Saxby Chambliss

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the importance of national and homeland security and specifically to ensure that we enact the key legislation that we have under consideration necessary to protect our great Nation. While we have achieved a great deal since 9/11 in the area of homeland security, and we need to acknowledge what we have accomplished, and while we are making great strides, there is still more left to do. The terrorists we are dealing with are not going to cease planning attacks against our country, which is why we are working hard to continually improve the national security of the United States. The fact that there has not been another terrorist attack on domestic soil since September 11, 2001, shows that we have been successful to this point. To date, we have implemented 37 of the 39 9/11 Commission findings. We have enacted 71 laws on homeland security. We have increased the terrorist watch list to 400,000 persons. We have disrupted at least 15 major terrorist plots or potential plots against America. We have required that every visa holder be fingerprinted before entering the United States. We have frozen nearly $1.5 billion in terrorist assets. We have convicted 261 accused defendants in terrorism-related cases, and we have killed or taken prisoner a number of al-Qaida leaders around the world, particularly in Iraq, including Al Zarqawi, who was the No. 1 al-Qaida leader in Iraq; including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, whom we have captured and from whom we have received very valuable information. We have to remember that he was the mastermind of the 9/11 plot. In the area of port security, Georgia has three ports and is one of the top five States in the handling of some 11 million containers that reach our Nation's shores every year. Georgia plays an important role in the commerce of this country, and that is why I am pleased that Congress has completed a comprehensive port security conference report, which will continue to improve the security of our seaports all around America. This bill improves a layered security approach to cargo screening and scanning. In Georgia, we will begin augmenting the existing cargo security detection equipment with radiation portal monitors next month to ensure the screening of high-risk containers to stop the illicit import of nuclear and radiological materials. This important piece of legislation also provides for the development of a plan to ensure the successful resumption of shipping in the event of a terrorist attack. In addition, it mandates a plan to determine when it is feasible to scan containers prior to their reaching the United States. With our national security at stake, we will continue the necessary steps to protect our citizens and, at the same time, balance the flow of commerce. In the closing weeks of this session, I think it is especially important to ensure that we have the opportunity to take final action on the Defense appropriations bill and the Defense authorization conference report. These vital pieces of legislation will continue to ensure that our military personnel involved in the global war on terrorism, as well as our National Guard personnel at home, have the necessary equipment and resources to do their jobs. We need to ensure that our Guard personnel stationed on the U.S. border can continue in their homeland security and defense roles, enhance the efforts of Border Patrol agents, and be available to support Governors in the case of any natural disaster that may arise. The Defense appropriations conference report which we will be considering later this week provides $86 billion for military personnel, $120 billion for operations and maintenance, $80 billion for procurement, and $75 billion for research and development, all to ensure that our Nation's military has the resources they need to carry out the responsibilities that we as a nation have asked of them. I would also like to ask the leadership in both the House and the Senate to make every effort to take final action on the national Defense authorization conference report this week. It would be a shame on our part not to provide these urgent policies and funding for our troops who so valiantly are defending our Nation today. In closing, I would like to remind my colleagues what is at stake as we consider these bills and urge them to work to pass legislation this week in support of our Armed Forces. In Iraq, the combined coalition on Iraqi operations continues to target and eliminate al-Qaida operations. Since August 30, over 150 operations have been conducted, resulting in 66 terrorists being killed and over 830 suspected terrorists being detained. On September 12 alone, there was a series of 25 raids in and around Baghdad targeting al-Qaida and Iraqi activities. These raids resulted in the capture of over 70 suspected terrorists, including an associate of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the new head of al-Qaida in Iraq. The associate was a leader of assassination, kidnapping, and I.E.D cells in Baghdad. Iraqi and coalition forces continue to make tremendous progress in clearing suspect buildings, seizing weapons, moving trash out of neighborhoods, improving electricity, wastewater disposal, and educational opportunities for the Iraqi people. On the military front, by the end of this month the Iraqi Ground Forces Command, which recently became operational, will assume control of a second Iraqi Army division. And later this month, the Government of Iraq plans to assume control of the Dhi Qar Province. These are the activities that we are funding and supporting by doing our job in the Senate. I commend the work of our military personnel, the Appropriations Committee, and the Armed Services Committee for completing these bills, and I urge my colleagues to adopt them expeditiously. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

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

