Mark Begich

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 341.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, this amendment deals with labeling genetically engineered fish, the first hybrid animal being proposed for human consumption. The FDA is reviewing this precedent-setting action not as a food but as a drug. They haven't studied the long-time health impacts and I can see why because all of these chemicals are added to this fake fish. At a minimum, this fish should be labeled. Consumer Reports indicates 95 percent of the population want products labeled. Last year 1 million people wrote to the FDA asking for this product to be labeled. Labeling is done in 60 other countries. Three weeks ago, major retailers, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, have assured they are not going to sell this fake fish. We urge support for this amendment and ask it be passed. I yield time to Senator Murkowski.

Mr. BEGICH

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I was not planning to come down here. I was at several meetings. As we all have in our offices, I have the screen view of the floor to figure out what action might be occurring or not occurring. I kept looking. The floor was empty. The floor was empty. And I know that earlier this afternoon, the majority leader asked that we get on the budget so it is not an empty zone here. I know people sitting up there behind me are wondering what is happening. What is happening is, the way these procedures work, which are ridiculous, you sit around and burn up time, let the clock just tick, tick, with no action because for some reason some people think this is strategic. It is not. It is what people are fed up with in this country. The leader came down and said: Let's get on with the budget. I come down, it seems every day or so, and see the charts of how many days the budget hasn't passed or how many days we have not had a budget. Here we come and offer to get onto the budget, and the other side objects. It is probably the most frustrating thing for me to see and for my constituents to see in the conference room. They say: What is happening on the floor? And I have to say: Nothing, because they are not allowing us to get to the budget. They complained for the last 2\1/2\ or 3 years, we never get to a budget. Here we have a chance. The budget will have lots of amendments and a lot of debate. Some have said: Let's wait until after Easter. I am not waiting until after Easter. I know it is tough for people because they want to get back and fundraise and all the other stuff they do, but, you know what? They wanted us to get to the budget, and we are ready to get to the budget. Let's get to the budget and have this debate. But here we are. The camera is on me, one person, but the room is empty. It is amazing. The people behind me, quietly sitting up there observing because they are not allowed to say anything, are wondering what is going on, as are many of my constituents. As a former member of the Budget Committee, I can tell you budgets are not easy. This budget--it doesn't matter where you may be on it-- starts to cut the budget, starts reducing the deficit, and starts dealing with it. I am happy to debate it. I am not sure where I am going to be at the end of the day on this budget, but I am happy to debate it. Anytime today would be good. But instead, what people want to do, through a parliamentary procedure, is just burn off hours. So people sit around waiting for the time to end. Then we come down and debate. Mr. President, I know you are new. I am kind of new but not as new as you are, and it is probably what you hear back home, as I still do today, the frustration level at how this place operates. Here we are. We had a chance earlier this morning--earlier this afternoon to move forward on the budget, and they objected because they didn't want the two times between the CR and the budget--I know this is a little process thing, a little wonky--to simultaneously run. The fact is, we could have done that because obviously they care so much about the budget? They are not down here. Maybe if we get to the budget, they would come down and talk about their objections, as I have. I said publicly that I am going to look at the budget that has come forward. I want to make sure there are enough cuts in there, make sure they are real cuts that last a long time because we have to get this budget under control, this deficit under control. We want to make sure we continue to move this economy forward with the right kind of sustainable budget over the long haul. I am happy to debate it. I am looking forward to it. My poor staff didn't know I was coming down here, and I said I am coming down anyway and walked down the hall and got frustrated because we could be doing this. Here is what is going to happen. I can see it already. Come Thursday, we will be in a mad dash around here, turning around, working double time--which is fine--rushing amendments. Instead, we could have a deliberative process right now--right now on the budget. That is what we should be doing. That is what the American people want. That is what Alaskans tell me every day: Debate it and debate the issues. I am anxious. Maybe we will ask again to get consent by the other side to get on with the budget, but they have already objected to that. I am shocked. I think the American people would be shocked. But no one is down here, so it is hard not to be shocked when there is no debate. I wanted to come down here in a little bit of frustration and make my point heard, that we have a chance--we could have had a chance earlier today to start this budget debate. We did not. Now we are just waiting for the clock to tick. It is really somewhat embarrassing, as someone said in the Senate, that I came here to get stuff done, not to sit around waiting for time to run out because people want to use the process to drag on their political desires rather than what we should be doing here: getting on with getting this economy moving, making sure jobs are created, and doing everything we can to get the budget under control and make sure the long-term sustainability of the government continues. I thank the Chair for the indulgence, allowing me a couple of minutes down here to maybe rant and complain about a process that I thought was going to start at 2:30--and yet nothing. My guess is that they will not consent. They will burn the time. The American people will get frustrated. Then we will finally get into the debate, it will be rushed instead of having a long, good, positive deliberation. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the centennial anniversary of the first successful ascent of the south peak of Mount McKinley. In Alaska, the mountain is popularly known as Denali, which means the ``Great One'' in Dena'ina language. At 20,320 feet, the south peak is the tallest of its two peaks, and makes Mount McKinley North America's tallest mountain. Although other climbers attempted the climb or claimed to have summited McKinley before 1913, Walter Harper, Hudson Stuck, Robert Tatum, and Harry Karstens were the first to complete their journey to the top. Among the party, it was Harper, an Athabascan, who was the first to stand on the south summit after a month-long expedition that started with a mush from Fairbanks by a dog team. The unsung hero of this accomplishment was another Alaska Native, 16- year-old John Fredson, who travelled with the group and cared for the sled dogs at base camp while waiting for the climbing team to return. This story of triumph and courage underscores the importance of Alaska Natives in the great age of American exploration. To commemorate the centennial, the Denali 2013 Centennial Climb has been organized. The official party's ascent will commence June 7, 2013, and includes ancestors of the original team: Dana Wright of Fairbanks, the great-grandnephew of Harper; Dan Hopkins, from Ottawa, Ontario, who is the great-great-nephew of Stuck; Ken Karstens, from Colorado; and Ray Schuenemann, from Dallas, Texas, both of whom are great-grandsons of Karstens. Stuck was a missionary for the Episcopal Church and Archdeacon of the Yukon back in 1913. Stuck had hoped to celebrate communion atop the peak. As part of the recreation of the historic ascent, Mark Lattime, the Episcopal Bishop of Alaska and Reverend at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Fairbanks, will join the climbing party and celebrate communion at the peak. The spirit of adventure is something that we embrace as Alaskans and Americans. Let us take this moment to acknowledge this significant achievement of our predecessors and wish the 2013 party a safe and successful climb.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I did not come to the floor today to speak on the appropriations and CR, but I want to thank the chairwoman and ranking member for working in a bipartisan way. They are working on finding a solution and an ability to ensure that at the end of the day we can keep this government operating and moving forward, and I thank them for that.

