Benjamin Cardin

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today with sadness in my heart to pay tribute to a very special individual, Gene M. Kirchner, a Baltimore County volunteer firefighter who died in the line of duty. Gene was just 25 and a volunteer firefighter for the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Department. He rushed to the second floor of a house fire on April 24 in a vain attempt to save the resident. Gene was found unconscious and was rushed to Maryland's Shock Trauma Center, but succumbed to his injuries on May 2. Gene joined the company's ranks when he was just 14 and served as a junior firefighter for 2 years before becoming a volunteer firefighter. He came from a family of firefighters. His twin brother Will is also a firefighter and so is his sister Shelly Brezicki. Craig Hewitt, assistant chief of the fire company, said that Gene ``was selfless, well-liked, funny; got along with everybody. He liked helping people.'' Gene was laid to rest this past Sunday and the entire Baltimore community is mourning the death of this kind, gentle young man who laid down his life in an attempt to save another's life. His brother and sister firefighters came from as far away as New York and North Carolina to pay special tribute to this young man who understood the risks he faced, but dedicated himself to helping ensure the safety of others. Gene was posthumously awarded the Fire Department's Medal of Honor because he embodied what we, as a Nation, come to look for in our first responders--courage, selflessness, and dedication to duty. I know my U.S. Senate colleagues will want to join me in thanking Gene's family for giving our community such a special young man and in sending condolences to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters on the tragic loss of such a hero.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. CARDIN

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I think 2 weeks ago the American public understood one of the consequences of the sequester cuts, these across- the-board, mindless cuts, when they saw what was going to happen with furloughs with the air traffic controllers and the air traffic service in this country. I never supported sequestration. These are mindless across-the-board cuts. I certainly did not want to see what would have happened to the FAA happen. That was mindless across-the-board cuts. We provided system flexibility to be able to avoid that circumstance. But what we need to do is replace sequestration for all agencies that are affected because similar occurrences are happening in other agencies. The reason is these are across-the-board mindless cuts. They are deep cuts. To the agencies that are affected, it is equivalent to about a 10-percent cut. This is on top of 3 years of reduced appropriations for these agencies. So it is affecting the core mission of the agencies. They have no flexibility, and therefore they have to cut back on their mission. That is what happened at the FAA. Of course, we provided some flexibility so they can do some other things. But we have not done that as far as providing relief from these across-the-board cuts in other agencies. So we are going to see many Federal agencies having to fundamentally change what they do. Let me give a couple of examples. I was recently at the National Institutes of Health and saw firsthand the great work they are doing. I could tell the Presiding Officer many of the missions they are doing are critically important to our health. I was briefed on the work they are doing for an influenza vaccine that will help us deal not with every season having to deal with a different type of influenza and not knowing whether we get it right but looking at one that will work for multiple years. That is the type of work that is done at the National Institutes of Health, the kind of work in dealing with finding the answers to cancer. I remember when I was young, if you got cancer, it was a death sentence. Now we reduce the fatalities of cancer. The survival rates are much higher. That is the work that is done at the National Institutes of Health, NIH. That work is being compromised by these across-the-board cuts that affect the grants NIH can give to the institutes around the country, including in Massachusetts and in Maryland. What is happening with Head Start is 70,000 children who could benefit from Head Start will not be able to this fall. Why? Because of these across-the-board cuts. Head Start is a program that works. We know that. The children who have participated in Head Start do much better. We have waiting lists now. Do we want to tell 70,000 families they are not going to be able to send their children to Head Start this fall? Senior eating together programs are being cut. Do we truly want to reduce our commitment to seniors in this country so they can get a nutritional meal? The border security protections we are going to be debating on the floor in a short period of time, how we can deal with comprehensive immigration reform. We want to do what is right, but we want to protect our borders. Do we truly want to cut back on border security in this country? Food safety. The list goes on and on and on to basic missions that will be affected by these across-the-board cuts. Why? I have heard people say this is not such a big deal, about 2 percent of the budget. The difficulty is it applies to only a small part of the budget; that is, basically our discretionary spending accounts. These discretionary spending accounts have already gone through several years of freezes and cuts. They have been really stretched. So the cut is condensed into a short period of time. There is no flexibility that is given in order to deal with it. It is going to have a negative impact on our economy. I used the example at a forum I had 2 weeks ago with a group of business leaders; that is, if you had trouble in your business, you knew you had to cut back, you would look at your budget, your money planned for rent or your mortgage payment, you have some money planned for your family for the food budget, maybe you had some money put aside for a weekend vacation or trip with your family. You do not cut every category the same. You are going to save your house and make sure there is food on the table. We have to do the same at the Federal level. We have to make the tough decisions as to where the priorities of this country need to be. I saw the impact on our Federal workforce. I am honored to represent a large number of Federal workers who are very dedicated people working to provide services to the people of this country. Many are going to go through what is known as furloughs. Furloughs are nothing more than telling you you are going to get a pay cut. Now, they have already had 3 years of a freeze. They have seen a lot of vacant positions go unfilled so they are being asked to do more with less. Now they are being told they have to go through furloughs. That is not right. We can do better than that. This country can do better than that. What we need to do is replace sequestration and we need to do it now. The majority leader made a unanimous consent request. I am sorry it was not agreed to. What it said, very basically, is we can find other ways to get the budget savings, but let's not do this meat-ax, across- the-board approach that compromises the missions of this country. Unfortunately, that was objected to. I have spoken on the floor before about areas we can reduce spending. I hear my friends on the other side of the aisle talking about mandatory spending. I agree. We can save money in health care. As the Presiding Officer knows, the work being done in Massachusetts, and I can tell you the work being done in Maryland, we see how we can reduce hospital readmissions, how we can deal with individuals with complicated illnesses and treat their conditions in a more comprehensive way, saving on less tests