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the memory of an extraordinary naturalist, conservationist, educator, father, and husband who devoted his life to sharing his love of nature with communities across the country. John Ripley Forbes lived in Georgia for over 30 years, and Georgians of all ages have been blessed by his delightful approach to nature, science, and learning. Mr. Forbes was born in Massachusetts in 1913. From a very early age, he was fascinated during nature walks with his father and knew that he wanted to study nature for the rest of his life. At the age of 14, he became the protege of his neighbor, famed naturalist William Temple Hornaday. While still in his teens, John Ripley Forbes guided visitors through his personal nature collection at the Bruce Museum of Arts and Sciences in Greenwich, CT. After studying zoology and ornithology for a time at Iowa State University and Bowdoin College, he worked as an ornithological collector on explorer Donald Baxter MacMillan's 1937 expedition to Baffin Island. Fifty years later, in 1987, Bowdoin would award him an honorary doctorate degree. Mr. Forbes continually combined his knowledge and experience as a naturalist with his enthusiastic focus on children's education. After Hornaday's death, John established and presided over the William T. Hornaday Foundation to underwrite children's museums around the United States. The organization became one of John's legacies, the Natural Science for Youth Foundation. He also worked to build museums from Naples, FL, to Sacramento, CA. In each one, he created fascinating opportunities for children to experience nature whether through habitat trails, wildlife preserves, or even animal lending libraries, which allowed children to ``check out'' small animals for a few days at a time. During his years of work through the foundation and whenever opportunities arose, Mr. Forbes helped found and build a national network of over 200 children's museums and nature centers where, frequently, exhibits interact with visitors as much as the visitors interact with them. John Ripley Forbes was known for his ability to charm donations from even the most intimidating people. His wife explained, ``He would meet some of these people like the Rockefellers, and they were just enchanted with his enthusiasm to do the right thing.'' He used this charisma for more than contributions. Mr. Forbes served at military bases in Alabama and Tennessee during World War II and supported returned airmen through simple fishing trips or nature walks. In his spare time, he would work with established natural history museums to fill new children's museums with thousands of donated specimens. He also used his boundless energy and charm to preserve nature in its original form. Shortly after moving to Georgia in 1971, he became focused on the preservation of Atlanta's shrinking natural habitats. Mr. Forbes founded the Southeast Land Preservation Trust to shield green space from a rapidly growing real estate market and was determined to reason with developers and work out solutions that were mutually beneficial. John Ripley Forbes exercised his passion for education and preservation through these many projects, and our future generations will reap and enjoy the results. I am grateful to people like him who, with their enthusiasm and energy, make a difference in the community and in the lives of others. His legacy will live for many generations through the work and accomplishments he left behind. John Ripley Forbes is survived by his wife Margaret, his son Ernest Ripley Forbes of Alexandria, VA, his daughter Anne Forbes Spengler of Atlanta, and two grandchildren. I join with them and all Georgians in mourning his passing and remembering and appreciating the contribution he made to our communities, our State, and to the lives of the many people he touched.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, it is with great pride that today I honor the past and recent success of a great agribusiness in my home State of Georgia, Patten Seed Company. Patten Seed Company was recently named the 2006 Agribusiness of the Year by South Georgia Business magazine for its continued success in the agribusiness community. The lasting success of Patten Seed Company was also recognized when the company received the Cox Century Award. Representatives of the Cox Family Enterprise Center at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University present the Cox Century Award to Georgia businesses based on their commitments to business and family, contributions to their industry and community, multigenerational family involvement, and innovative business practices and strategies. The history of the Patten Seed Company dates back to 1893 when R.L. Patten and his brother W.F. Patten opened a general store in Lakeland, GA. After much success with the general store, Lawson Patten, R.L's son, began to operate a seed cleaning business out of one of his father's warehouses in 1947. In 1954, Patten Seed Company was incorporated and over the last 52 years has become a household name in the turfgrass, sod, and seed industry. Patten Seed Company's expansive operation covers 25 facilities across four States and has over 15,000 acres of grass seed and sod farm land in the Southeast. Sod from Patten Seed Company can be found in many places, from small South Georgia lawns to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. I am sincerely proud of the recognition that has been accorded to Patten Seed Company. Lakeland, GA, where Patten Seed Company originated, is not too far from my hometown of Moultrie. I see signs for one of Patten Seed Company's subsidiaries, SuperSod, whenever I drive north or south on Interstate 75. The success of agribusinesses like Patten Seed Company, which operates not only in Georgia but throughout the Southeast, is newsworthy. I thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to recognize this great agribusiness.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006. As I traveled back home over the summer, particularly over the month of August, there was not a single issue I heard more of from my constituents, whether they were in the north Georgia mountains, vacationing on Georgia's coast, or working on farms in south Georgia, than illegal immigration. This is by far the most emotionally charged issue with which I have dealt during my 12 years in Congress. Earlier this year, the American people watched as Congress debated how to handle the growing crisis of illegal immigration. During that debate, there were a wide variety of views expressed regarding the best way to stop illegal immigration and how to address the presence of 15 to 20 million illegal aliens currently in the United States. However, there was one issue on which everybody agreed; that is, the need to secure our borders. This legislation we are considering today takes an important step in the right direction to do just that. Securing the borders is not anti-immigrant. There is more to this debate than the presence of illegal immigrants. Securing our borders will stop illegal commercial activities, such as human trafficking and drug and weapons smuggling--the