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I would like to speak for 15 minutes on the topic of revenue sharing.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I rise to take exception with some of my colleagues--and I hate to say this--on my side of the aisle. This subject is very frustrating. I am talking about a letter I reviewed from March 8. It is a letter from the Senate Energy Committee. The letter talks about revenue sharing and offshore oil and gas development and how that Federal revenue should be shared. When I read this letter, it sounds as if there is some evil monster lurking in the deep, which is far from the truth. It is very frustrating--and I hate to say this--to see some of my fellow Democrats trying to make energy policy without talking to folks who are in the energy-producing States. Let me make this very clear. I am here to talk about revenue sharing. The letter is laid out as if it is about revenue sharing. After reading the letter, I found out that it is really about opposing offshore oil and gas development of any kind. I come from a State that is heavily invested in this endeavor, and to say revenue sharing is inherently inequitable is somewhat comical. What is inequitable is to drain resources from our energy-producing States without compensating them for the impacts of this needed development. I introduced legislation 6 weeks ago to make sure Alaskans get their fair share of the resources developed along our coastlines. Our communities are greatly impacted by development. My goal is to share Federal energy resources generated off Alaska's coast with the State and local governments as well as Alaska's Native people. It is just common sense. My bill not only encourages increased and responsible development of Alaska's energy resource, but it also makes sure our communities benefit directly from oil and gas being produced in our State. The idea is to help State, local, and tribal governments pay for the public sector infrastructure required to develop these resources. My bill also requires oil produced in the Federal waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas--for those who may not always know where Alaska is, it is not near the coast of California, which every map seems to show. It is up north near Canada and has an enormous amount of resources in the Arctic area, and it is called the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. My bill also requires oil produced in the Federal waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas to be brought ashore by pipeline. This is safer than tanker transport and secures a future throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that feeds this country. The bill provides Alaska with 37.5 percent of Federal bonus bids and royalty shares from any energy development--fossil or renewable. Let me make this clear: Again, when I first read this letter, they seemed to be outraged by revenue sharing. As I look at it closer, it is really about how they don't like offshore development. As I read it, it says they don't like oil and gas. Before I got here, this Congress passed revenue sharing for the Gulf States, but they excluded Alaska. Even though Alaska is the farthest away from the lower 48, and it is one of this country's fuel sources, there is no revenue stream at all--period. We have a huge impact with the development of our housing, transportation, water, and sewer. We need to have the capacity so these communities can support this large development. My bill provides just what the Gulf States get--37.5 percent of the Federal revenues. We are not adding new taxes. We are taking what is collected--- or in the future what would be collected. The 37.5 percent of Federal revenues would be delivered in the following way: 25 percent will go to the local governments; 25 percent will go to the Alaska Native village and regional corporations. In some ways they are similar to the Indian Country in the lower 48 States but different in how they operate. In any event, it will provide services to Alaska Native communities. Ten percent will go directly to tribal governments, and the remaining 40 percent will go to the State of Alaska to deal with the impacts of this. This bill also requires 15 percent of the Federal share of royalties be directed to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Why is that important? It is important because that not only touches coastal States, it touches every State. Almost $900 million annually would be directed for the purpose of land and water conservation throughout this country. Finally, a percentage of the 37.5 percent of the Federal share would be dedicated directly to deficit reduction. Again, as I read the letter, they make it sound very evil. They make it sound like it is some monster lurking in the waters. This doesn't sound so evil. This is about fairness to our State and any coastal State that develops oil and gas off their shores. Again, as I read the letter, it is clear that friends and colleagues on my side of the aisle don't get what it means when we have this type of development and what type of infrastructure we have to provide to balance that infrastructure and ensure the people of that State get the resources and the development they need--especially when we extract from our State. People come and extract from our State and use it elsewhere. Our State should be left with some stream of revenue. They make a point in the letter, which this bill does address, as far as having 37.5 percent of these resources go to the States. The answer to that is simply, yes. Yes, it does. Relying on the Federal Government to determine what is best for these States doesn't always work out so well. We are now finally doing a CR with some modifications, and I am glad we are. After 4 years of seeing how this place operates, I will put my bet on State, local, and tribal governments to deliver the services we need. If it means that we take money from the Federal Government and give it to these local communities to do the job, I am all for it. As a former mayor, I know what we can do when we are given the resources and how we will spend it efficiently and do what is right for the communities we represent. I appreciate the moment to talk on this issue. It is frustrating to see these letters. The Presiding Officer is from an energy State and knows what it is like when people propose their ideas for their States--and never talk to us about it--or propose what we should be working on. We should have communication. It is frustrating to have people from my own side of the aisle say we are not sharing our resources with the rest of the country when we do share. It is also frustrating that some of those on my side of the aisle oppose something which makes so much sense. We need to give more control to the local people who are extracting resources from the coastline. I thank the Presiding Officer for allowing me to speak. At this time I yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, today I would like to recognize retired