Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act. I am pleased to be joined as a cosponsor by my friend, the distinguished Senator from Maryland, Ms. Mikulski. The purpose of this bill is to improve geographic literacy among K through 12 students by supporting professional development programs for their teachers that are administered in institutions of higher learning. The bill also assists States in measuring the impact of education in geography. Ensuring geographic literacy prepares students to be good citizens of both our Nation and the world. John Fahey, who is 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, environment, 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 geography knowledge improves these opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that in 2010, the overall volume of international trade, as the sum of imports and exports, was over $4.3 trillion. Geographic knowledge is increasingly needed for U.S. businesses in international markets to understand such factors as physical distance, time zones, language differences and cultural diversity. Geospatial technology is an emerging career that is now available to people with an extensive background in geography education. Professionals in geospatial technology are employed in federal government agencies, and in the private and non-profit sectors in 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 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.'' It is clear to me that we need to do more to ensure that the teachers responsible for the education of our students, from kindergarten through high school graduation, are prepared and trained to teach the 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 benefitted 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. This Alliance conducts regular workshops for graduate and undergraduate students who are preparing to be certified to teach elementary and 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 and advanced technology based classroom materials. I hope the Senate will consider the seriousness of the need to make this enhanced investment in geography.

Mr. COCHRAN

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to support the nomination of Justice James E. Graves, Jr., to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. At this time, Justice Graves is serving as a presiding justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He was appointed to our State's highest court in 2001, and he was elected to the court in 2004. Prior to that, he served as a trial court judge for 10 years. Justice Graves has earned impressive academic credentials, including an undergraduate degree from Millsaps College, a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law, and a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University. Justice Graves has served as a director of the Child Support Division of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. It is with pride and pleasure that I am able to recommend to the Senate the confirmation of Justice James E. Graves, Jr. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it has been a great pleasure and honor to serve in this body with Judd Gregg. He and his wife Kathy have enriched our lives with their friendship and their contributions to the work and responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. Judd's leadership on the Budget and Appropriations Committees have been especially important and worthy of high praise. His sense of humor has helped make our service in the Senate an enjoyable experience. I wish for him and his family all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I was pleased to have an opportunity to hear most of the remarks made this morning by my friend and colleague from Pennsylvania and others who have spoken on the occasion of his retirement from the Senate. I couldn't help but remember when he was campaigning in his first race for the Senate and I had been asked to be available to help out in some campaigns that year. I was a brandnew Senator and didn't know a lot of the protocols, but when I heard Arlen Specter wanted me to come up and speak in Pennsylvania somewhere during his campaign, I decided I would accept the invitation, although I was a little apprehensive about it, about how I would be received as a Republican from Mississippi going up and helping this new candidate who was running on the Republican ticket too. His wife Joan was a member of the city council in Philadelphia, as I recall--very well respected. Anyway, I enjoyed getting to know the Senator and his wife better during those early campaign events. Then, after he was elected, he asked me to make one more trip up. He could not go to Erie, PA, and keep an invitation that he wanted to accept and speak to a retired group of businessmen. These were older gentlemen who had been prominent in Pennsylvania business and political life. I worried about it--that they would not think much about me. But I went up there and nearly froze to death. I thought this is just a payback for the Civil War, I guess, that Arlen never got to express. He was going to do his part to help educate me and refine me in the ways of modern America. But that led to an entire career here working alongside him on both sides of the aisle, which I have enjoyed very much. We have all learned from him the commitment that he makes to the job, the seriousness of purpose that he brings to committee work, and he has truly been an outstanding leader in the Senate, through personal performance and his serious and impressive record of leadership. I am glad to express those thoughts today and wish Arlen well in the years ahead. We will still have a friendship that will be appreciated. I look forward to continuing that relationship. I yield the floor.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to support the approval by the Senate of the New START treaty. On December 16, I joined Senators Inouye, Feinstein and Alexander in a letter to President Obama to express my support for ratification of the treaty and funding for the modernization of our nuclear weapons arsenal. At the time, I was concerned that this might not be taken seriously as a long-term commitment. The President has responded to our request and assured me that nuclear modernization is a priority for his administration and that he will request funding for these programs and capabilities as long as he is in office. I appreciate his commitment to this long-term investment. The treaty before us is not perfect. Many of our colleagues have brought forth ideas and offered amendments that will help address concerns about the treaty. I share concerns about missile defense, tactical nuclear weapons, and limits on delivery vehicles, but I cannot deny the potential national security consequences of not ratifying the New START treaty. After listening carefully to national security experts and the debate on the Senate floor, I have been convinced that failure to ratify this treaty would diminish cooperation between our two countries on several fronts, including nuclear proliferation, and limit our understanding of Russian capabilities. Furthermore, failure to ratify this treaty would cause further delays in getting our inspectors back to Russia after a 1-year absence. While I am dissatisfied with the way this treaty has been considered by the Senate in a lameduck session, I take our responsibility to provide advice and consent to international treaties very seriously; and I do not think that the politics of the moment should trump our national security priorities. I am cognizant of the fact that the New START treaty has received unanimous endorsement by both our country's diplomatic and military leadership, and it would be an unusual response for the Senate not to respect and consider their views on how best to support our national security interests. I agree with them on the merits of this treaty, and I will support ratification.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to support the President's nomination of Mr. Carlton Reeves to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi. Mr. Reeves practices law in Jackson, MI. He received his undergraduate degree from Jackson State University and his law degree from the University of Virginia. He has served as a clerk and staff attorney for the Mississippi Supreme Court, and as the chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. Mr. Reeves has been actively involved with Mississippi Legal Services and other public interest organizations in our State which will serve him well as he takes on this important new responsibility. Mr. President , I am pleased to recommend this nominee for confirmation by the Senate.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, if there is no other Senator wishing to speak, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today at Arlington National Cemetery the final resting place for so many national heroes, the burial service of our friend and former distinguished colleague, Ted Stevens of Alaska, was attended by a large number of friends. It was my honor and privilege to serve as a Member of the Senate with Ted Stevens. From him I learned the importance of hard work and seriousness of purpose that characterized his exemplary service in this body. He was energetic and tenacious, and he used those assets to accomplish so much for the people of his State. His quick wit and capacity for hard work were formidable assets that enabled him to get things done for his country and his fellow citizens of Alaska. It was a special pleasure to visit Alaska with him and especially to participate in his annual Kenai River fishing tournament which raised money for the preservation of that river and the unique beauty of its river basin. Alaska and our Nation have lost a great leader and a true patriot, and I have lost a highly valued friend.