that need to be done, saving on hospitalizations. We know how we can reduce hospital infection rates. There are ways we can cut back on health care costs that will reduce Medicare and Medicaid and health care costs. That is what we need to do. That will save money. Let's implement some of those cost savings. I am honored to serve on the Senate Finance Committee. Our committee has jurisdiction over the Tax Code. We spend $1.2 trillion a year in tax expenditures. That is not touched at all by sequestration. We need to take a look at the Tax Code. There are parts of the Tax Code that are not efficient. Let's get rid of those provisions and we can save money and use that to help balance the budget without these across-the- board cuts. Then we are bringing our troops home from Afghanistan. I hope we can do that at a more rapid rate for many reasons. But those savings can also be used to close the gap on the budget problems and to allow us to replace sequestration. The bottom line is what my constituents want is for Democrats and Republicans to work together and to come up with a responsible budget plan for this country. They want that for many reasons. First, that is the way business should be done. Secondly, it gives predictability; we know what the budget is going to be. People can plan if they know what the Tax Code looks like and they know what the Federal budget looks like. They can plan and our economy will take off. Predictability is very important. Bottom line, what I urge us all to do: Let's get rid of these across- the-board cuts as soon as possible. We never should have been in this position. We have seen it in a couple agencies where the public was outraged and they flooded our phones. We are going to see that happen more and more because these are irrational cuts. We have a responsibility to act. The sooner we do, the better it is going to be for the American people, the better it is going to be for our economy. It is the responsible thing for the Senate to do. I yield the floor.

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. I have never supported the sequestration. I always thought it was a big mistake. These are across-the-board, mindless cuts that say every priority in government is identical to the other. That is not the case. If you had a problem in your family budget and you had to reduce some spending and you had money put aside for your mortgage payment, your rent payment, or your family food budget, and maybe some money for a weekend trip, you wouldn't identically cut every category. You may give up that weekend trip in order to be able to save the roof over your family or put food on the table. Sequestration says every priority in government is the same. It is also not directed to where we need to go to reduce the deficit. Once again, sequestration primarily applies to domestic discretionary spending. It provides a fourth round of cuts when we have already had cuts over the last 3 years. For the agencies that are affected, it is equivalent to about a 10-percent cut. You can't do that without seriously affecting the mission of the agencies, and that is wrong. That is why I have said from the beginning, let's replace sequestration. March 1 came; sequestration came; people woke up the next day and said, What is the big deal? Well, we are finding out what the big deal is all about. We just heard from the FAA, the air traffic controllers, that because of sequestration they have very little option--85 percent of their operational budget is in personnel, and air traffic controllers are most of the personnel. Therefore, they have announced they have to furlough 11 days during the remainder of this fiscal year. That comes out to about one furlough day over each work period. It is as much as a 10-percent reduction in the workforce to man our towers to make sure air traffic is managed safely. You can't do that with that type of reduction, and we are now looking at whether there are going to be significant delays of flights. Those types of cuts are ridiculous. We know better than that. There is no question about it, these are the types of things that are going to hurt our economy if we can't have a reliable air traffic service. I was talking to one of the nonprofits in Maryland that manages a Head Start Program, and they were telling me about what the fall enrollment is going to be. They have a waiting list of families who want their children in Head Start and qualify for Head Start and aren't going to be able to get into a Head Start Program. Why? Because of sequestration. The waiting list will get longer. Children will be denied the ability to go to Head Start Programs. Did we intend that? I don't think so. I don't think our colleagues wanted to say we were going to balance our budgets on the backs of children being denied Head Start placement. I was at the National Institutes of Health not too long ago. The research they do is so critically important to our country's future. It is not only the fact that they are discovering the answers to dread diseases or ways in which we can keep people healthy. They are now working on developing a universal flu vaccine against the influenza so you don't have to get a vaccine every year. Think how many lives that can save. It is also the basic research we need in order to create the jobs in the bioscience areas and the tech areas. This is about creating more jobs in our communities. Now they are going to have to give up grants as a result of sequestration even though today they are only approving about one out of every seven worthwhile grant applications. We certainly didn't intend that through sequestration. I could talk about new transit starts. We have some very exciting programs in Baltimore, Washington, and Maryland--a purple line to provide transit between the Washington suburban counties and Maryland. We have transit programs in Baltimore. We have the corridor cities along the 270 corridor. We have southern Maryland that needs help. All these programs need to compete for a limited amount of funds. Now, because of sequestration, there are going to be less funds available, meaning we are going to have more traffic jams rather than less. Do we mean for that to happen? I could go on and on. I could talk about the cuts to the Department of Defense and what they have to go through. These weren't cuts we initiated, saying this program needs to be reduced. These aren't the types of deliberative actions a Congress would do. It is saying we are going to do a meat ax approach and tell the agency: You cut your program by this percentage amount. We advertised it a little over 5 percent, but in reality it is much higher than that because these cuts over a 7-month period reflect a year's reduction. So the cuts are even more severe when used on an annual basis. Our Federal workforce deserves more. These are people working hard providing vital services in our country, whether it is protecting our borders or doing research or keeping our food supply safe or making sure our seniors get Social Security checks. The list goes on and on. It is not fair to those who signed up to serve the public as Federal workers, and it is certainly not fair to our economy. This is having a very damaging impact on the economy of this country. We have already seen in the most recent job reports a slowdown of more than we predicted, and most economists say it is directly related to these across-the-board sequestration cuts. So what should we do? We are in session. It is time for us to act. We are in the fiscal budget year 2013. Yes, we passed a budget at the end of last year. I think it was on January 1 when it finally got around to passing. We passed it at the sequestration levels saying we hoped we would figure out a budget plan to avoid the sequestration cuts in this year. So let us consider a way to avoid these mindless across-the-board cuts, and substitute it for sensible reductions that