Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act. I am pleased to be joined by my friend from Maryland, Ms. Mikulski. The purpose of this bill is to improve geographic literacy among K-12 students in the United States by supporting professional development programs administered by institutions of higher education for K-12 teachers. The bill also assists states in measuring the impact of geography education. Ensuring geographic literacy prepares students to be good citizens of both our nation and the world. John Fahey, Chairman and CEO of the National Geographic Society, once stated that, ``Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world.'' When students understand their own environment, they can better understand the differences in other places and the people who live in them. Knowledge of the diverse cultures, environments, and distances between states and countries helps our students to understand national and international policies, economies, societies and political structures on a global scale. To expect that Americans will be able to work successfully with other people around the world, we need to be able to communicate and understand each other. It is a fact that we have a global marketplace, and we need to be preparing our younger generation for competition in the international economy. A strong base of geographic knowledge improves these opportunities. In a report prepared for leading Internet company, Google, the study estimated that geography service industries generate up to $270 billion every year. Geographic knowledge is increasingly needed for U.S. businesses in electronic mapping, satellite imagery, and location-based navigation to understand such factors as physical distance, time zones, language differences and cultural diversity among project teams. Additionally, geospatial technology is an emerging career field available to people with an extensive background in geography education. Professionals in geospatial technology are employed in federal government agencies, the private sector and the non-profit sector and focus on areas such as agriculture, archeology, ecology, land appraisal and urban planning and development. It is important to improve and expand geography education so that students in the United States can attain the necessary expertise to fill and retain the estimated 70,000 new skilled jobs that are becoming available each year in the geospatial technology industry. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell once said, ``To solve most of the major problems facing our country today--from wiping out terrorism, to minimizing global environmental problems, to eliminating the scourge of AIDS--will require every young person to learn more about other regions, cultures, and languages.'' We need to do more to ensure that the teachers responsible for the education of our students, from kindergarten through high school graduation, are trained and prepared to teach the critical skills necessary to solve these problems. Over the last 15 years, the National Geographic Society has awarded more than $100 million in grants to educators, universities, geography alliances, and others for the purposes of advancing and improving the teaching of geography. Their models are successful, and research shows that students who have benefited from this teaching outperform other students. State geography alliances exist in 26 States and the District of Columbia, endowed by grants from the Society. But, their efforts alone are not enough. In my home State of Mississippi, teachers and university professors are making progress to increase geography education in schools through additional professional training. Based at the University of Mississippi, hundreds of geography teachers are members of the Mississippi Geography Alliance. The Mississippi Geography Alliance conducts regular workshops for graduate and undergraduate students who are preparing to be certified to teach elementary through high school- level geography in our State. These workshops have provided opportunities for model teaching sessions and discussion of best practices in the classroom. The bill I am introducing establishes a Federal commitment to enhance the education of our teachers, focuses on geography education research, and develops reliable, advanced technology based classroom materials. I hope the Senate will consider the seriousness of the need to invest in geography, and I invite other Senators to cosponsor the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act. I am pleased to be joined by my friend from Maryland, Ms. Mikulski. The purpose of this bill is to improve geographic literacy among K-12 students in the United States by supporting professional development programs administered by institutions of higher education for K-12 teachers. The bill also assists states in measuring the impact of geography education. Ensuring geographic literacy prepares students to be good citizens of both our nation and the world. John Fahey, Chairman and CEO of the National Geographic Society, once stated that, ``Geographic illiteracy impacts our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment, and isolates us from the world.'' When students understand their own environment, they can better understand the differences in other places and the people who live in them. Knowledge of the diverse cultures, environments, and distances between states and countries helps our students to understand national and international policies, economies, societies and political structures on a global scale. To expect that Americans will be able to work successfully with other people around the world, we need to be able to communicate and understand each other. It is a fact that we have a global marketplace, and we need to be preparing our younger generation for competition in the international economy. A strong base of geographic knowledge improves these opportunities. In a report prepared for leading Internet company, Google, the study estimated that geography service industries generate up to $270 billion every year. Geographic knowledge is increasingly needed for U.S. businesses in electronic mapping, satellite imagery, and location-based navigation to understand such factors as physical distance, time zones, language differences and cultural diversity among project teams. Additionally, geospatial technology is an emerging career field available to people with an extensive background in geography education. Professionals in geospatial technology are employed in federal government agencies, the private sector and the non-profit sector and focus on areas such as agriculture, archeology, ecology, land appraisal and urban planning and development. It is important to improve and expand geography education so that students in the United States can attain the necessary expertise to fill and retain the estimated 70,000 new skilled jobs that are becoming available each year in the geospatial technology industry. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell once said, ``To solve most of the major problems facing our country today--from wiping out terrorism, to minimizing global environmental problems, to eliminating the scourge of AIDS--will require every young person to learn more about other regions, cultures, and languages.'' We need to do more to ensure that the teachers responsible for the education of our students, from kindergarten through high school graduation, are trained and prepared to teach the critical skills necessary to solve these problems. Over the last 15 years, the National Geographic Society has awarded more than $100 million in grants to educators, universities, geography alliances, and others for the purposes of advancing and improving the teaching of geography. Their models are successful, and research shows that students who have benefited from this teaching outperform other students. State geography alliances exist in 26 States and the District of Columbia, endowed by grants from the Society. But, their efforts alone are not enough. In my home State of Mississippi, teachers and university professors are making progress to increase geography education in schools through additional professional training. Based at the University of Mississippi, hundreds of geography teachers are members of the Mississippi Geography Alliance. The Mississippi Geography Alliance conducts regular workshops for graduate and undergraduate students who are preparing to be certified to teach elementary through high school- level geography in our State. These workshops have provided opportunities for model teaching sessions and discussion of best practices in the classroom. The bill I am introducing establishes a Federal commitment to enhance the education of our teachers, focuses on geography education research, and develops reliable, advanced technology based classroom materials. I hope the Senate will consider the seriousness of the need to invest in geography, and I invite other Senators to cosponsor the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, we yield back all time on this side.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, we wish to thank the distinguished manager of the bill for her courtesies and for her skill in managing this bill, and her sensitivity to the need for improvements in sustaining the disaster assistance capabilities of our great country.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I commend the Senator from Indiana, Mr. Coats, for the work he has done on this bill. He has proposed changes to the bill to balance our help for the victims of Hurricane Sandy with our duty to be responsive to the public trust. His effort would provide aid now that is clearly needed now and consider separately the longer term proposals in the substitute. I think his intent was to propose a bill that could be enacted into law quickly so that disaster recovery would not be delayed. I thank him for his contributions to this debate.

Mr. COCHRAN. I commend the distinguished Senator from Maryland for her outstanding service here today to the Senate.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I object.

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, these amendments have been cleared by the managers on this side. I know of no objections to their adoption.

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, we have no objection to the request of the Senator.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, let me join with the Senator from Maryland in commending all Senators for the expeditious way we have been able to move this bill but in particular the chairwoman herself, who has provided strong leadership, capable leadership, and fairness, a sense of fairness for all Senators. I thank her for the honor of serving with her on this committee.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased in joining my colleagues in commending and congratulating our distinguished colleague from Texas. Her service in the Senate has truly been outstanding and she has made an impact in our Committee on Appropriations. We have deliberated about the funding of all the Federal agencies and departments of the Federal Government. She has been very careful. She is very serious about her responsibilities, and I am glad to be here today to wish her well in the years ahead and compliment her on a very distinguished career in the Senate.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the Senate and our Nation have lost one of our finest leaders, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. He was an outstanding Senator, a true statesman, a patriot, and a gentleman. It has been an honor and pleasure to be able to work closely in the Senate with Dan Inouye as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. His service as chairman of the committee--and especially the Subcommittee on Defense--has been marked with consistently strong and thoughtful leadership. He was appreciated for his courtesies to other Members and his seriousness of purpose as he carried out his important responsibilities. He has also earned the high praise he received from the men and women of the Armed Forces, who are the best equipped and trained military force in the world thanks to his diligent efforts on their behalf. Senator Inouye was friendly and kind to all, but he was also a man of resolute courage and strength. He was very successful as an advocate for his State of Hawaii and our Nation. All Americans should be grateful for his service in the Senate. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I will not object to the request made by the Senior Senator from Washington, and I do not object to the policy provisions in this bill. However, I must point out that this bill indiscriminately diverts Overseas Contingency Operations funds, which are necessary to ensure resources, equipment, and supplies are available to our servicemembers deployed across the globe. This is not how the provisions of this bill should be paid for. Taking away funds intended for our men and women who are currently serving could, in time, place some of the veterans that this bill intends to help at greater risk. This legislation could also divert funding intended for the security of our Ambassadors, Foreign Service Officers, and other State Department officials, placing them at additional risk. Quality healthcare for those who have honorably served our country is something that I think all Senators, including me, support. If the provisions of this legislation are a priority for this body, we should be deliberate in determining how we should pay for them. The Senior Senator from Washington has put forward a thoughtful bill that merits consideration, but I think this body would prefer to consider other means to pay for new programs that do not divert funds intended to keep our troops well-equipped and safe.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of the life and career of Neil A. Armstrong. Americans and people around the world paused when Mr. Armstrong passed away on August 25, 2012, to recall his heroic accomplishments and historic legacy. Neil Armstrong is remembered as a man who pushed the frontiers of space exploration and engineering. Over the course of his life and service to the Nation, he promoted the idea of never doubting what is possible. He inspired countless young men and women to pursue careers in science and engineering, many of whom became aeronautics workers at facilities like the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Mr. Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, OH, on August 5, 1930. He received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Perdue University, a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, and received honorary doctorates from multiple universities. Mr. Armstrong embarked on a remarkable career that would involve his flying more than 200 different models of aircraft including jets, rockets, helicopters and gliders. From 1949 to 1952, Mr. Armstrong served as a naval aviator, and in 1955 joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, now the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. From 1955 through 1972, he served as an engineer, test pilot, astronaut, and administrator for our Nation's ambitious space program. Mr. Armstrong's transfer to astronaut status in 1962 led to his performing the first successful docking of two vehicles in space in March 1966 as the command pilot for Gemini 8. Mr. Armstrong subsequently became commander for Apollo 11, the first manned lunar mission, and was the first man to land a craft on the moon. At 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the surface of the moon. It was one of the defining moments of the 20th century and one of the proudest days for the American people. Following his career with NASA, Mr. Armstrong was a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati between 1971 and 1979. Mr. Armstrong was decorated by 17 countries and was the recipient of many special honors including: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the Explorers Club Medal, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Harmon International Aviation Trophy, the Royal Geographic Society's Gold Medal, the Federal Aeronautique Internationale's Gold Space Medal, the American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the AIAA Astronautics Award, the Octave Chanute Award, and the John J. Montgomery Award. Mr. Armstrong will be remembered not only for his famous words as he stepped foot on the moon--``That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind''--but more importantly for inspiring generations of people around the world to explore and push the boundaries of what they believe is possible. Neil Armstrong was a true American hero who will be missed by many, but never forgotten.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, this week my home State of Mississippi received the sobering news that its economy had slipped back into recession. Frankly, I'm concerned that my State might be a harbinger for the rest of the country. Despite national efforts to create new jobs and opportunities, our economy is not getting significantly better. It is a problem in most States. Unemployment has remained over 8 percent for more than 3 years despite spending nearly a trillion dollars with the President's 2009 stimulus package. Investments and small business growth have languished with a weak economy and with tax policies and Federal regulations that seem to have made matters worse. The course we are on is simply not good enough. We urge the Senate to make a strong stand. Let's get together. Let's push a simple, easy-to-follow game plan for economic recovery.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, this continuing resolution results from an agreement reached between the President and the congressional leadership for a 6-month, clean CR that adheres to the fiscal year 2013 spending levels set out in the Budget Control Act. The continuing resolution does not make reductions in programs for which the President requested less money in fiscal year 2013, nor does it make cuts that have been proposed by the Congress. Neither does the resolution increase funding for programs Congress or the administration deemed to be high priorities, with a few exceptions. The continuing resolution does not contain any new oversight provisions to guide agencies, nor does it include any new riders to limit the activities of the executive branch. In short, it puts the portion of government that we call discretionary on automatic pilot. Enactment of this resolution will, for the time being, avoid a disruptive government-shutdown fight. The resolution represents a lost opportunity. We have lost the opportunity to provide agencies with at least some certainty about funding for this fiscal year. We have lost the opportunity