Mr. COCHRAN

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

Mr. COCHRAN. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, the Senate has lost its most talented, dedicated, and best-informed Member about the precedents, rules, and customs of the Senate, when the distinguished President pro tempore, Robert Byrd, passed away to join his beloved wife Erma in the heaven he was confident existed for those who were true believers. I had the good fortune to work closely with Robert Byrd as a fellow member of the Appropriations Committee for 30 years. I served as the ranking minority member when he was chairman and as chairman when he was the ranking minority member. I preferred being chairman. But I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to conduct the hearings, schedule the committee markups, and negotiate with our House colleagues to formulate and pass the bills that funded the departments of the executive branch, the judiciary, and the Congress. One of the highlights of my experience with Robert Byrd was a trip we took to several European capitals. He was comfortable discussing our mutual interests and differences with the leaders of other nations. His mastery of European history and politics was as impressive as his well- informed understanding of American history and politics. On one leg of our trip, Senator Byrd asked my wife Rose to come sit by him. He wanted to dictate something to her. He started a recitation with names that were not familiar to me, but eventually Rose realized that he was reciting from memory the names of the monarchs of Great Britain, the United Kingdom as we know it, and in the order in which each had served throughout the entire history of that great country. It was an unbelievable performance, reflecting an awesome ability of recall, and a reverential appreciation of a nation which has been our closest ally in recent history. Robert Byrd was not only my friend but a mentor, an example of dedicated, disciplined, and determined leadership. I will miss him, but I will always remember his legacy of seriousness of purpose, and his love for the Senate, its role in the legislative process, its powers of advise and consent, and its continuity that has helped make our government the most respected in the world.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Pete Johnson of Clarksdale, MS, for his service as the Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority. The authority was formed in 2001 as a Federal-State partnership to enhance the quality of life of the people of the Mississippi River Delta region. Since its inception, Pete Johnson has led the Delta Regional Authority as the Federal cochairman in its efforts to advance the economic opportunities of the residents of 252 counties and parishes in parts of 8 States, which make up the delta region. Pete Johnson has served the 9.5 million residents of the region and the Governors of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana, with distinction in his capacity as the Federal cochairman. Under Chairman Johnson's leadership, the Delta Regional Authority has established successful Federal grant programs, as well as the Delta Leadership Institute, Healthy Delta, I-Delta, and the Delta Development Highway System, the Delta Doctors Program, and a multimodal system for the region. Pete has proven himself to be an exemplary and proactive leader, and the far-reaching effects of his leadership are evidenced by the numerous Delta Regional Authority contributions to the region over the years. The Delta Regional Authority has leveraged limited Federal resources with other Federal, State, and local investments, resulting in over $434 million for 510 projects focused on economic development throughout the eight-state region. Over $1.5 billion of private funds has also been invested in these projects. In addition, the implementation of the Delta Regional Authority Federal Grant Program has created 5,472 jobs, trained 3,315 individuals for jobs, and improved the water and sewer systems for 11,860 families in the area. In Mississippi, we are very grateful for the outstanding service of Pete Johnson and his wife Margaret and for the sacrifices they have made to improve the economy and the quality of life in the delta region.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Cloture Motion