we know will not have the same type of unintended consequences on services that are vitally important to our economy and to the people of this country. There are areas where we have savings. We know that. We have that in the overseas contingency accounts under the Department of Defense. We know we can find savings in tax expenditures. We spend $1.2 trillion a year in tax expenditures. We know we can certainly find some savings on tax expenditures. I think we have to look at a broader level than just these discretionary spending accounts that are particularly devastated by these sequestration cuts. I urge this body to find a way we can replace sequestration for fiscal year 2013--this current fiscal year--by more responsible budget savings, and then, working through our appropriations committees, working through the Budget Committee and the other committees for fiscal year 2014, have time under a more normal legislative process to figure out our spending priorities to go beyond the appropriate dollars--what we do on the Tax Code, what we do under mandatory spending. Let's bring up that game plan after the next fiscal year, 2014, which begins October 1. But for the current situation, let's replace sequestration with a more sensible way to get those savings, rather than causing harm--whether it is to those who depend upon air traffic, those who depend upon a place in Head Start, those who rely upon the research done at NIH, or those who depend upon having adequate support within our military. All of the above are adversely affected by sequestration. It is time for us to take action, to do what we were supposed to do: Make the tough decisions. Don't take the way out that every program in government is of equal importance. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, first let me thank Senator Enzi and Senator Alexander. I completely agree with their position. I had a chance to talk about this issue when we were debating it on the budget issue. The bill simply removes an impediment from the States being able to collect the sales taxes that are due. It responds to the Quill decision about requiring a physical presence in a State in order to require that State to collect the sales tax. Senator Enzi points out there are no new taxes; that it is a matter of basic fairness. It really does help small businesses. The brick-and- mortar companies located in our neighborhoods, small shopowners who build a neighborhood and build a community, are the ones who are at risk where they have to pay sales taxes and yet their competitors don't. I will give a short example with a story told to me about a retailer selling electronic goods. The consumer came into the shop, looked and found the product she wanted, went on the Internet, found the product for the same price on the Internet but didn't have to pay the sales tax, and literally bought it while the shopowner was watching--after the shopowner had given that individual personal service. The shopowner didn't lose the sale because of competitiveness but lost the sale because of tax avoidance. This bill would correct that. This is $23 billion. This is a lot of money our States are not collecting. These are taxes that are already imposed. In my own State of Maryland, it is somewhere between $150 million and $300 million of taxes that could be used to reduce tax burdens to the taxpayers in my State. It is a matter of basic fairness, something that needs to be done. As Senator Enzi pointed out, it will simplify the sales tax collections by using the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, and we exempt small sellers of $1-million-or-below sales. So it is an issue that needs to be passed, and I am pleased that we are finally getting around to passing it. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 10 minutes as if in morning business.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today marks an important day in history as our nation continues to honor the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. There are many landmarks in my hometown of Baltimore that are significant to the history of the Civil War that I believe are in the Nation's interests to protect for future generations to experience. As our nation pays tribute to this trying time in our nation's history, I am proud to re-introduce the President Street Station Study Act which would initiate the process for preserving one such landmark in the heart of Baltimore. President Street Station played a crucial role in the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, the growth of Baltimore's railroad industry, and is a historically significant landmark to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The station was constructed for the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore, PW&B, Railroad in 1849 and remains the oldest surviving big city railroad terminal in the United States. This historical structure is a unique architectural gem, arguably the first example and last survivor of the early barrel-vault train shed arches, also known as the Howe Truss. The arch-rib design became the blueprint for railroad bridges and roofs well into the 20th century and was replicated for every similarly designed train shed and roof for the next 20 years. The growth of President Street Station and the PW&B railroad mirror the expansion of the railroad industry throughout the country in the latter half of the 19th century. This station played an essential role in making Baltimore the first railroad and sea-rail link in the nation and helped the city become the international port hub it is today. In its heyday, President Street Station was the key link connecting Washington D.C. with the northeast States. Hundreds of passengers traveling north passed through this station and, by the start of the Civil War, Baltimore had become our Nation's major southern railroad hub. Not surprisingly, the station played a critical role in both the Civil War and the Underground Railroad. Perhaps the most famous passenger to travel through the station was President Abraham Lincoln. He came through the station at least four times, including secretly on his way to his first inauguration in 1861. President-elect Lincoln was warned by a PW&B private detective of a possible assassination plot in Baltimore as he transferred trains. While it is unclear if this plot existed and posed a serious threat, Lincoln nevertheless was secretly smuggled aboard a train in the dead of night to complete his trip to Washington. Just a few months later, President Street Station served as a backdrop for what many historians consider to be the first bloodshed of the Civil War. The Baltimore Riot of 1861 occurred when Lincoln called for Union volunteers to quell the rebellion at Fort Sumter in Charleston. On this day in history, April 19, 1861, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania volunteers were met and attacked by a mob of secessionist and Confederate sympathizers. The bloody confrontation left four dead and 36 wounded. As the war continued, the Station remained a critical link for the Union. Troops and supplies from the north were regularly shuttled through the station to support Union soldiers. It is well known that Maryland was a common starting point along the Underground Railroad and that many escaped slaves from Maryland's Eastern Shore plantations were destined for Baltimore and the President Street Station to travel North to freedom. A few weeks ago, President Barack Obama honored Maryland's own Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad's most famous ``conductor'' by establishing the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument, the first National Monument to commemorate an African American woman. While she personally led dozens of people to freedom, her courage and fortitude also inspired others to find their own strength to seek freedom. President Street Station was indeed