LTC Dave Hoffman for his outstanding service to the United States Air Force as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. Mr. Hoffman journeyed to Alaska in the 1970s to fly helicopters in the 71st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, ARRS, an Air Force Unit that performed search and rescue for both civilians and military members in remote Alaska. At that time, a United States Air Force air rescue unit was considered top notch if they logged two or more ``saves'' in a year. The 71st ARRS that Dave Hoffman flew for logged over 90 saves in 1978. With temperatures dipping to 30 degrees below zero, the pilots of the 71st were often on their own in the Alaskan wilderness for days, putting their own lives at risk to save the lives of others. After his service in the USAF, Dave joined the Alaska Army National Guard, assisting his unit in countless saves. When the Air Force decided to deactivate the 71st ARRS, legislation was introduced that created the 210th Rescue Squadron, RQS, in the Alaska Air National Guard at Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage, AK. Initially, as a cadre instructor pilot and later as first commander of Detachment 1, Dave Hoffman continued the tradition of greatness. By 1996, the 210th RQS had saved a record 310 lives and held the record for both the highest altitude rescue, 14,400 ft., and the furthest rescue, 2037 miles, in an HH-60G helicopter. In the fall of 1991, then Major Hoffman participated in a rescue effort less than 400 nautical miles from the North Pole where a Canadian C-130 crashed. Flying night and day for over 3 days, Dave Hoffman's ability to persevere under the worst conditions resulted in saving 13 lives while managing to return all rescuers and assets unharmed. This mission earned him the Air Medal. In 1993, he was involved in the first military exercise teaming Russian and American forces on Russian soil. Lieutenant Colonel Hoffman flew with such precision during an aerial refueling that Russian General Kalugin was convinced an automated mechanism had performed the feat. When it was proven that Dave Hoffman had, in fact, piloted the helicopter, the Russian general presented him with a medal for ``superior airmanship.'' Although Dave Hoffman is one of the best rescue and recovery pilots, his personality outshines his technical ability. After a rough landing, Dave is known to flash his famous smile and say, ``You know, my dashing young lieutenant, if you aren't so hard on the equipment it'll last longer.'' His loyalty to the guard and to the men and women he served with has touched all who know him. Many recall a man who is always calm, sincere, honest, and has a great joy for life. Those who had the pleasure of flying with Dave, affectionately called ``Hoff-person'' and ``King Biscuit,'' are not shy about the respect, admiration and love that they have for the man. Whether he was saving lives or sharing in them, he left a lasting glow within the recipients. On this day, I would like to honor Mr. Dave Hoffman and thank him for his service to this country, to Alaska, and to so many who are lucky enough to know him.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate LTC Glenn Johnson for his outstanding service to our Nation on the occasion of his retirement. His dedicated service to the citizens of our Nation is both admirable and commendable. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson enlisted in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve directly out of high school, and then was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer upon graduation from the University of South Carolina in December 1991. He has served in units in the United States, Germany, Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, and has supported Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has served at all levels of the Army, from platoon leader to Chief of the Exercise and Training Branch, U.S. Force Korea, to legislative liaison in the Army Legislative Affairs division. I was honored to have Lieutenant Colonel Johnson serve as a military fellow in my office in 2010. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Johnson for his many years of service to our Nation. I wish the absolute best to him, his wife Bernadette, and their son Brent as they begin this next stage in their lives.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, today I wish to honor Mr. Lyal Hanson, who is entering his 50th year of service to the United States Postal Service. The State of Alaska had only been a State for 5 years when Mr. Hanson began delivering mail. In Alaska, mail delivery is not just a convenience; it is a necessity. For interior villages, towns on the coast, and residents who live in the Bush, the mail is a lifeline and often the only method of regular communication. In Alaska's urban and rural areas, the mail is a critical part of our communications infrastructure which allows small businesses to transport goods. Today, Mr. Hanson delivers mail in South Anchorage near Tudor Road. Residents on his delivery route know him and appreciate his public service. Letter carriers like Lyal Hanson helped Alaska in the early stages of statehood and his work ties our communities together as we continue to grow. Our State's economy has developed tremendously since Lyal Hanson began delivering mail, and the public service of people like him is part of our success story. At this time, I would like to recognize and thank Mr. Hanson for his many years of service to the United States Postal Service. We are fortunate to have someone as dedicated and committed to delivering mail in our communities.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate and honor two young Alaska students who have achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in their communities. Shaylee Rizzo of Kenai and Samuel Allred of Wasilla have just been named State Honorees in the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program, an annual honor conferred on only one high school student and one middle-level student in each State and the District of Columbia. Ms. Rizzo earned recognition for starting a public service campaign called ``Missy the Moose Program'' to raise youth awareness of the dangers of cars hitting moose on Alaska's highways--a common occurrence in her area during the hazardous winter months. Her idea was inspired by a photograph of a local motel owner posing with an orphaned moose he had saved after its mother was killed by a car. To launch her program, Shaylee wrote and illustrated a children's book that told the story of a collision from a moose calf's perspective. Wearing a moose costume, she then visited elementary school classrooms as Missy the Moose, sharing her book with the kids and offering ideas on how to encourage their parents to watch out for Missy and her friends. With her father's help, she wrote a theme song, recorded radio announcements urging children to get their parents to slow down, and solicited local businesses to buy more air time for