menard was born June 16, 1944, in Detroit. He graduated from L'Anse High School in 1962, received his undergraduate degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., and graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry Class of 1968. He had served with Habitat for Humanity, The Alaska Railroad Board, American Legion, Salvation Army Board, and as chairman of the Multi-Use Sports Complex, and was a member of Wasilla Bible Church. He was an honorary member of the Wasilla Rotary Club, was the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, and the Frontiersman Mat-Su Dentist of the year. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, flying, marathons, farming, coaching, politics, and well wishing. His family wrote, ``Curt Menard was raised in L'Anse, Mich., born to June and Curtis Menard. At 15 years old he met the love of his life, Linda. Linda and Curt moved to Milwaukee, to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a dentist. In 1968 he graduated as class president from Marquette University School of Dentistry. He joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. He worked exclusively with Vietnam soldiers in preparation for the war. During that time he learned to fly and there his love affair with planes commenced. He flew a 206, Supercub, Citabria and a PA 14. In 1972 he purchased one of the original homesteads in the Mat- Su Valley and built the first professional building and dental office in Wasilla. He especially loved his dental contract in the village of Togiak. Three years later Curt lost his dominant right arm in an electrical accident. With unsurpassed determination, Curt learned to practice dentistry with his left hand. Sen. Curt Menard's public service began as a school board member. Encouraged by his experience, he ran for office and became a state legislator. By this time, he had two thriving dental offices, Palmer and Wasilla Dental Center, 33 employees, five children, and was a respected community leader and politician. He had a love for farming and not only baled 55 acres of hay every summer, but enjoyed cows, chickens, turkeys, homing pigeons, pigs, horses, a cat and many dogs. In 2001, tragedy again struck the family. Curt's son, Dr. Curtis C. Menard II passed away in a plane crash. ``Curt was diagnosed in 2003 with multiple myeloma, an aggressive and painful cancer of the bone. In 2006, in true Curt fashion, he took on the task of running and being elected Mat-Su Borough Mayor. In 2007 he went through a stem cell transplant at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. In a selfless manner he put his community before himself and carried out his mayoral responsibilities until the very end. And if you met `Doc' today, his hook would not be the first thing you would notice. You'd see the twinkle in his eye, feel his zest for life and compassion for his fellow man, share his love of his countryside and then, maybe, you'd notice the hook. But by then you'd be so hooked on the man, it wouldn't matter.'' Survivors are his wife Linda of Wasilla; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Gretchen Menard of Milwaukee, Steven Menard of Wasilla, Dr. Dirk and Alicia Menard of Fairbanks; daughter and son-in-law, McKenzy and Jared Boyd of Milwaukee; daughter-in-law, Dr. Carole Menard of Wasilla; grandchildren, Brock, Grant, Jack, Alexandra, Gabrielle, Tanner, Harrison, Sullivan, Jane, and Charles; father, Curtis C. Menard of L'Anse, Mich.,; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Virgie Menard of L'Anse, Sgt. Maj. Ret. Ritchie and Maj. Ret. Joyce Menard of L'Anse, and Jim Menard of Nome; and sister, Nancy Menard of Germantown, Wis. He was preceded in death by his mother, June Menard; and son, Curtis C. Menard

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to commemorate the life of a very special resident of my home State of Alaska, longtime political activist Joe Sonneman. Dr. Sonneman passed away March 8, 2009, from Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 64. He made his unique mark on Alaska beginning in 1971, when he first visited to research a doctoral dissertation on the relationship between oil revenues and state government. He returned after graduate school and lived in the 49th State for most of the rest of his life. In true Alaskan fashion he proved himself to be a jack of many trades. Dr. Sonneman--known most often around his adopted hometown of Juneau only as ``Joe''--was a photographer, postal worker, public policy analyst and taxi driver. He also earned a law degree from Georgetown University and was a frequent candidate for Congress. On behalf of his family and his many friends I ask today that we honor his memory. I ask that his obituary, published March 10, 2009, in the Juneau Empire, be printed into the Congressional Record. The information follows: [From the Juneau Empire, Mar. 10, 2009] (By Joseph Sonneman) Longtime Juneau political activist Dr. Joseph Sonneman died early March 8, 2009, at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Wash., after a three-year struggle with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 64. He was born in Chicago in 1944, and attended Chicago public schools. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966, including service as a radar repairman in Korea, he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Chicago, and master's and doctorate degrees from Claremont graduate school. While in the master's program in government finance, he was an intern at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. He first came to Juneau in 1971 to conduct research for his doctoral dissertation on the effect of oil income on Alaskan government financial decisions. When he finished graduate school, he returned to Alaska where he worked as a photographer, budget analyst, taxi driver, heavy equipment oiler on the Alaska pipeline, postal worker, and university instructor. He became interested in the law and earned a J.D. degree from Georgetown School of Law in 1989. He was a member of the Alaska, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. Bar Associations and conducted a law and legal research practice in Juneau. He was active in politics all his life, and served on numerous local and state Democratic Party committees and as Alaska Democratic Party treasurer. He ran for Mayor of Juneau in 1973. He also ran in the primaries for the U.S. House in 1974, and for the U. S. Senate in 1978, 1992, 1996, and in 1998 succeeded in becoming the Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senate but lost the election to Republican incumbent Frank Murkowski. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 5559; Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo Number 6; Juneau World Affairs Council; Juneau Chapter of AARP; and Paralyzed Veterans of America, and served on the Juneau Commission on the Aging. As a photographer, he followed the example of Klondike Gold Rush photographer A. E. Hegg, and documented the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline with an 8-by-10-inch view camera. Over his career, he had one-person shows at the San Jose Museum of Art, the University of Oklahoma Museum of Art, the Alaska State Museum, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and Harper Hall at Claremont Graduate University. After his diagnosis of ALS, he moved to Washington to be closer to family members. He lived for two years at the Washington State Veterans Home near Seattle and was also an intermittent patient at the Veterans' Administration hospital in Seattle. Survivors include his mother, Edith Sonneman of Chicago; and sisters Eve Sonneman of New York, Toby Sonneman of Bellingham, Wash., and Milly Sonneman of Sausalito, Calif. Burial will be at the Sitka National Cemetery with Jewish graveside services at a date yet to be determined. Arrangements are also pending for a Juneau memorial service. Donations in Dr. Sonneman's memory may be made to the Joe Sonneman Prize In Photography Endowment c/o David Carpenter, Claremont Graduate University Advancement Office, 165 10th St., Claremont, CA 91711.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 674

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13; 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 the Senate proceed to a period of morning business until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, and that the time be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 17, the nomination of Leon Panetta to be Director of the CIA; that the nomination be confirmed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order; that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH

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