three most lucrative illegal commercial activities in the world. Human traffickers profit by exploiting people who seek to come to the United States to seek a better life for themselves and their families. It is estimated that 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year, primarily women and children. In addition, porous borders result in illegal drugs and weapons being smuggled into our country. If drug and weapons smugglers can get cocaine and firearms into our country, what is to prevent them from bringing nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons across the border? It is an important national security matter for us to take the appropriate steps to gain operational control of our borders. We have all heard from our constituents and know they demand no more and deserve no less. Earlier this year, when the Senate considered the comprehensive immigration reform bill, this body voted overwhelmingly to authorize construction of 370 miles of fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southwest border. This totals almost 900 miles of barrier on that border. Late this summer, the Senate voted to fund the construction of fencing and barriers we previously authorized. Some may ask: Why are we considering this legislation if the Senate has already considered something very similar? We all know Congress is not going to pass the comprehensive immigration reform bill before we leave. Passage of this bill will allow us to move forward with the process of getting these necessary tools in place to secure the border. Finally, the American people have questions about the commitment of Congress when it comes to comprehensive immigration reform. Congress tried to sell this idea to them in 1986 when it said that we would allow all of those people who were here illegally to adjust their status. In exchange, we pledged to secure the border and have real interior enforcement. We all know what happened. Millions of people were allowed to obtain lawful permanent residence, but we did not secure our borders. Now 20 years later, some in Congress are trying to sell the same idea again, and the American people simply are not buying it, and rightfully so. This bill will give Congress an opportunity to move in the direction of gaining the trust of the American people on the issue of immigration and allows us to prove to the American people that we are serious about securing our borders. Once we have operational control of our borders and can know who is coming into and going out of the country, I think the American people will be more receptive to temporary guest worker programs. Once we have operational control of our borders, the American people will be willing to engage in a debate about whether we should increase the number of people our country accepts for permanent resident status each year. Until we have operational control of our borders, most people think we will simply have a repeat of the 1986 amnesty. I don't believe a fence is a panacea, and I don't believe we need to build a fence across the entire stretch of our borders. However, we know fencing and vehicle barriers are effective border security tools. Combined with state-of-the-art technology, it is possible for us to gain control of our borders and then have a healthy, responsible debate about our Nation's immigration policies. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 7 minutes.

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

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, where are we at this point?

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I agree with Senators Harkin and Grassley about the importance of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act (LMRA) to producers. For over a year, I have worked with the Senators from Iowa in their attempt to craft consensus language to which all interested parties could agree. I agreed to wait for a report from the Government Accountability Office, GAO, even though there was concern that the report would be released after the expiration of this important mandatory program. Since that time, packers have continued to consistently report on a voluntary basis limiting potential disruptions to the information provided by LMRA to the marketplace. While I understand my colleague's interest in implementing the recommendations from GAO, I am also concerned that all stakeholders--producers and packers--have comfort and assurance in this program and that any changes made to the program will minimize potential litigation and the false reporting of data. I intend to work with Senators Harkin and Grassley to ensure that there is another opportunity to find consensus among interested parties in implementing further changes to the program. Next year provides an excellent opportunity to debate this and other issues of importance to the livestock industry during the farm bill reauthorization process. In addition, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will conduct a hearing in the spring of 2007 that will focus on livestock issues which will allow us to explore any needed changes to the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act. Although the Senators from Iowa and I have worked diligently with livestock groups and the packing industry to address the concerns of all interested parties, we were not able to reach an agreement. Given the limited time before adjournment, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3408, which has passed the House, and will reinstate the mandatory provisions of this much needed program. As I said previously, I will continue to work with the Senators from Iowa next year on the farm bill to arrive at consensus legislation that all stakeholders can support. Finally, I would like to commend all of the industry groups that have worked on this issue for over a year. The countless hours of negotiations, meetings, and debate are healthy and represent the American legislative process at its best. The complexity of this issue has unfortunately made it impossible to accommodate all the changes requested by the Senators from Iowa, but I commend them for recognizing the importance of this program for not only producers in Iowa, but producers across this great Nation. H.R. 3408 will provide price discovery and transparency to the marketplace, allowing all producers to confidently receive fair prices for their livestock.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, to discuss pending nominations.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing titled, ``Homeland Security: The Next Five Years.''