to make informed judgments about which programs are effective and deserving of additional resources and which programs should be reformed or terminated. Contracts will not be let in a timely and efficient manner, and acquisition and construction costs will rise with delay. The morale of the Federal workforce will suffer. Perhaps most importantly, we have lost a chance to supplant the looming sequester. Elections have consequences, as they most certainly should, but elections should not have the consequence of rendering Congress unwilling or incapable of performing its most fundamental duties in the times leading up to those elections. In my view, the thoughtful and dutiful appropriation of funds for our national defense and other government operations is such a fundamental duty. I deeply regret that the majority leader chose not to call up a single appropriations bill. Chairman Inouye has shown impressive leadership of our committee in reporting 11 of the 12 bills out of our committee. Most were reported on a broad bipartisan basis. The chairmen and ranking members of the subcommittees have put a lot of time and thought into the bills. The staffs have worked very hard producing this legislation. The other body has also produced a bill. It has passed seven of the appropriations bills in the other body and I suspect would have passed the others had there been any sign of movement in the Senate. We can only speculate as to why none of the bills have been considered here in the Senate. Other issues were deemed more pressing or expedient for one reason or another. Perhaps votes on amendments to spending bills were deemed to be politically perilous, whatever the reasons. At a time when addressing our Nation's fiscal situation is so central to our duty as Senators, it seems more imperative than ever that Members of this body have an opportunity to offer amendments to shape the spending bills. Our problems are sufficiently large that it will require all of our good ideas to make the day-to-day operations of government as efficient and effective as possible. This might mean we have to take votes on difficult amendments. But would that really be so traumatic? As a result of our inaction, we are compelled to pass this continuing resolution to fund the government. I would have preferred a shorter term CR in order to motivate action on the appropriations bills, but 6 months is what has been agreed to. Proponents of this 6-month CR argue that the prospect of a government shutdown should be taken off the table so that we can focus on the complex issues facing us in the coming months. But do those issues look any more simple now that we are about to pass this CR? All manner of taxes are scheduled to go up on January 1. Medicare reimbursement rates will be cut dramatically. The debt ceiling looms. And due to the inability of the supercommittee to propose a debt reduction package, we are facing a budget sequester that very few people seem to think is a good idea. Perhaps passage of this CR will help us address these pressing matters. I hope that it will. But I am not so sure it changes things that much. Regardless of who wins what in the upcoming election, we have a great deal of unfinished business to resolve in the coming months. None of my colleagues likely relish the prospect of voting in March-- up or down--on either a trillion-dollar omnibus bill or a trillion- dollar full-year CR. Yet that is where we are headed if we continue to do nothing. Appropriations bills are not simply opportunities to spend more money. They provide regular opportunities for effective oversight of Federal agencies. And when we take the time to bring them to the Senate floor, they provide regular opportunities for the elected representatives of all the people to shape, as well as fund the operations of the Federal Government. I hope the Senate will not continue to deny the people that opportunity.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, on May 13, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued Change Request 7397 to stop compounding pharmacies that prepare medications used in implanted infusion pumps from billing Medicare directly for these services. This was an attempt to reverse a policy that has been permissible in several States for over 20 years. Since then, I have worked with Senator Wicker and other Members of Congress to delay the implementation of this change until its effects have been fully considered. This policy change has been met with opposition from pharmacies, physicians, and patients. In Mississippi, pharmacies are prohibited from selling infused pain medications to physicians, which would result in decreased access to effective treatments for chronic pain disorders. While this is a particular issue in my State, this policy change will have serious implications across the Nation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has worked with us over the past year to delay this policy change and to propose a rule that is now receiving comments. However, CMS officials have continued to demonstrate a lack of understanding about the potential consequences of changing payment policy. We should protect practices that have been effective in treating patients and support those who supply drugs necessary for the well-being of patients. This bill would explicitly allow compounding pharmacies to bill Medicare directly for their services in the interest of helping patients continue to receive the quality care they deserve.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, on May 13, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued Change Request 7397 to stop compounding pharmacies that prepare medications used in implanted infusion pumps from billing Medicare directly for these services. This was an attempt to reverse a policy that has been permissible in several States for over 20 years. Since then, I have worked with Senator Wicker and other Members of Congress to delay the implementation of this change until its effects have been fully considered. This policy change has been met with opposition from pharmacies, physicians, and patients. In Mississippi, pharmacies are prohibited from selling infused pain medications to physicians, which would result in decreased access to effective treatments for chronic pain disorders. While this is a particular issue in my State, this policy change will have serious implications across the Nation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has worked with us over the past year to delay this policy change and to propose a rule that is now receiving comments. However, CMS officials have continued to demonstrate a lack of understanding about the potential consequences of changing payment policy. We should protect practices that have been effective in treating patients and support those who supply drugs necessary for the well-being of patients. This bill would explicitly allow compounding pharmacies to bill Medicare directly for their services in the interest of helping patients continue to receive the quality care they deserve.