her announcements. Currently, she is trying to gain State of Alaska's approval to post Missy the Moose signs in high moose-traffic areas to remind motorists to drive with care. Mr. Allred earned recognition for making travel-size pillows and distributing them to children's hospitals across the country to provide comfort to sick kids. As a toddler, he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease that resulted in hospitalizations and the need to take medications that altered his appearance. In 2008, a video of Samuel singing went viral on YouTube and garnered millions of views--along with comments that were mostly good--but judged his appearance. He decided to start a nonprofit organization with the goal of changing lives through compassion. In 2009, Samuel, along with friends and family members, made 300 pillows out of bright, cheerful fabric and donated them to a local children's hospital. But Samuel knew he could do even more if he got the community involved, so he began visiting local schools to talk about kindness and compassion. It wasn't long before others were helping to craft pillows for Samuel's ``Project Comfort.'' Elementary school students stuffed pillows, senior citizens stitched them closed, and middle-school students made more than 1,700 pillows. Today, many groups in Alaska are creating pillows. Samuel sends the pillows to children's hospitals throughout the United States. Given the challenges we face today, it is important that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contributions that these young Alaskans have made. Youth volunteers like Ms. Rizzo and Mr. Allred are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. I thank Ms. Rizzo and Mr. Allred for their initiative in seeking to make their communities better places to live, and for the positive impact they have had on the lives of others. I also would like to salute Allison Ostrander and Reese Qualls, young people in my State who were named distinguished finalists by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for their outstanding volunteer service. All of these young people demonstrate a level of commitment and accomplishment that is rarely seen today, and they deserve our sincere admiration and respect. Their actions show that young Americans can, and do, play important roles in their communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future. Thank you for allowing me to take a moment to recognize these great young volunteers in Alaska.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Absolutely. I thank my friend from West Virginia. We built the largest single capital project back in the 1970s when we brought oil off the North Slope, almost 800 miles through the harshest, most unpredictable climates one would ever see. I can tell my colleagues, if we went back to the stories and articles, the sky would fall, the environment would be destroyed, and the world would come to an end by us building that pipeline. We are multiple decades past. It has worked very well. There haven't been those disasters people claimed would happen. On top of that, my friend from Louisiana mentioned the environmental impact and it makes sense that the pipeline is the safest way to move oil. On top of that, we have a choice--the Senator from North Dakota made it very clear--and that is to get it refined in China or the United States. I don't know about anybody here, but I would bet we all agree that between the environmental standards, we have a better environmental record than China in the refining of oil products, so it makes sense for us to do it. On top of that, people are traveling to Alaska not just for the jobs and the opportunity but the beauty of Alaska, and we have more visitors who want to see the pipeline, to visit the pipeline. When I went down the Gulkana on a rafting trip, it is unbelievable beauty. But one of the last things people do when they come down and land the raft and begin to pack to go back home, there is the pipeline going right across the Gulkana. Guess what. It hasn't damaged the environment. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of photos of people trying to get their raft underneath the pipeline; trying to get the pipeline and the rapids at the same time. So the Senator's point is a very good one. The Governor of Nebraska has approved it going through their State, but there is nothing similar to Alaska when it comes to the harsh environment we had to build in. We did it, and we did it when technology was much different. Today, the standards are even greater. Again, I wish to echo the Senator's point. If I could make one other point. This is unique, the Chamber and labor working together for the common good of this country and the jobs and the groups--we think of the Teamsters and Operating Engineers, the pipeline contractors, the plumbers and pipefitters, they are all part of this agreement to build this pipeline and train workers; as my colleagues know, there is a huge gap in our trades. So we get to utilize a training opportunity, employ thousands of people not only for today but for the future. So from Alaska's perspective, we like it. We know pipelines. We know we have to build big ones, as we did, and the fact is, as the Senator from North Dakota said, they are going to move this oil one way or another. We have a choice. Do we do it in our country, get the jobs that are attached to it, the opportunity to refine it in States with great quality refineries or do we let China do it? This is a no-brainer for my State.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Marine Highway System. Alaskans celebrate this critical and necessary water transportation system which links rural and urban hub communities along the coast of our vast State. Unlike the lower 48, many of our communities are not accessible by road, so in many areas the primary means of travel is by air or sea. Therefore, the Alaska Marine Highway makes up a large part of our highway system and is a route so special it has been designated a National Scenic Byway and an All American Road, the only marine route in the United States with this designation. My family and I share special memories of taking the ferries to many communities throughout Alaska. The Marine Highway was even part of our trip here to Washington for my first year in the Senate. A ferry ride brings Alaskans together while on their way to visit family, play in basketball tournaments, or bring new cars and boats home from the lower 48. Although the 50-year anniversary commemorates the formal establishment of the Alaska Division of Marine Transportation in 1963, the Alaska Marine Highway System was begun in 1948, initiated by three men with a dream to provide dependable marine transportation among Alaska's coastal communities. Haines resident Steve Homer joined forces with brothers Ray and Gustav Gelotte to purchase the M/V Chilkoot and set up Chilkoot Motorship Lines. The vessel, formerly a U.S. Navy landing craft, required work to remove its military features and ensure it could pass