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``The Thompson Memorandum's Effect on the Right to Counsel in Corporate Investigations'' on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Room 226. Witness List Panel I: The Honorable Paul J. McNulty, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Panel II: The Honorable Edwin Meese, Former Attorney General, Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow in Public Policy, Chairman, Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, the Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC; Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC; Karen J. Mathis, Esq., President, American Bar Association, Chicago, IL; Andrew Weissmann, Esq., Partner, Jenner & Block LLP, New York, NY; Mark B. Sheppard, Esq., Partner, Sprague & Sprague, Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 2 p.m. in Dirksen Room 226. Witness List Panel I: The Honorable Rick Santorum, United States Senator, R-PA; The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator, D-CA; The Honorable James M. Inhofe, United States Senator, R-OK; The Honorable Tom Coburn, United States Senator, R-OK; The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, United States Senator, R-GA; The Honorable Johnny Isakson, United States Senator, R-GA. Panel II: Nora Barry Fischer to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Gregory Frizzell to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Lawrence Joseph O'Neill to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California, Lisa Wood to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Georgia.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I, ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, at 11 a.m. to hold a hearing on nominations.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September, 12 at 10 a.m. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony relating to the effects of the BP pipeline failure in the Prudhoe Bay oil field on U.S. oil supply and to examine what steps may be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an event.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, at 10 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Breaking the Methamphetamine Supply Chain: Law Enforcement Challenges''. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Foreign Relations

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2006, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Examining Treasury's Role in Combating Terrorist Financing Five Years After 9/11.''

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to join Senator Isakson and me in supporting a resolution congratulating the 2006 Little League World Series Champions, the Columbus Northern Little League team of Columbus, GA. On August 28, 2006, the Columbus Northern Little League team defeated the Kawaguchi Little League of Japan by a score of 2-1 and concluded their season with an impressive record of 20 wins and only 1 loss. And when you consider the fact that more than 7,000 Little League all-star teams took the field in July, you realize the magnitude of this accomplishment. Their talent, hard work, and sportsmanship allowed them to become the second team from the State of Georgia to win the Little League World Series, and in doing so they captured the hearts of people across Georgia and in many parts of the Nation who love the game of baseball. As a former Little League coach during the years that Julianne and I were raising our children in Moultrie, I was so proud to participate in the longstanding tradition of Little League Baseball as a coach for my son's team--the Destiny Dawgs. There is no question that this great arena of sportsmanship, founded in 1939, builds confidence, determination, and hard work in youth. And since the inception of the Little League World Series in 1947, it has grown to encompass not only national teams, but teams from all around the globe. I would like to recognize the 11 young men of the Columbus Northern Team individually for their great accomplishment: Matthew Hollis, Ryan Lang, Mason Myers, Matthew Kuhlenberg, Patrick Stallings, Josh Lest, Brady Hamilton, Cody Walker, J.T. Phillips, Kyle Rovig, and Kyle Carter, who became the only pitcher in Little League Baseball World Series history to win four games in one series. Their manager Randy Morris and their coach Richard Carter deserve strong recognition for guiding these young players to victory. And I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the teachers and students of these young men's schools, and the fans who represented their community and the State of Georgia with such enthusiasm and support. It is with great pride that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Columbus Northern Team and their families. Columbus, the city that produced Major Leaguers Frank Thomas and Tim Hudson, now has a few more heroes to celebrate. I am extremely proud of them and their accomplishments and wish them great success in the future. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the amendment proposed by the Senator from Colorado, Mr. Salazar. My colleague from Georgia, Senator Isakson, and I are cosponsors and strong supporters of this measure which I believe fulfills a great need in rural America. The amendment creates a policing institute that would be administered by the Office of the Federal Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA. The creation of this office provides training for those who may not currently have access to it because it sends folks who are going to train our local law enforcement personnel directly into our rural areas. Our local communities have fewer resources and fewer folks on the payroll, so they really can't afford to do without men and women who may be called away for an extended period of time to undergo training. There is no question--and I hear this whenever I travel around the State--that our local law enforcement in rural areas are called upon day in and day out in providing the nuts and bolts of criminal investigations and law enforcement. In many areas, increased crime and the scourge of methamphetamine drug trafficking have placed severe pressures on rural law enforcement capabilities. If we're going to call upon folks to do more, then we have to provide them with the resources they need to carry out their duties--and as a strong supporter of the criminal justice system this includes giving them access to the vital training they need. In addition, these dedicated and hard-working professionals are also asked to prepare for different types of threats in our changing security environment. This amendment will greatly assist in their efforts. I urge my colleagues to support this common sense, bipartisan amendment. I yield the floor.