a station on this secret network. Prior to emancipation in 1863, several renowned escapees, including Frederick Douglass, William and Ellen Craft, and Henry ``Box'' Brown, traveled through the Station, risking their lives for a better and freer life. Others' journeys for a better life also passed through President Street Station. From its beginning and into the 20th century, Baltimore was both a destination and departure point for immigrants. New arrivals from Ireland, Russia, and Europe arriving on the eastern seaboard traveled by way of the PW&B railroads to the west. For decades, President Street Station has long been recognized as having an important place in history: In 1992, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the city of Baltimore has dedicated it a local historical landmark. For many years it served as the Baltimore Civil War Museum, educating generations of people about the role Maryland and Baltimore played in the Civil War and the early history of the city. In recent years, the museum, run by dedicated volunteers from the Maryland Historical Society and Friends of President Street Station, have struggled to keep the station's doors open and keeping the station's character true to its historical roots. The area around President Street Station has changed dramatically over the decades, but the Station has worked to preserve its place in history. It has been many years since trains passed through the Presidents Street Station and it is clear that today the best use for this building is to preserve the building and use it to tell Station's American story. President Street Station is one of America's historical treasures. As we commemorate the 152nd Anniversary of the Baltimore Riot and the start of National Park Week this weekend, we honor some of our country's greatest leaders and remember our own rich and innovative history. This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of President Street Station to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Station as a unit of the National Park Service. President Street Station, a contributor to the growth of the railroad, and a vital player in the Underground Railroad, Lincoln Presidency and Civil War, is part of this history. I urge my colleagues to join me in giving this station the recognition it deserves and support this bill. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today marks an important day in history as our nation continues to honor the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. There are many landmarks in my hometown of Baltimore that are significant to the history of the Civil War that I believe are in the Nation's interests to protect for future generations to experience. As our nation pays tribute to this trying time in our nation's history, I am proud to re-introduce the President Street Station Study Act which would initiate the process for preserving one such landmark in the heart of Baltimore. President Street Station played a crucial role in the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, the growth of Baltimore's railroad industry, and is a historically significant landmark to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The station was constructed for the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore, PW&B, Railroad in 1849 and remains the oldest surviving big city railroad terminal in the United States. This historical structure is a unique architectural gem, arguably the first example and last survivor of the early barrel-vault train shed arches, also known as the Howe Truss. The arch-rib design became the blueprint for railroad bridges and roofs well into the 20th century and was replicated for every similarly designed train shed and roof for the next 20 years. The growth of President Street Station and the PW&B railroad mirror the expansion of the railroad industry throughout the country in the latter half of the 19th century. This station played an essential role in making Baltimore the first railroad and sea-rail link in the nation and helped the city become the international port hub it is today. In its heyday, President Street Station was the key link connecting Washington D.C. with the northeast States. Hundreds of passengers traveling north passed through this station and, by the start of the Civil War, Baltimore had become our Nation's major southern railroad hub. Not surprisingly, the station played a critical role in both the Civil War and the Underground Railroad. Perhaps the most famous passenger to travel through the station was President Abraham Lincoln. He came through the station at least four times, including secretly on his way to his first inauguration in 1861. President-elect Lincoln was warned by a PW&B private detective of a possible assassination plot in Baltimore as he transferred trains. While it is unclear if this plot existed and posed a serious threat, Lincoln nevertheless was secretly smuggled aboard a train in the dead of night to complete his trip to Washington. Just a few months later, President Street Station served as a backdrop for what many historians consider to be the first bloodshed of the Civil War. The Baltimore Riot of 1861 occurred when Lincoln called for Union volunteers to quell the rebellion at Fort Sumter in Charleston. On this day in history, April 19, 1861, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania volunteers were met and attacked by a mob of secessionist and Confederate sympathizers. The bloody confrontation left four dead and 36 wounded. As the war continued, the Station remained a critical link for the Union. Troops and supplies from the north were regularly shuttled through the station to support Union soldiers. It is well known that Maryland was a common starting point along the Underground Railroad and that many escaped slaves from Maryland's Eastern Shore plantations were destined for Baltimore and the President Street Station to travel North to freedom. A few weeks ago, President Barack Obama honored Maryland's own Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad's most famous ``conductor'' by establishing the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument, the first National Monument to commemorate an African American woman. While she personally led dozens of people to freedom, her courage and fortitude also inspired others to find their own strength to seek freedom. President Street Station was indeed a station on this secret network. Prior to emancipation in 1863, several renowned escapees, including Frederick Douglass, William and Ellen Craft, and Henry ``Box'' Brown, traveled through the Station, risking their lives for a better and freer life. Others' journeys for a better life also passed through President Street Station. From its beginning and into the 20th century, Baltimore was both a destination and departure point for immigrants. New arrivals from Ireland, Russia, and Europe arriving on the eastern seaboard traveled by way of the PW&B railroads to the west. For decades, President Street Station has long been recognized as having an important place in history: In 1992, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the city of Baltimore has dedicated it a local historical landmark. For many years it served as the Baltimore Civil War Museum, educating generations of people about the role Maryland and Baltimore played in the Civil War and the early history of the city. In recent years, the museum, run by dedicated volunteers from the Maryland Historical Society and Friends of President Street Station, have struggled to keep the station's doors open and keeping the station's character true to its historical roots. The area around President Street Station has changed dramatically over the decades, but the Station has worked to preserve its place in history. It has been many years since trains passed through the Presidents Street Station and it is clear that today the best use for this building is to preserve the building and use it to tell Station's American story. President Street Station is one of America's historical treasures. As we commemorate the 152nd Anniversary of the Baltimore Riot and the start of National Park Week this weekend, we honor some of our country's greatest leaders and remember our own rich and innovative history. This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of President Street Station to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Station as a unit of the National Park Service. President Street Station, a contributor to the growth of the railroad, and a vital player in the Underground Railroad, Lincoln Presidency and Civil War, is part of this history. I urge my colleagues to join me in giving this station the recognition it deserves and support this bill. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. CARDIN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 720