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, agreeing to put the government on autopilot for 6 months is no great achievement. It simply means more drift. It means a longer period of uncertainty for government agencies and the people they serve, more spending on ineffective programs and outdated priorities, and inadequate investment in programs that merit additional resources. My preference is that we complete our work and make specific spending choices based on the relative merits of government programs. There is no excuse for the Senate not to be considering the appropriations bills. Our committee members have done the work of scrutinizing budgets, holding hearings, and drafting bills. Those bills deserve to be considered by the Senate, negotiated with the House and sent to the President as soon as possible. I congratulate the distinguished chairman of our Committee on Appropriations, Mr. Inouye, for his dependable leadership on getting us to this point. I look forward to continuing our efforts to extend our appropriations authority for the balance of the fiscal year.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, my State of Mississippi and the American journalism community have suffered a great loss with the death of William Raspberry. As a widely respected writer, his articles were refreshing in their depth of understanding and even handed reporting of the perils and triumphs of politics and government. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record an article from the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, written by Sid Salter.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to congratulate the United Way on its 125th anniversary. The organization began in 1887 as a community endeavor in Denver, and it spread throughout the country. Today, the United Way includes almost 1,800 community-based organizations in the United States and 40 other countries and territories. It applies the nearly $5 billion it raises annually to provide for the common good in communities all over the world. I am proud that my State of Mississippi is home to dozens of nonprofit United Way organizations. With their network of partners, these groups do remarkable work to gather private resources and generate volunteer services from all ages to address the educational, health, and income problems faced by children, families, and seniors. Projects such as the Back 2 School Resource Fair hosted by the United Way of Northeast Mississippi, the Summer Youth Corps volunteer program run by the United Way of the Capital Area, and the Literacy Kit Workshop sponsored by the United Way of Southern Mississippi are just a very small sample of ongoing activities carried out to help improve our State. In addition, Mississippians are grateful for the helping hand the United Way provides when disasters strike. United Way volunteers from Mississippi and around the Nation were among the thousands of people who came to the aid of my State following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More recently, the United Way stepped up to assist those hurt by tornadoes in northeast Mississippi and historic flooding throughout the Mississippi River delta. The United Way has recorded an outstanding history of accomplishment in its 125 years. It has done so by joining forces with everyone from the individual giver to Fortune 500 partners. I am pleased to be able to join in commending this organization for its good works, and I look forward to its continued success.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I rise today to offer a Memorial Day tribute to the brave men and women who have lost their lives protecting the safety and security of our citizens and American interests around the world. Today, there are media reports about the American people becoming ``war weary'' after more than a decade of combat activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Many lives and great expense have been marshaled since the 9/11 attacks, but I would submit that Americans are unfaltering in their appreciation for the honor, courage and dedication shown by our servicemen and women. This is especially the case for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for their country. This Memorial Day, I will take time to honor our brave fallen warriors, including the more than 70 military personnel from Mississippi who have died in the service of our Nation in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world over the past decade. For the Record, I offer the names of these brave Mississippians who have fallen since the Nation commemorated Memorial Day last year. They are: Sgt. Christopher R. Bell, 21, of Golden, who died June 4, 2011. Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson, 35, of Rolling Fork, who died July 18, 2011. LCpl. Edward J. Dycus, 22, of Greenville, who died Feb. 1, 2012. SFC Billy E. Sutton, 42, of Tupelo, who died Feb. 7, 2012. MSG Scott E. Pruitt, 38, of Gautier, who died April 28, 2012. SSG Carlous Perry, 30, of West Point, who died April 30, 2012. I am confident that the people of my State will join the national commemoration to remember these men and the thousands of Mississippians, who over the course of this great nation's history, have courageously served and sacrificed their lives in that service. We will also recall their families and their profound loss. On this day of remembrance, we salute those sacrifices and express our gratitude for their brave service. In these challenging times, we should also reaffirm our commitment to the servicemen and women who today put themselves in danger on our behalf. We must remain resolved to ensure that those who join our Armed Forces are the best equipped and best trained in the world, and that we meet our obligations to those who have served and sacrificed in the defense of our nation. Let me close by expressing my personal gratitude to all our fallen heroes, and communicating my sincere appreciation to those Mississippians and Americans who answer the call to arms and find themselves in harm's way.