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to this amendment that I understand is going to be filed. I want to be brief, but I want to make two quick points. I listened with interest to my good friend from Iowa, and he is my dear friend. I understand there are reasons one can put hindsight glasses on and one can criticize somebody for failing to take action when something has been done over a course of weeks, months, and years in this case. But what I don't hear in addition to the criticism is what we could have done or what we ought to do. All I hear is blame being put on, in this case, one man for the situation that has developed in Iraq. I happen to have a different opinion. I have been involved from the intelligence side, as well as from the Armed Services side in this body, as well as previously on the House side. Secretary Rumsfeld has been at the helm of the Department of Defense now for almost 6 years, and during that 6 years, we, first of all, saw a movement toward transformation of our military to a leaner, meaner, more mobile military. Under his leadership, we have been headed in that direction. During the course of that, along comes the conflict in Afghanistan, followed by the conflict in Iraq, and the overall global war on terror, which is really what this is all about. I heard the distinguished minority leader say this morning that this is not about Donald Rumsfeld. It goes well beyond that. He is exactly right because the criticism I hear now is not just specifically at the Secretary of Defense but the overall policy of this administration toward the global war on terrorism. I am not a military expert. I don't pretend to be, and I don't think there is anybody in this body who is an expert on the type of conflict in which we are now engaged, particularly as much of an expert as those folks who wear the uniform of the United States. All of those who have worn it, all of those who do wear it are true heroes to all of us. But the fact is, when it comes to the leadership in the Army, the leadership in every other branch of the U.S. military--but most specifically the Army because, frankly, they have carried the brunt of this in Afghanistan as well as in Iraq--there is strong leadership over there, strong individuals, men who are well educated, men who are smart, men who are well schooled in the war on terrorism but who are principally schooled in military operations. We don't hear any one of those individuals jumping up and saying: I have told the Secretary this, he wouldn't do this, and therefore we suffered the consequences of his decision. What we have heard from my good friend from Iowa, again, is comments made by former military individuals who probably didn't agree with what this Secretary did, but they didn't say it while they were in uniform. They waited until they were out of uniform. It is awfully easy to look back and say what we should have done. But there has been no Secretary of Defense in modern times that has had to deal with as many complex military issues as this Secretary of Defense. This Secretary of Defense is a tough boss. He is a very tough boss, but he has a tough job to do. When I look at the men who are making comments relative to what this Secretary of Defense should have done or should not have done, I start with GEN Tommy Franks. General Franks was there from day one as the Commander of CENTCOM. Tommy Franks was the man who was leading his men and women into battle under this Secretary of Defense. He is the man who was providing tactical information to this Secretary of Defense and who made the key decisions in Afghanistan and the decisions early on relative to Iraq. And what does Franks say about the leadership of Donald Rumsfeld? He couldn't say enough nice things or enough positive things about the leadership of Donald Rumsfeld. But as the minority leader said, this goes beyond that. What we are hearing in this debate is about the policy in Iraq and not about just the leadership of that one position. And this amendment goes to that. My second point is when we talk about in this amendment that America is less secure today than we were prior to September 11, that statement could not be any more false. All of us in this body who were here on September 11--I happened to be in the other body on September 11, and all of us who were in both the House and the Senate who had any knowledge whatsoever of the intelligence situation and, for that matter, probably 100 percent of the Members of the House and the Senate, believed that at some point in time we were going to suffer another attack by the terrorists, who wake up every single morning with their sole purpose that day being to try to decide how they are going to kill and harm Americans. Yet we are going to celebrate next Monday the fifth anniversary of September 11. And, gosh knows we hope it doesn't happen today, we hope it doesn't happen tomorrow, but if we get to Monday, it will be 5 years that the United States has gone without suffering another attack. There are reasons for that, and Donald Rumsfeld is one of the reasons we have not suffered another attack on U.S. domestic soil since September 11. He is part of a team. There are a lot of people who deserve credit for it. Our