U.S. Coast Guard inspection, but within a few months of its purchase, it was deemed ready for service as a civilian passenger vessel. The M/V Chilkoot could carry a maximum of only 14 cars and by all accounts had ``poor accommodations'' due to retaining many of its original Navy features. No matter the M/V Chilkoot ferried its first two cars from Haines to Juneau in August of 1948. As fate would have it, one of those cars belonged to Ernest Gruening, then the Territorial Governor of Alaska. Governor Gruening became an ardent supporter of the new transportation system and with two other commissioners from the Board of Roads authorized the construction of ferry ramps in Juneau, Haines, and Skagway. Thus, service to these three small southeast communities was born. In 1988 Steve Homer wrote a letter about his experience starting the Alaska Marine Highway System. In that letter he wrote that his initial idea of bringing a landing craft to Southeast Alaska was spawned in 1944 when he commanded such a craft in World War II. He said he signed partnership papers to form Chilkoot Motorship Lines in 1949 and that the total required equity capital was $9,177 in 1948 dollars. A few years later the business ran into financial difficulties, and the Alaska Territorial Government offered to purchase it. Ownership transferred to the territory in 1951. By 1957 the M/V Chilkoot was too small to meet demand and was replaced by the M/V Chilkat. The M/V Chilkat could carry 59 passengers and 15 vehicles. It began daily service between Juneau, Haines, and Skagway in April of that year. Two years later, on January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th State and the M/V Chilkat became the first State-owned ferry. That same year, the First Alaska Legislature approved the Alaska Ferry Transportation Act, and voters approved bond issues totaling $18 million to expand the ferry fleet. These bonds enabled the State to commission four new vessels and build docks throughout southeast Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula. In 1963, with the establishment of the Division of Marine Transportation, the Alaska Marine Highway System was officially launched. Over the past 50 years the Alaska Marine Highway has grown to include 11 vessels which serve 35 communities. From the southern terminus in Bellingham, WA, the system stretches more than 3,500 miles to Dutch Harbor, AK. It makes port calls in Prince Rupert, BC, and throughout Alaska's Inside Passage. It travels across the Gulf of Alaska to Prince William Sound and along the Aleutian Chain, all to carry the Nation's commerce to distant destinations and Alaska's passengers to home ports. Through this scenic highway, Alaskans share their incredible natural beauty with visitors from around the world and connect with each other through a transportation system which has served safely and reliably for 50 years. Thank you for allowing me to celebrate this milestone 50th anniversary of the unique Alaska treasure known as the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, every year on February 16, Alaskans take time to remember and celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich, a Tlingit woman who demonstrated courage in her convictions--a courage which changed the course of civil rights treatment for Alaska Natives. Almost 25 years ago, the Alaska State Legislature designated this date as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to commemorate the signing of the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 and to honor Ms. Peratrovich. Elizabeth Wanamaker was born on July 4, 1911. Her family traveled extensively on missionary trips throughout southeast Alaska, providing Elizabeth with broad educational experiences and connecting her with people throughout the region--an extraordinary opportunity for a Native girl of that era. After leaving the State to attend Western College in Bellingham, WA, she returned to Alaska with her new husband, Roy Peratrovich, who was half Tlingit, to work in the canneries in Klawock. Both were educated and interested in Native issues, and Roy joined the Alaska Native Brotherhood, ANB, and Elizabeth joined the Alaska Native Sisterhood, ANS. Both ANB and ANS were working to gain land claims and civil rights for Alaska's Native people. Their interests turned to activism, and Elizabeth and Roy began to get more involved in their community. Roy was elected as mayor of Klawock. Eventually, the couple decided to move to Alaska's territorial capital, Juneau, in search of more opportunities and a better education for their children. Their dreams quickly dissolved when they discovered Natives were not welcome in many places in Juneau. There were signs reading ``No dogs, No Natives or Filipinos'' and others that simply said ``No Natives Allowed.'' They found separate drinking fountains and separate entryways in public buildings for non-Whites. They learned they could only purchase property in Native neighborhoods, could only be seated in a segregated portion of the local theater, and could only send their children to missionary schools--not the public schools for which they paid a school tax. In 1941, Elizabeth and Roy wrote a joint letter to Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening about their concerns. Many legislators were entrenched with the idea that Alaska Natives were second class citizens and despite the fact they paid taxes and bore arms in defense of the Nation, they were not endowed with the same rights as others. However, 1945 brought some hope. Antidiscrimination legislation had passed the Alaska State House but was stalled in the Senate. One senator made a speech stating that Natives had only recently emerged from savagery and they were not fit for society. He argued they had not had the experience of 5,000 years of civilization. With great courage and composure, Elizabeth Peratrovich stood during public testimony and confronted the senator who had just belittled her and her people. Not only was she a Native addressing the mostly White senate, she was also the first woman ever to address the body. Elizabeth Peratrovich opened her testimony with, ``I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill of Rights.'' The senate gallery and floor exploded in applause. The opposition that had been so absolute and emphatic shrank to a mere whisper. On February 8, 1945, a bill to end discrimination in Alaska passed the senate by a vote of 11 to 5. The bill was signed into law on February 16--the day we celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. Elizabeth Peratrovich was instrumental in making Alaska the first organized government under the U.S. flag to condemn discrimination. Today in Alaska, we celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich Day and affirm our beliefs in equality. Thank you for allowing me to embrace the memory of one woman who fought for equality for all, Alaskan Elizabeth Peratrovich.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I request the time to make my statement as required.