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

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the National Coalition for the Homeless, an outstanding organization of activists, advocates, and community and faith-based service providers working to end homelessness in America. This year, the coalition celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of triumphs and challenges in defense of our Nation's most vulnerable individuals and families. During the 1970s and 1980s, homelessness was thrust into the national spotlight as a growing problem. Structural changes in the economy, exacerbated by some tough economic downturns, thrust thousands of men, women, and children onto the streets, living without shelter. Out of concern for the rights of this vulnerable population, a group of State and local homeless coalitions gathered together and established the National Coalition for the Homeless in 1982. In these last 30 years, the National Coalition for the Homeless has been at the forefront of the fight against homelessness. The coalition's advocacy and passion have helped define housing policy for the disenfranchised in America. Through creative initiatives and outspoken advocacy, the coalition played an instrumental role in passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the first comprehensive legislation to address the issue of homelessness in our country. Most recently, the coalition has spearheaded advocacy for the Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act, a bill that would include crimes against the homeless in the crime data the Department of Justice collects. I was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 111th Congress and I was a proud sponsor of this bill. Homeless people are particularly vulnerable targets for acts of humiliation and violence. I believe more needs to be done to protect those who can't protect themselves. I am proud to report Maryland was a pioneer in extending hate crime protections to homeless people. I have been concerned about homelessness for a long time. I believe having adequate shelter is a human right. A home provides safety from the elements and random acts of violence. It is a place where possessions and items as fundamental as medications can be kept safely. Yet, homelessness persists as one of our Nation's most pressing social problems and has grown more challenging in the wake of the housing market collapse and the return of veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As we continue to recover from the economic downturn, it is imperative that the Nation not lose ground in the struggle against homelessness, especially among Americans who have lost jobs through no fault of their own, those homeowners and families who are struggling due to the ongoing foreclosure crisis, and our veterans. I applaud the courage of the members and volunteers of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Their selfless striving to end homelessness in America has changed the lives of thousands and thousands of our fellow Americans, even when so many others have averted their gaze. I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the National Coalition for the Homeless on 30 years of service to our communities and in rededicating ourselves to work with the coalition on ending the tragedy and scourge of homelessness in the richest nation on Earth.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I wish to express my congratulations to Israel on the 65th anniversary of its independence. Today, America's closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, commemorates its Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut--one day after its Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, and one week after Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah. While Independence Day is a celebration for the people of Israel, this Memorial Day was marked by somber ceremonies and national grief over the loss of their soldiers. Nationwide sirens and moments of silence emphasize the sacrifices Israelis have made to protect their thriving, free and democratic state. These intensely personal losses in such a small country underscore the continuing threats faced by Israelis, the scale of their efforts and the importance of a Jewish homeland. And Yom HaShoah reminds Israelis of the terrible devastation of the Holocaust that happened to the Jewish people in a time before they could celebrate the existence of the modern State of Israel. As we celebrate Israel's Independence Day, we must continue to reduce the key threats to Israel's security. We must focus on opportunities for peace in the Middle East. Israel has always been prepared to pursue those opportunities and make peace with its neighbors. Over the past six decades, despite diplomatic gestures, multiple Arab countries have repeatedly attacked Israel. We should not forget that it was Palestinian, not Israeli, leaders who walked away from the negotiation table at Camp David in 2000, on the eve of what would have been a historic breakthrough for peace. Today, it is Israel who continues to acknowledge the necessary framework for any peace agreement--a two state solution. While Israel has shown willingness for direct negotiations, the Palestinians continue to be an unreliable partner in moving toward peace. It is vitally important to stress the importance of the Palestinian Authority's close security cooperation with Israel. If peace is to be possible, the Palestinian Authority also needs to confront the recent surge in violence in the West Bank, cease all anti-Israel incitement and renounce Hamas until it unequivocally meets the three Quartet requirements. I am proud to have joined with 78 of my colleagues in reminding President Obama in a letter on the eve of his visit to Israel that the U.S. and Israel share common values and interests, and that Israel stands ready for peace. Top among these interests is restarting the peace process and preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear state. This is precisely why the role of the United States in this process must be one of an honest broker. President Obama must make clear that the pathway for peace is through unconditional direct negotiations between both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the United States vigorously opposes any Palestinian efforts to circumvent direct negotiations. I commend President Obama for pursuing peace during his recent trip to the Middle East, and for working on policy solutions to address the urgent and important threats facing Israel and the United States today. Since Israel's founding 65 years ago, every American administration has worked to strengthen the bonds between our two nations. This support has been vital for Israel, as the nation is under the constant threat of military and terrorist attacks, economic boycotts and diplomatic hostility--often merely due to the fact of its very existence. At this critical moment, when Iran is moving forward with its nuclear program and simultaneously strengthening Hezbollah's capacity to attack Israel, it is imperative that the Obama administration say in clear and unambiguous language that we stand with the people of Israel and will do all in our power to protect our shared values and national bonds. As Israel celebrates its 65th anniversary, let us all proclaim that the U.S. continues to value its unbreakable alliance with our closest ally in the Middle East.