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, a year ago my State of Mississippi suffered one of the worst disasters in our history when the Mississippi River and its tributaries were confronted with record flood levels that threatened the well-being of residents and property over much of our State. The 2011 flood put our people and flood control structures to the test. Federal, State, and local entities worked heroically to prevent this disaster from becoming an outright catastrophe. I would like to especially commend the Mississippi Levee Board and the Yazoo- Mississippi Delta Levee Board for their impressive leadership during the flood and for taking the necessary actions to protect our population and to limit flood damage. The Mississippi Levee Board is responsible for operating and maintaining a roughly 212-mile levee system along the river, as well as 360 miles of interior drainage streams. The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board maintains 98 miles of mainline levees and 18 miles of backwater levees. Each board has worked efficiently and effectively with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the threat of high water and flood damage. The great flood of 2011 reminded us of the importance of diligence, preparation, and cooperation to ensure that our levees remain strong and that the lives and property in our State are protected.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Bowen Flowers of Clarksdale, MS, for his service and contributions to the State of Mississippi while serving as the 77th President of Delta Council. The Delta Council was formed in 1935 and has grown into a widely respected economic development organization representing the business, professional, and agricultural leadership of the alluvial floodplain commonly known as the Mississippi Delta. I am grateful to Delta Council for its continuous role in meeting the economic and quality of life challenges which have historically confronted this part of my State. Bowen Flowers' tenure as president of Delta Council has coincided with the development of a new farm bill, the primary legislation for establishing Federal agriculture and food policies. Mr. Flowers has used his insight and judgment to lead the Delta Council in effectively working with Congress to help ensure that the priorities of those living and working in rural America are met. He is also recognized for his dedication to conservation and wildlife as part of his ongoing service to Mississippi. In addition to his role as president of Delta Council, Mr. Flowers is a director of Staplcotn Producer Cooperative and the Covenant Bank, and is a commissioner on the Coahoma County Soil and Water Commission. Some of his previous leadership positions include director of the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts, president of the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board, producer director of the National Cotton Council, president of Delta Wildlife, and chairman of the Delta Council Soil and Water Committee. Bowen Flowers is well respected in Mississippi and his performance as president of the Delta Council will add to his well-earned reputation of working to improve the quality of life of rural America. His dedication to the future of the Mississippi Delta and those who live there speaks highly of him as a person. In Mississippi, we appreciate Bowen Flowers, as well as his wife Susan and their daughter Anderson, for their service and commitment to Mississippi.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Alfred Rankins, Sr., of Greenville, MS, for his tireless and effective leadership while serving on the Washington County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Rankins recently retired from the board following a long career dedicated to protecting and enhancing the lives of the residents of Greenville and Washington County, and people throughout the Mississippi Delta. Washington County has historically faced a unique set of challenges, and I am grateful for the board's consistent leadership in willingly addressing these challenges on a daily basis. Al Rankins has served Washington County long enough to understand the dynamics of the local economy and the needs of the region. Mr. Rankins served on the Board of Supervisors since 1990 and served as its president. His tenure was characterized by consistent focus on retaining and recruiting new businesses and industries to the area. During his career, Al Rankins has also been a member of the Mississippi Water Management Advisory Board and the Allied Enterprise Advisory Board. On the Delta Council, he served as the longtime chairman of the Council's Flood Control Committee and as chairman of the Development Department Board of Directors. Prior to serving in these important jobs, Al Rankins worked almost 21 years as a police officer for the city of Greenville, retiring in 1990 as deputy chief. He also served his country honorably during a tour of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force. Related to his career as a civic leader and business owner, Al Rankins has received many accolades and honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Civil Service to the Community, the Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award, and the Outstanding Service to the Community Award. These awards are examples of the recognition extended to Mr. Rankins for his public service and community volunteer contributions to the Mississippi Delta Region. Al Rankins and his wife Mary are a credit to my great State. In conjunction with the end of his long service with the Washington County Board of Supervisors, I join many Mississippians in commending Alfred Rankins, Sr., for his dedication and service to the people of Mississippi.