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I come to the floor to speak on the Violence Against Women Act, but before I do that, I wish to say I appreciate the comments of my friend from Indiana. We all want to get this budget under control. We all recognize we have to get it under control not only for today's generation but for multiple generations to come. During the last few years we have been able to cut almost $2 trillion of our budgetary costs over the next 10 years, cuts we have been able to accomplish in a bipartisan way but led a lot by this side. Let me remind folks where we are. Four years ago this economy was flat on its back--an economy that didn't have any air in it. It was in a grave situation. But where are we today? We have a 5-year housing start, incredible activity within the automobile industry, with record-high sales going on there. The stock market has doubled in the last 4\1/2\ years. Most recently, the CBO--the Congressional Budget Office, a bipartisan office which doesn't show any favoritism to any side-- verifies that in 4 years we have cut the annual deficit by 40 percent. I know that is not where it should be yet because we want to balance it, but a 40-percent reduction in the annual deficit is significant. So we are on the road. Is it a slower road than we would like? Sure, but it is on the road to recovery. It is having a positive impact. As a matter of fact, now the deficit, as the amount compared to our GDP, is cut in half. So we are making some inroads. Democrats are not afraid at all to cut the budget where it is necessary, but we need to solve this problem with three types of moves. We have to cut the budget, deal with revenues, and invest in this economy for education, energy, and infrastructure. It is a three- pronged approach. Even if we think we can do one of these and somehow, magically, a $16 trillion debt will just vanish overnight is in another world that doesn't exist on this planet. I appreciate the debate that goes on, but we need to be honest, realistic, and practical in dealing with these budgetary issues, and they will be tough. People will not like all of it. I can see it now at my townhall meetings when I go to them. They will say cut the budget, which we will do--don't get me wrong, we will do that--but then when I go back to my hometown they will say, I didn't actually mean that program. That will be the story. The fact is we have serious issues with which to deal. So this is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. When people come to the floor, we should think about this as an American issue and that we have to resolve this for the right reasons. We have done some exceptional work over the last 4 years, despite the hurdles, the political slogans, and all the other stuff that goes along with it in getting results. A 40-percent reduction in the annual deficit in 4 years is significant. Is it zero? Is it balanced? No; because there have been 40-plus years of not paying attention to the budget. A lot of us are new around here. As a matter of fact, 60 percent of the Senate is made up of people who haven't been here more than 6 years. I am looking at three Senators on the floor right now. We are here to solve this problem. However, do not be mistaken. We have made progress. The American people should be proud of what we have done. But is it perfect? No. Do we have more work to do? Yes. That is why we are here and that is why we are going to do this with a bipartisan approach. So I digress from the issue I came to discuss. I like the debates that happen on the floor, and I wish more would happen, but when a Member speaks, I want to make sure all the information is on the table. I came to speak on an important piece of legislation, the Violence Against Women Act. We debate issues that are important around here, but not too often can we stand on the floor of this Chamber and say our votes are a matter of life and death. In this case, it is absolutely true. This bill saves lives. It is our job to pass it now--today. The Senate, as we did last year, needs to send a simple and important message that America will not tolerate violence against its women, children, and families. We must do our part to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault. Even though the House has refused to act for over 300 days since we sent the bill over there, we are now in a new session and there is bipartisan support in this Chamber. The VAWA bill passed the Senate with 60 votes last spring and there are at least 60 of us already signed up and cosponsoring this legislation. We know the reality. The fight to protect women and families from violence is far from over. VAWA was first passed just 20 years ago and it has not been reauthorized since 2006. The law has made a difference. We know a great deal more about domestic violence than when VAWA was first written. Services for victims have improved. Communities offer safer shelter. Local, State, and Federal laws are stronger. Yet there are still too many awful stories and inexcusable numbers, especially in my home State. Alaska continues to have some of the worst statistics in the country. Three out of every four Alaskans have experienced domestic or sexual violence or known someone who has. The rate of rape in Alaska is nearly 2\1/2\ times the national average, even worse for Alaskan Native women. Child sexual assault in Alaska is almost six times the national average. Out of every 100 adult women in Alaska, nearly 60 have experienced physical or sexual violence or both. So my colleagues can see why I am standing here today. We need to do something about this not someday, not next year but today. In one typical day in my State, victim services agencies throughout Alaska serve an average of 464 victims, 114 hotline calls are answered, and 308 people across Alaska attend training sessions offered by local domestic violence and sexual assault programs. Yet people are still turned away because of a lack of funding, a lack of service. On an average day in Alaska, 52 requests for services are not met--basic needs such as transportation, childcare, language translation, counseling and legal representation. The bill before us is critical in ensuring all victims receive the services they need. I wish to spend just a few more minutes discussing the safety of women and children in Alaska Native and American Indian families. For the sake of our Nation's first peoples, the tribal provisions in this bill need to become law. Yet some of my colleagues on the other side of this Chamber are trying to strip out our expanded authority over domestic violence in Indian Country. Why are we debating this? One out of every three Native American women has suffered rape, physical violence or stalking. Yet some Members want to debate the rights of their abusers. I fully support the tribal provisions in this bill. Yet I must point out that none of the expanded criminal jurisdiction applies to Alaska Native tribes except for one true reservation at the very southern tip of Alaska. Today is not the day to fight that fight, but I will take it up again soon from my seat on the Indian Affairs Committee in the Senate. Study after study has concluded that the lack of effective local law enforcement in Alaska Native villages contributes to so many problems: increased crime, alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, and poor educational achievement. When it comes to protecting those most at risk, Congress must recognize the need for local control, local responsibility, and local accountability. This bill will take a big step forward today on Indian reservations in the lower 48. At a later time, we will get to my bill, which I have introduced in the past as the Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act. My bill would establish small demonstration projects so a handful of federally recognized tribes in Alaska's villages can take action. They would be allowed to address domestic violence and alcohol-related cases within their villages and village boundaries. Our Native villages are vibrant, resilient communities, and we must answer their calls for help. That includes an ``all of the above'' approach to combating domestic violence and abuse. The one thing we know for sure is the status quo is not working. It is not just about slogans or feel-good statements. We need to act. But for now--for today--let's vote on VAWA and get this bill passed. Let's protect women and children and families all over this country. And let's send a strong message to our colleagues in the House, that this time there is no hiding. It is time to get the job done. It is time to put politics aside. Pass this bill and truly save lives. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to speak about legislation I am introducing today that would restore basic fairness to how our Nation shares revenue from energy produced Federal waters. The Alaska Adjacent Zone Safe Oil Transport and Revenue Sharing Act would provide Alaskans with the same share of Federal bonus bid and royalty revenue, 37.5 percent, as residents of Gulf Coast States. This is about fairness and a fix that is long overdue. Alaskans deserve to be treated as well as residents of the Gulf Coast. We bear the risks and the responsibilities of offshore development. It is only fair that we share in the proceeds. Revenue sharing will provide funding for the State of Alaska, local governments and tribes to mitigate effects of development and provide support for public sector infrastructure required to both develop the resources and respond in terms of emergency. The measure distributes to Alaska 37.5 percent of the Federal bonus bids and royalty share from any energy development, fossil or renewable. Of that 37.5 percent; 25 percent is directed to local governments; 25 percent is directed to Alaska Native corporations; 10 percent is directed to tribal governments; and 40 percent is directed to the State of Alaska. Additionally, the Federal share is subdivided with 15 percent of the Federal royalties directed, without further appropriation, to the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and 7.5 percent directly to deficit reduction. In addition, this legislation requires oil produced in the Federal waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas to be brought ashore by pipeline, a method that is safer than tanker transport and secures future throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. I am committed to putting in place all the pieces necessary to responsibly develop oil and gas from the Arctic Ocean. Beyond better permit coordination, that I have worked on in other legislation and with the administration, this includes more accurate marine science and the two main features of this bill: sharing revenue with the state and coastal communities as well as keeping Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, TAPS, flowing into the future. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to speak about legislation I am introducing today that would restore basic fairness to how our Nation shares revenue from energy produced Federal waters. The Alaska Adjacent Zone Safe Oil Transport and Revenue Sharing Act would provide Alaskans with the same share of Federal bonus bid and royalty revenue, 37.5 percent, as residents of Gulf Coast States. This is about fairness and a fix that is long overdue. Alaskans deserve to be treated as well as residents of the Gulf Coast. We bear the risks and the responsibilities of offshore development. It is only fair that we share in the proceeds. Revenue sharing will provide funding for the State of Alaska, local governments and tribes to mitigate effects of development and provide support for public sector infrastructure required to both develop the resources and respond in terms of emergency. The measure distributes to Alaska 37.5 percent of the Federal bonus bids and royalty share from any energy development, fossil or renewable. Of that 37.5 percent; 25 percent is directed to local governments; 25 percent is directed to Alaska Native corporations; 10 percent is directed to tribal governments; and 40 percent is directed to the State of Alaska. Additionally, the Federal share is subdivided with 15 percent of the Federal royalties directed, without further appropriation, to the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and 7.5 percent directly to deficit reduction. In addition, this legislation requires oil produced in the Federal waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas to be brought ashore by pipeline, a method that is safer than tanker transport and secures future throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. I am committed to putting in place all the pieces necessary to responsibly develop oil and gas from the Arctic Ocean. Beyond better permit coordination, that I have worked on in other legislation and with the administration, this includes more accurate marine science and the two main features of this bill: sharing revenue with the state and coastal communities as well as keeping Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, TAPS, flowing into the future. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I thank my colleague from California for making those important remarks. I am also here to talk about the Paycheck Fairness Act for a few minutes, if I could. As she said in her last remarks, it is very important to note the last few times this issue has come up it was filibustered. We did not even get to the bill. So hopefully, according to the new rules we agreed on here and coordinated in a bipartisan way, we will get to the bill and we will debate it on its merits, not on whether it should proceed. Let's see how that works. Again, I thank her for coming down here today. I rise here on the anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 to lend my support to the next bill we need to pass, the Paycheck Fairness Act. I thank Senator Mikulski for organizing this important discussion. Four years ago I entered this Chamber fresh from Alaska. Madam President, you are fresh from North Dakota. I probably sat right there during that debate in 2009. I was finishing my second term as mayor of Anchorage and was excited to take on the new challenges in the Senate on behalf of all Alaskans. I am honored to say one of my first votes in the Senate as a new Senator was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. I was proud to add my support to the cause. At the same time it was--and is--disheartening to continue hearing about pay inequity as a major economic problem, that there are still drastic wage gaps for women, that women on average still earn about one-fifth less than their male counterparts. We all know the numbers. That is why I have cosponsored Senator Mikulski's Paycheck Fairness Act each time it was introduced. It provides women with the tools to close this long-standing gap. Her bill is an important companion to the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which kept the courthouse door open to demand justice over pay discrimination. This was a crucial victory, but we must continue the fight and finish the job by passing paycheck fairness. At its core, the bill is really very simple: It says employees and employers can share wage information and that discrepancies in pay must be based on experience and qualifications--not on gender. What is more fair than that? Unfortunately, my State is not a leader on pay equity. In Alaska, women earn 78 cents for every dollar paid to men. Unless that changes, Alaska women will earn $623,000 less than men during their working careers. This pay gap has harmed the families of roughly 155,000 women in the Alaska workforce. Women in Alaska have higher rates of economic insecurity than men: In 2010, women working full time not only earned lower average wages but also were more likely to live in poverty--more than 10 percent of Alaska women compared to about 7 percent of men. Women in Alaska make up 47 percent of the state workforce and nearly half of them are married mothers who are the primary wage earners in their families. When they earn less than men, that burden falls on the entire family--including about 112,000 Alaska children who are dependent on their mother's earnings. The State's highest-paying industries--including manufacturing, natural resources and mining--are mostly dominated by men. Jobs such as miners, mobile heavy equipment mechanics and electrical power line installers pay much better than State average wages, but few women are getting those jobs. Our Alaska Department of Labor puts it bluntly: ``Women seem to be funneled into lower-pay occupations.'' Listen to these numbers. If the gap between men's and women's wages in Alaska were eliminated, each full-time working woman could suddenly afford to pay for 2 more years of groceries, buy 3,700 more gallons of gas or pay the mortgage and utility bills for 8 more months. So on this 4th anniversary of the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, I say to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: Let's finish the job and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. As I said, it's so simple. The bill will close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and