intelligence community is doing a much better job. We had a briefing in the Intelligence Committee from the Director of the CIA, Mike Hayden, today to find out some additional things that we are doing now, all positive things, all continuing to move in the right direction. Mike Hayden is a part of that team. As we look out at all of our other intelligence agencies around the country, from a defense standpoint as well as a civilian standpoint, they are all doing a better job than they were on September 11. They are all a part of that team with Donald Rumsfeld and Mike Hayden to make sure that we are protected as citizens of the United States. When you look at Director Mueller at the FBI, the FBI is doing a better job today than they were doing on September 11 of helping to gather intelligence and interrupting and disrupting potential terrorist operations inside the United States. They, again, are part of that team. Every single FBI agent, whether they are on domestic soil or whether they are on foreign operations, are doing a better job of making sure that as a team they are working to protect Americans and to help interrupt and disrupt terrorist activity. So to say that we are not as safe today as we were on September 11, 2001, is simply an incorrect statement and shows a lack of understanding about what has happened in the 5 years since September 11. Donald Rumsfeld is in a very unique position. He is in a position of making decisions relative to every single aspect of the war on terror. Donald Rumsfeld has a boss and he has to answer to that boss, and the boss is the President. I suspect that the underlying motive behind what we are debating today is not about Donald Rumsfeld; it is one more opportunity for those folks who came on the floor of the Senate and attacked the war in Iraq and said it was time to get out and made the arguments that we ought to get out of there now, we ought to get out of there in 6 months, we ought to be out in 9 months, whatever it is-- let's set a timetable and tell the terrorists: You sit where you are, and in that period of time we are going to be out of there. And when the vote came on that particular issue, there was a resounding vote in opposition to that particular philosophy in this body. I hope the next vote that we take, which will be on this particular amendment, will be just as resounding in opposition and a defeat of this amendment. I will say that I haven't always agreed with Donald Rumsfeld. He and I have had some very public and tough battles. But he has always been fair. He has always been straightforward. In one instance, when he called me about a matter that I was involved in, frankly, he was right and I was wrong, and I had to admit that. I made a change in something we were doing, and we moved on. In other matters, he has told me that I was right, and he was wrong. That is the kind of leader he is. He is not one who says that you either agree with me or you are simply not on the team. Secretary Rumsfeld has been in a tough position since he has been there. He has dealt with very tough decisions in a very fair and favorable way. If you look at the men who have served under him and you start with Tommy Franks, for whom I have such great respect and who I think everybody in this body would agree is not somebody who is going to get rolled over, Tommy Franks is not that kind of individual. If he believed in something, he would encourage the Secretary of Defense under his leadership to do exactly what he thought ought to be done. Donald Rumsfeld is the kind of person who would have listened to him, and he would have done whatever General Franks recommended. When General Franks says this is the kind of guy we need in the foxhole with us, as Tommy Franks has alluded to, then he is the kind of guy we want leading the Department of Defense. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Pension Protection Act. This has been a long process, but I am glad we were able to produce a bill that provides retirement security to millions of Americans while at the same time protects the taxpayers. These reforms provide tough rules to ensure that employers will keep their pension promises. I would like to thank my colleague from Georgia, Senator Isakson, for all his hard work throughout this process. I appreciate it, and I know the folks back in Georgia appreciate it. Many companies and their employees in my home State of Georgia support this legislation and will benefit from its provisions. For example, Kroger has grocery stores all over Georgia and employs 18,000 folks across the State, who are depending on their pensions when they retire. General Motors also has a large presence in Georgia with almost 14,000 retirees and 3,500 employees, many of whom are covered by a defined benefit pension plan. The United Parcel Service, UPS, is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and over 127,000 of its employees participate in multiemployer pension plans. The airline industry in particular has taken some economic hits over the years, and I am pleased that Congress was able to provide critical provisions for the airlines, ensuring that they will get the time they need to fulfill their pension obligations. Delta Airlines is headquartered in Georgia, and has a longstanding history of service to passengers throughout the world and has been an exemplary corporate citizen. Like many other hard-working Americans, Delta's some 91,000 employees and retirees have devoted years of work and time to their employer. While our airlines are in a unique situation, many of them like Delta maintain a strong commitment to keep the pension promises they made to their employees and retirees. I would like to close by reiterating why we are here today: American workers deserve to know their pensions will be there when they retire. With the passage of this conference report, we can ease the fears of millions of employees and retirees by taking the steps necessary to help ensure that pension promises will be kept and employers, not the taxpayers, will be held accountable.