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, let me begin by offering my deepest condolences on behalf of all the people of Maryland for the 20 students and 6 adults who lost their lives at the hands of a single shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, on December 14, 2012. Some of the victims put themselves in harm's way in order to save the lives of children, true heroes. We have an obligation to the Sandy Hook families to seize this moment, set our political fears aside, and act responsibly. America has more than 3,300 victims of gun violence nationwide since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. Each heartbreaking event is shocking in its own right but also tears us apart, wondering what could we have done to prevent this from happening. I am proud the Senate has come together to engage in a real debate on what steps should be taken to minimize the risk of future shootings. The safety of our children and communities should never be put at risk by partisan gridlock. I agree with President Obama. We cannot wait for another tragedy to enact commonsense, reasonable gun safety measures, especially on weapons of war which have no legitimate civilian use. I am sympathetic to the interests of legitimate hunters and collectors, but we should reinstate the Federal ban on assault weapons. We should also prohibit high-capacity ammunition clips which hold more than 10 rounds at a time. We must take steps together to strengthen our mental health system, make our schools safer, crack down on gun traffickers, straw purchasers, and reduce the glorification of violence in our culture. The elimination of assault weapons in our community would have minimal or no impact on legitimate hunters or legitimate gun owners, but it could save lives. Listen to what law enforcement says. They don't think it is a fair fight when they have to go up against a criminal who has an assault weapon. The criminal has the advantage. We should support law enforcement and get assault weapons off the street. Listen to the accounts of the massacres we have seen when the perpetrators had these clips with so many rounds of ammunition. At Sandy Hook, they went into a classroom and used the number of bullets which were in that round to massacre children. This was tragic. The consequences could have been different if these large ammunition clips were not available. It could save lives. Dealing with mental health issues, dealing with school safety issues, dealing with straw purchase purchases, all that could keep these weapons out of the hands of those who should not have these weapons, the types of weapons which caused these massive killings. I support universal background checks for all firearms buyers as proposed by Senator Schumer. I congratulate my colleagues, Senators Manchin and Toomey, for coming to a bipartisan consensus on strengthening the current background check system. The background check proposals for the first time would require background checks for all gun sales in commercial settings, including at gun shows, Internet, and in classified ads. I believe this legislation will keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons, domestic abusers, and seriously mentally ill who have no business buying a gun. Studies have shown nearly half of all current gun sales are made by private sellers who are exempt from conducting background checks. It makes no sense that felons, fugitives, and others who are legally prohibited from having a gun can so easily use a loophole to buy a gun. Once again, the use of a universal background check will have no impact on the legitimate needs of people who are entitled to have weapons, but it could and would help us keep our communities safe by keeping weapons out of the hands of our criminals who have serious mental illness, domestic abusers. We need to stop their ability to easily obtain weapons as they do today. This legislation strengthens the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by incentivizing States to improve their reporting system and removing certain barriers to the submission of critical mental health records. This legislation also makes it easier for Active-Duty military personnel to buy guns in States where they live and are stationed for duty. It clarifies people traveling across State lines may carry guns which are locked and unloaded. It is heartbreaking to listen to stories of innocent lives cut cruelly short. The pain and grief of families and friends of these students and teachers is unimaginable. We know that teachers and the aides put their lives on the line to try to save children, and that first responders coming to the scene had the unbelievable task of not knowing what they would find. We send our prayers to all, but we have to do more than just say words. We are going to be judged by our deeds, and we have a chance to take action that will be helpful. This is a tragedy beyond words. I think President Obama said it best when he said that our hearts are broken. Congress needs to come together and take action to protect the safety of our children. We must do better. There have been too many episodes in which children's lives and others have been lost. We must figure out a way to prevent these types of tragedies. I am pleased the State of Maryland has recently taken action in the general assembly session that concluded last week. Governor O'Malley recommended legislation adopted by the Maryland General Assembly that bans assault weapons, limits the capacity of magazine clips from 20 to 10, and increases restrictions on the possession of firearms and ammunition by convicted criminals and those with mental health disqualifications. The President was correct to take executive action to strengthen and enhance our gun safety laws, but now it is time for Congress to act. The victims of gun violence deserve to have Congress take an up-or-down vote on these issues. To my colleagues who have reservations about this legislation, let me cite the Heller decision. In June 2008 the Supreme Court decided the District of Columbia v. Heller. The Court held that the Second Amendment protects individuals rather than a collective right to possess a firearm. The Court also held the Second Amendment right is not unlimited, and it is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner and for any purpose. Justice Scalia wrote for the Court in that case, and I am going to quote Justice Scalia: . . . nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on the longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. Justice Scalia recognized Congress's right, and I would say obligation, to make sure those who are not qualified to own a firearm do not get that firearm. We have an obligation to make sure that background checks are effective so as to keep out of the hands of criminals and those who have serious mental health issues the opportunity to easily obtain a firearm, as they can in many States today. The legislation pending before the Senate is in full consistency with the Heller decision and the language of Justice Scalia's opinion for the Court. I know we can protect children while still protecting the constitutional rights of legitimate hunters and existing gun owners. We should take that action on behalf of the safety of our communities. It is our obligation to act. With that, Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. I yield the floor.