establish stronger workplace protections for women. In the real world there should be nothing complicated or controversial about this, but sometimes we wonder where we are; it is not always the real world. As I said at the beginning of my comments, hopefully the issue of filibuster will not be part of this equation, that we actually get on the bill, have the debate, and people can vote up or vote down, amend it or not, and determine where we stand on this issue. I am from a household where we were raised by a mother, the six of us. My father died when I was 10. She survived raising four boys, which is a miracle in itself, and two girls. The problem was not the girls, it was the boys. But she raised six of us at a very young age. Hopefully some would consider us productive parts of society. But when I saw what my mom had to struggle through, what she had to earn to make sure we had food on the table, make sure we had opportunities in our lives, it is clear to me that this is not a complicated issue. This is a simple fairness issue. I hope my colleague on the other side, again, would allow it to come forward. We will debate it and then we will vote on it, and the American people, Alaskans, will see what we think of fairness in the sense of a paycheck for a woman working the same job--equal job as a man does. I yield the floor.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, there is nothing like a good meal in a favorite restaurant to make your day. When I travel to Fairbanks, the second largest city in my home State, I often go to Big Daddy's BarB-Q owned by Harold Groetsema. There are many good barbeque establishments in Alaska. Barbeque has long been a part of our Nation's culinary history. Few people know that our own Library of Congress holds dozens of old drawings, posters and prints depicting barbecued meats at picnics, high society events, fairs and the like. The Library of Congress has barbeque recipes, stories, cookbooks and books on the history of barbeque. Its collection is large because it is a popular subject whether you like your sauce sweet, spicy or vinegar sour. It would be hard to pick an absolute favorite of mine back home. I like them all. Big Daddy's southern-style barbeque is consistently top quality. Big Daddy's has won competitions in Alaska, done well nationally and was featured on a Food Network TV show. Maybe it's the secret sauce. Maybe it's the meat. Maybe it's the way he slow cooks over a hickory fire. Harold and his team are heading to the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis later this year. With his skills and dedication, I wouldn't be surprised if they return with a high ranking. I wish Harold and his team well and I know they will make Alaska proud.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, ice hockey is a popular activity in Alaska year round and especially in the winter. Today, I want to highlight hockey in my home State. You can find someone passing the puck around in nearly any community or military installation with a frozen lake, pond or ice rink, whether it's organized play or a pickup game. There are dozens of leagues and camps for players of all ages from the squirts and midgets to Anchorage's Aces and Seawolves and Fairbanks' Ice Dogs and Nanooks. At the professional level, the National Hockey League recognizes the importance of hockey in the lower ranks by sponsoring the ``Hockey Is for Everyone'' program in February. This program helps young girls and boys learn essential life skills such as commitment and perseverance. The NHL, along with USA Hockey, participates in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program, to promote activity and good nutrition. Anyone who has ever skated hard for more than a few minutes knows how healthy it can be, whether your goal is to have fun, stay fit or to play in the NHL, on the U.S. Olympic team or at the 2014 Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks. Not only does playing hockey teach the ideals of teamwork, fair play and loyalty, when Alaskans get involved in fund raising, coaching, and event chaperoning, they are practicing good civics and citizenship. And it's exciting to watch live or broadcasted games because the sport is so fast paced, yet graceful and athletic at the same time. Three cheers for the players, coaches and supporters of hockey in Alaska.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I would like to take the time to recognize and thank those who volunteer, take life saving courses or provide financial donations to support an organization whose mission is to help those in need, and in their honor, recognize March 2013 as American Red Cross Month. In Alaska the Red Cross works tirelessly statewide through its 18 employees and hundreds of volunteers to help when disaster strikes and when someone needs the comfort of a helping hand. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families, and provides training in CPR, aquatics safety, and first aid. Across the country, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year. It provides some 400,000 services to military members, veterans and civilians, collects and distributes about 40 percent of the Nation's blood supply and trains more than seven million people in first aid, water safety and other lifesaving skills every year. Alaska, and the rest of the country, relies on the American Red Cross and the work of their supporters. I hope that by recognizing March as American Red Cross Month we can highlight their exemplary work and ensure they can continue to help Americans for years to come.

Mr. BEGICH

Mr. BEGICH. I will tell you, in Alaska it is even magnified in a lot of ways. If you think of this country, three-quarters of the coastline is Alaska. Fishermen have been fishing there commercially not just for a few hundred years but for 10,000 years of survival on our oceans. When you think of the value in 76,000 jobs in Alaska directly and indirectly connected to the fishing industry, it is over $5 billion. It doesn't matter in a commercial fishery--if you are in McDonald's having a fish sandwich, the odds are that it comes from our fisheries. If you sit in the fanciest restaurants anywhere in the world, the odds are that some of our fish is there. As Senator Shaheen said, this is a bipartisan issue. The disasters that are declared for fisheries in this bill have been declared disasters. It is not some pie in the sky, some pork, or we sit around and say: Let's get some money for every State. These are actually declared disasters by the States and our Federal Government that need to be funded. In our situation, it is even more dire--not just the economic impact I just laid out, but an elder told me one time that in urban cities, you walk out the door and you go down the street to Safeway for your food. In rural Alaska, you open your door, and what is in front of you? The nature they see is the grocery store. So when they have--in our case, the YK Delta, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in the western part of Alaska, had a devastating king salmon fishery loss in terms of the quantity of the fish. So when that fish is not able to be harvested, to be put into the storehouses for the winter, then the limited cash that they have, in an area where fuel cost to heat their home is $8, $9, $12 a gallon, now has to go to not only heating that they have already set that cash aside for, now they have to get food shipped in. So their limited cash is now split between heating their home and putting food on the table. Let me tell you, in Fairbanks, AK, which is urban, outside it was 40 below yesterday. So heating your home is not like just turning on your heater when you come home from work. It is a whole different ball game. But most importantly, they live off the land. It is not some hobby they do on the weekend. It is not a sports event. They harvest the food. The Senator from Massachusetts said it best--we harvest the ocean. We are no different from any farmer in the Midwest or anywhere else. So when the YK Delta loses its king salmon, a critical piece of their food supply, it is real. It is not about: We will go fishing next year. This is about: Do we have enough food on the table? When I hear people on the other side and others who say this is a bunch of pork and a bunch of this and that, they need to come to Alaska. I would enjoy them coming right now in the winter at 40 below and seeing what people have to do. To me, this is such a small amount to make such an impact not only to us but to all the coastal States that are suffering with this situation in our fishing industry.