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the 2007 Defense appropriations bill. Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye, as well as the entire committee, worked diligently to produce a bill that supports our troops and provides what our military needs to fight and win the global war on terrrorism. I am pleased to say that this bill does just that. The bill provides $453.48 billion in new budget authority for the Department of Defense, including the $50.0 billion in additional global war on terror appropriations, and $14.7 billion above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level, excluding supplemental funding. This bill provides our service men and women with the resources necessary to continue and win the global war on terrorism, keep our country safe, and improve the quality of life for soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and their families. After visiting with soldiers stationed from the 48th Brigade in Tallil, Iraq, I am convinced that the members of the Armed Forces are wholeheartedly committed to accomplishing the mission. It is my belief that Members of Congress have a duty to support fine soldiers such as these and ensure they have the best training, equipment, and resources to defeat our Nation's enemies. We must never forget that it is essential we finish the job we set out to do because our own security rests in winning the global war on terrorism. Over the past few months, we have seen many amendments that claim that withdrawing from Iraq is the right approach. The Senate wisely defeated those amendments. We have a responsibility to ensure that the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan are stable, have the ability to govern themselves as sovereign nations, and have the infrastructure necessary to maintain the rule of law. I am proud that the bill before us today allows us to continue to fight and win the global war on terrorism and also continues to enhance our research and development projects so that we will continue to be able to defeat those who raise arms against us. One of the key provisions in this bill is the funding for new aircraft. By appropriating $4.3 billion and approving a multiyear contract for the F-22A, the United States will maintain its position as having the superior air fighter well into the next few decades. Because my colleagues and I fought hard for multiyear procurement during the Defense authorization bill debate, we will be able to save the American taxpayer an estimated $225 million over separate 1-year contracts for the next 60 F-22s. While some dismissed these savings as ``insignificant,'' funds saved through this multiyear contract can be applied to other, crucial priorities during this time of war. I am also very proud of the aspects of the bill which guarantee the United States will maintain its strategic lift capability. With an aging fleet, it is imperative we invest now in strategic lift aircraft to secure our future. The bill appropriates $867 million to procure C- 130Js. Coupled with an additional $12 million for the C-5 AMP Program and $2.3 billion for C-17 procurement, including language directing the Department of Defense to budget for additional C-17s fiscal year 2008, we can be assured that the United States will maintain a strategic force projection capability able to respond to crises any place on short notice. We must remember, however, that the best investment we can make is not equipment, but in the warfighters themselves. I am pleased that this legislation appropriates $45 million in supplemental education funding for local school districts that are heavily impacted by the presence of military personnel and families, including $30 million for impact aid, $5 million for educational services to support special- needs children, and an additional $10 million for districts experiencing rapid increases in the number of students due to rebasing and the BRAC process. I have several bases in my State that will benefit from this funding and I can assure you that this funding is critical to ensuring that children of our military families receive the quality education they deserve. As a result of the 2005 base realignment and closure process, Fort Benning and school systems in the surrounding area will experience an influx of approximately 10,000 students into their school systems over the next several years. This funding ensures that communities like Fort Benning will have additional resources to help accommodate these extra students. Continuing our focus on the families of service members, this bill provides $2 million to support the Reach Out and Read Program on military installations world-wide. The Reach Out and Read organization seeks to promote literacy and language development in infants and young children to ensure that they start school with every advantage possible. Cited by the National Research Council as an exemplary program, I am pleased that the bill provides funding for this worthy cause. This program makes an investment in the future that I am sure will pay substantial dividends. This bill also provides a well deserved pay raise of 2.2 percent for all military personnel, effective January 1, 2007, and approves targeted pay raises for mid-career and senior enlisted personnel and warrant officers effective April 1, 2007. I have heard directly from troops in the field and personnel at Georgia military installations about how important these targeted pay raises are for retaining our men and women in uniform in the service and taking advantage of their hard- to-replace expertise. I commend the committee for including these pay raises in the bill. This is a good bill that is clearly crafted with the needs of our troops and the security of our Nation foremost in mind. I hope my colleagues will join me in expeditiously approving this legislation so that our men and women in uniform can get the equipment, the benefits, and the support that they need and deserve.