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, Baltimore, like many other major cities, has struggled to educate its children. Recent statistics indicate that the number of third graders reading below grade level in Baltimore is double the State average. This is especially troubling in light of the numerous national studies showing that for every six students who are not reading proficiently by third grade, one will not graduate. Across the United States, research has shown that students in schools with good school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized tests than their peers in schools without libraries. We have a program, the qualified zone academy bonds, that is available to help school districts in areas such as improving their libraries. Since 2001 Baltimore City has used those funds. Recently we extended the program through 2013. Academy bonds are important, but much more needs to be done to help our students. Let me share with my colleagues a wonderful initiative, the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project, which is leveraging academy bonds and bringing in additional partners to maximize the resources available for hard-pressed schools and students. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is spearheading this initiative. The Weinberg Foundation is one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States. The Weinberg Foundation provides approximately $100 million each year to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the United States and Israel. Since 1990 the foundation has made grants totaling $1.6 billion--that is billion with a ``b.'' The foundation was created by Harry Weinberg. His family emigrated from Eastern Europe to the United States in 1911. Harry Weinberg began his life in poverty, but he eventually built a transportation empire which extended into real estate. The fortune Harry Weinberg amassed now has grown to more than $2 billion. These are the assets behind the Weinberg Foundation's grant-making. Senator Mikulski and I are very proud that the Weinberg Foundation is based in our Baltimore City. I knew Harry Weinberg. I know the Weinberg family. I am very fortunate to have that relationship. The foundation has helped so many people, particularly in affordable housing, immigrant services, poverty issues, and humanitarian needs. I would like to acknowledge the role my former State director, Bailey Fine, has played with the Weinberg Foundation. I could list dozens of major charitable projects and initiatives that bear the name of the Weinberg Foundation, including a $10-million grant to fund emergency services for Holocaust survivors in North America; a $9.6 million commitment to make Maryland a model for care of lower income, older adults; a $3 million investment in affordable housing for persons with disabilities, which includes a joint venture with the State of Maryland--the first of its kind in the Nation. The Weinberg Foundation also has stepped up in times of global crisis, providing millions of dollars of relief grants in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and emergency funding for humanitarian efforts following the Haiti earthquake in 2010 and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. In 2011 the Weinberg Foundation joined forces with a group of innovative and committed individuals to initiate a simple vision: transform Baltimore City school libraries to create larger, lasting change by increasing literacy rates and inspiring students. Words such as ``partnership'' and ``collaboration'' are often overused, but these concepts are central to the library project, a real-world demonstration of the power of combining resources directed toward a common goal. To date, with the help of more than 30 government, nongovernment, and community partners and individuals, many who have traveled to Washington today, the library project has gone far beyond a simple makeover by creating completely transformed, well-designed, well- equipped spaces that send a simple but powerful message to young students in Baltimore City: They deserve the best. The Weinberg Foundation and its partners believe this manuscript for meaningful change can be applied to any city where people from nonprofits and public and private entities are willing to focus on a plan and then roll up their sleeves to make it happen. The first of these refurbished libraries was dedicated in the fall of 2012. I was privileged to be able to visit and see firsthand how impressive this refurbished library is. Three more are scheduled to open this fall, with a total of 12 planned through 2015. The Weinberg Foundation has supported 30 percent of the capital project cost, is providing 4 years of additional staff support and professional development funds for the library. The Weinberg Foundation's support also goes to fund new books, up to 4,000 per space. Overall, the foundation has made a $5 million, 4-year commitment to this initiative, and the children of Baltimore will benefit. Each transformed library features thousands of new books and the latest in learning technology, including new computers and e-readers. As you can see from the photo I have brought to the floor, these are very impressive spaces and really go a long way to making them friendly places for students. In addition to the direct educational benefits of these new spaces, one of the goals of the library project is to help each transformed library become a hub for greater school community. Because the Weinberg Foundation wants this project to be a successful model for years to come, it has partnered with the Baltimore Education Research Consortium to evaluate the impact of this space within the school community. Evaluations are underway at the first three libraries and involve students, teachers, and community members. In addition to supplying books as part of each renovation, the Weinberg Foundation and its partners wanted to do even more to equip these new spaces with the gift and adventure of reading. As part of the first year of the library project, the foundation launched a huge book drive with more than 40 partners and 100 pickup locations. It was clear that my fellow Marylanders were eager to contribute directly to this project, donating some 13,000 books valued at over $75,000. I share the story with my colleagues and the rest of the country because, just like a favorite book, it should be shared. The library project goes beyond funding, blueprints, bright new designs, and even state-of-the-art learning technologies. These libraries will improve reading and learning opportunities for countless children, helping to break the grinding cycle of poverty by providing young people with the hope and the tools for success in life. As I said, this is a story that needs to be shared. The devoted officers and staff of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and all the other participants in the library project would welcome the opportunity to tell this marvelous tale over and over and see it duplicated across the country. Time constraints prevent me from talking about all of the partners in the library project. I mentioned the Federal partners, and I have highlighted the Weinberg Foundation's lead role, but everyone involved deserves recognition and our heartfelt thanks. I ask unanimous consent that the list of the other partners and the descriptions of their contributions be printed in the Record.