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 4231

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, all time is yielded back on this side.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to congratulate my friend, Mr. Walton Gresham, III, from Indianola, MS, who has been awarded the National Propane Gas Association's Bill Hill Award. This is a significant achievement that deserves recognition from the U.S. Senate. This award was established in honor of individuals who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the LP-Gas industry in the area of government relations. The award honors the memory of the late William C. Hill, who devoted distinguished service to the propane industry and was responsible for easing many of the burdens of price and allocation regulations on both large and small propane marketers throughout the 1970s. I have known Walton Gresham and his family for many years and can attest to the honor and diligence with which they conduct their business. Mr. Gresham possesses a dignity and gentlemanly nature that has allowed him to be a fine representative for his company and his industry throughout the years. Somehow, he always seems to have the time, and the ability, to make important contributions. I congratulate him on this significant achievement.

Mr. COCHRAN. I would be happy to yield to my distinguished colleague.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge Memorial Day, which provides us with an opportunity to take time out from our busy lives to remember and honor those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the United States and the liberties we hold dear. Mississippians have a strong affinity for our national defense, with thousands of brave citizens volunteering to serve in the Armed Forces. We also understand that, unfortunately, we will lose loved ones as part of that dedication. The very first Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was observed in 1868 by decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers, and since then Americans have set aside a time each year to honor their fallen heroes. Columbus, MS, proudly claims to be the birthplace of this tradition, but Memorial Day wasn't officially established as a Federal holiday until 1971. In the nearly 234 years since we became an independent nation, Americans have fought in numerous wars, and many have given their lives in defense of the ideals that the United States represents. As we gather this year to commemorate Memorial Day, we can reflect on all of the Mississippians who have perished protecting our Nation, whether in battles long ago or in the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom almost 10 years ago, more than 70 members of the Armed Forces with close ties to Mississippi have died fighting in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since Memorial Day last year, nine Mississippi soldiers have died while serving the American people. Those valiant men include LCpl. Phillip P. Clark, 19, of Brandon, died May 18, 2010; SGT Anthony O. Magee, 29, of Hattiesburg, died April 27, 2010; Army PFC Anthony Blount, 21, of Petal, died April 7, 2010; SSG William S. Ricketts, 27, of Corinth, died Feb 27, 2010; SFC Christopher D. Shaw, 26, of Natchez, died Sept. 29, 2009; SGT Matthew L. Ingram, 25, of Newton, died Aug. 21, 2009; and SFC Alejandro Granado, 42, of Fairfax, Va., died Aug. 2, 2009. Mississippi Guard; SFC Severin W. Summers III, 43, of Bentonia, died Aug. 2, 2009; and Army SSG Johnny Roosevelt Polk, 39, of Gulfport, died July 31, 2009. I honor them, and my heart goes out to the families of all the brave Mississippi men and women in uniform who have died for our country. It is the endless support of families that motivates our service men and women to carry out their duties, and their dedication must not be forgotten this Memorial Day. Congress is working diligently to provide our troops in Afghanistan with the funds necessary to finish the job and come home safely. I understand the necessity of matching our soldiers' readiness with the means to complete their mission, and I am confident that the entire Mississippi delegation and Congress continue to take that duty very seriously. As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I am particularly thankful for the bravery and dedication of those who have fought and died for our country in our defense. We are blessed to live in a country that protects its citizens with such a fine, fighting force. This Memorial Day, I encourage everyone to take a moment to remember the courageous American soldiers who have given their lives for our Nation and to thank their families. Our fallen warriors are true heroes, and we owe them our solemn gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I concur with the chairman. The scale of need in both States is significant. While I know the committee would have liked to accommodate a greater amount of funding for Tennessee and Rhode Island, as well as other States, the need to stay within the top- line number in the administration's request has limited the amount of funding available. Given the limited funding available, it is appropriate to focus on States where the underlying economic need is greatest, and I will work to maintain the position described by the chairman.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Tennessee for his kind comments about yielding time. I congratulate him and the Senator from Maine on their aggressive move to make sure the Federal rules and laws do not get in the way of humanitarian efforts that are extremely important in a time of natural disaster. The flooding in Tennessee is a horrible mess. It has been overlooked in the wake of the gulf oil spill and other things that have probably claimed center stage in terms of its national publicity and television coverage that has been occasioned by these disasters. But my assurances are that we will continue to try to be active in a way that will be a constructive influence in the interpretation and application of Federal rules in these situations.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. COCHRAN. Reserving the right to object, I am constrained to advise the leader and the Senator from Oregon that on behalf of the Senator from South Carolina, Mr. DeMint, I would be forced to object to that.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 4179, offered by the distinguished Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Landrieu.

Mr. COCHRAN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.