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

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to join my friend and colleague, Senator Isakson from Georgia, to congratulate Spelman College, the country's oldest historically Black college for women on its 125th anniversary. Spelman College was established in 1881 by two school teachers and Baptist missionaries, Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles, for the purpose of educating African-American women and girls. Located in Atlanta, GA, and started in the basement of the Friendship Baptist Church, the college has come a long way from its beginnings, growing into a 32-acre campus. Spelman is also a member of the largest group of historically black institutions in the world including Morehouse University, the Morehouse School of Medicine, Clark Atlanta University, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Spelman has a very diverse student population with 2,100 students from 41 States and 15 foreign countries. In 2005, Spelman ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges according to U.S. News & World Report. Eighty-four percent of the faculty at Spelman hold a Ph.D. or higher, and the student teacher ratio is 11 to 1, making Spelman a top choice for African-American women to obtain an undergraduate degree. Many of their students seek advance degrees. In 2000, Spelman ranked second in the country in placing African-American students in medical schools. The Federal Government has seen the promise that the students and faculty at Spelman possess and, in 2003, the National Institutes of Health National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities awarded the college a $4.2 million grant for research to help eliminate health disparities among minority groups. Spelman was one of only six institutions to receive this funding. Also in 2003, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Awarded the college with a $4.5 million grant to enhance its Women in Science and Engineering, WISE, scholars program. Spelman College also realizes the need to give back to the African- American community. With the help of Federal funding, the school created the Spelman College Health and Wellness Initiative. This program is helping to gain a better understanding of the many factors that impact the health of young African-American women. The Health and Wellness Initiative is also helping to create preventive strategies for the unique circumstances that apply to all African-American women. These strategies are currently being developed and used to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS in African- American women. In 2005, six Spelman women qualified for the International RoboCup 2005 Four-Legged Robot soccer competition in Osaka, Japan. The students created computer programs for the robots to compete in the soccer tournament, requiring the robots play without human intervention. Of the 24 teams that qualified internationally, the SpelBots, as the team is called, were the first and only Historically Black College and University, the only all women institution, and the only United States undergraduate institution to qualify for the tournament. When looking back years from now at historically Black colleges and robotics research, all searches will lead to Spelman. Spelman graduates have gone on to be professionals such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and chemists. I want to congratulate Spelman College on their success and developing thousands of young women into strong business and community leaders over the past 125 years. I would also like to recognize the president of Spelman College, my friend, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, and the administration, faculty, staff, students and alumnae of the college for their leadership, outstanding achievements, and contributions that have made Spelman such a fine institution and a great citizen of our State. It is my most sincere hope that Spelman will continue to thrive and prosper for many years to come.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I support S. 403, the Child Custody Protection Act. This bill is a commonsense measure that says simply that families, parents, and children are important in America and that we will respect them and protect them. The bill also demonstrates the importance of respecting our citizens who have spoken in State after State by the adoption of parental notification and parental consent requirements before a minor child can be subjected to invasive medical procedures with both physical and emotional consequences. The Child Custody Protection Act would make it a Federal misdemeanor to transport a minor across State lines to obtain an abortion, in order to circumvent a home State law requiring notification of one or both parents prior to an abortion. This bill does not permit the prosecution of the child or his parents, but it does permit the prosecution of outside third parties who would interfere with the parent-child relationship in order to further a political or ideological agenda. In addition to criminal penalties, the bill allows any parent who suffers harm from a violation of this act may seek and obtain an appropriate civil remedy. At a time when children in public schools cannot obtain so much as an aspirin from a school nurse without parental consent, America has overwhelmingly insisted that before permitting minors to undergo a major medical procedure, such as an abortion, their parents should consent or at the very least, be notified. Thirty-four States have enacted parental consent or notification laws. Parental notification is supported by 83 percent of the American people. Yet, too often, outside third parties have intentionally sought to circumvent these profamily State laws and invade the parent-child relationship by transporting children across State lines for the purpose of having an abortion. This bill will serve as a real deterrent to such efforts. It reaffirms the parent-child relationship which is so important to the overwhelming majority of Americans. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill. I yield back.