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President. I would like to address the current situation in Ukraine, an important country in the heart of Europe, a bellweather for democratic development in the region, and the current Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE. Let me first welcome the release from prison Sunday of former Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs and leading opposition figure Yuri Lutsenko. Mr. Lutsenko had been convicted on politically motivated charges and incarcerated since December 2010. President Yanukovych's pardon of Mr. Lutsenko is an encouraging step in the right direction. I also welcome the pardon of former Environment Minister Heorhiy Filipchuk, who also served as a member of Ms. Tymoshenko's Cabinet and had been released last year after his sentence was suspended. By pardoning Mr. Lutsenko and Mr. Filipchuk, President Yanukovych is indicating not only a willingness to resolve what has been a major irritant in Ukraine's relations with the United States and the EU, but also a stain on Ukraine's democratic credentials. At the same time, I remain deeply concerned about the politically motivated imprisonment of Ukrainian opposition figure and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been incarcerated since August 2011. Mrs. Tymoshenko's case stands out as a significant illustration of Ukraine's backsliding with respect to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law since she was defeated by President Yanukovych in February 2010. The United States, EU, and Canada have repeatedly expressed concerns about the application of selective justice against political opponents, their flawed trials, conditions of detention, and the denial of their ability to participate in last October's parliamentary elections. As Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, which has long been committed to Ukraine's independence and democratic development, I am especially mindful of Ukraine's 2013 OSCE chairmanship. Like any Chair-in-Office, Ukraine faces formidable tasks in leading a multilateral organization that operates on the basis of consensus, which includes 57 countries ranging from mature democracies to oppressive dictatorships. The United States wants Ukraine to succeed, but the reality is that the politically motivated imprisonment of Ms. Tymoshenko casts a cloud over its chairmanship. A Chair-in-Office must itself have strong democratic credentials if it is to succeed in encouraging reform in other countries. Furthermore, democratic regression in Ukraine has harmed U.S.- Ukrainian bilateral relations, preventing a traditionally strong partnership from realizing its full potential. It has also slowed down the process of Ukraine's drawing closer to the EU, which is that country's stated foreign policy priority, manifested in the still- delayed signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. More than half a year has gone by since the unanimous adoption of S. Res. 466, calling for the release of Yulia Tymoshenko. The Ukrainian authorities now need to follow up on the important step they have taken in freeing Yuri Lutsenko. They need to free Ms. Tymoshenko and restore her civil and political rights. By demonstrating commitment to the rule of law and human rights principles embodied by the OSCE, Ukraine will strengthen the credibility of its chairmanship and show it is serious about being a full-fledged member of the democratic community of nations. I strongly urge the Ukrainian government to resolve the case of Ms. Tymoshenko.

Mr. CARDIN

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, we have two amendments that are going to be considered, one I am offering, one Senator Inhofe is offering. Senator Inhofe's amendment is a rather extreme amendment. It cuts the funds to the Environmental Protection Agency and basically prohibits them from regulating carbon emissions. I would hope most of us would consider that a rather extreme position to take, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting the environment. My amendment is an amendment that says the carbon emissions standards must be cost-effective--and we all agree they should be cost- effective--it should be based upon best-available science and benefit low-income and middle-class families. I would hope we can all agree on the amendment I would offer, and I would hope we would do that and allow the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out its critical mission on behalf of the people of this country.

Mr. CARDIN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. CARDIN. The Senator is correct.

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, this amendment would set up a deficit- neutral reserve fund. I ask unanimous consent that Senator Heinrich be added as a cosponsor of the amendment.

Mr. CARDIN. It would improve the oral health care for our children who are Medicaid-eligible. We still have major problems. The majority of our children who are Medicaid-eligible have untreated tooth decay, which affects their general health. Let me respond to my good friend from Alabama, Senator Sessions, and tell him why this amendment will not add to the deficit but will save us money. I will give the example of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old who died in my State of Maryland from untreated tooth decay. He needed an $80 tooth extraction. Instead, we spent $\1/4\ million dollars in unnecessary operations and he lost his life. This amendment gives us a chance to find ways to save money in order to expand oral health for our children, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, let me point out that the framework that is set up to protect our health has to be based upon best science, it has to protect low-income and middle-income families, and it has to be done in a cost-effective way. That should be our mission, and that is what we have already approved. I would urge us to reject the Inhofe amendment.