Kent Conrad

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to an outstanding advocate of small and rural business, Elton ``Mick'' Ringsak, who will be concluding his time as Small Business Administration Region VIII Administrator in July of 2008. For nearly 8 years he has been a champion for small business in rural America. He has recognized the important role they play in strengthening the local and national economies of our country and I have appreciated the excellent work he has done for the State of North Dakota. Mick has worked hard to provide Federal assistance to small businesses so they can be productive and grow. Not only is Mick Ringsak an advocate for small and rural businesses in America, he is also an outstanding person. He has never lost the values he gained growing up in Grafton, ND. During my years as Tax Commissioner for the State of ND, I had the opportunity to work closely with his father, a legislator in the State Senate from the Grafton area. Mick and his wife Claire are parents of three sons, Quint, Justin and Zach. He is trustworthy, honest, and dedicated to making the economic environment friendlier to small and rural businesses. Prior to his appointment appointed as the SBA Region VIII Administrator in 2001, Mick, a Vietnam veteran, owned and managed Miller's Boots and Shoes along with his brother-in-law in Butte, MT. I appreciate his work as SBA Region VIII Administrator, and I wish Mick well in his future endeavors. I have enjoyed working with him in developing North Dakota's small and rural businesses and he has also been a good friend. I wish him all the best in his upcoming retirement and look forward to his continuing leadership for small business for many years to come.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased to honor a community in North Dakota that is celebrating its 125th anniversary. On June 21 and 22, the residents of Ayr will come together to celebrate their community and its historic founding. Ayr is located in Cass County. Although its population is small, Ayr holds an important place in our State's history. Originally founded in October 1883 as Dunlop, the town was officially renamed Ayr by postmaster Frank Dickinson. He chose to name the community Ayr in recognition of Ayrshire, Scotland, the ancestral home of many of Ayr's citizens at the time. Later, some residents tried to change the name of the town again, but the territorial legislature took action to put an end to the renaming effort. Ayr is a community dedicated to service, with many citizens serving both in the government and military. Many in the community have also played a role in defining the preservation of North Dakotan history, with community members such as Keith Johnson who was responsible for much of the restoration of historic buildings in the Cass County `Pioneer Village' project. Mr. President, I ask the United States Senate to join me in congratulating Ayr, ND, and its residents on their 125th anniversary and in wishing them well for the future. By honoring Ayr and all other towns of North Dakota, we keep the pioneering, frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places such as Ayr that have helped to shape this country into what it is today, which is why this fine community is deserving of our recognition. Ayr has a proud past and a bright future.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased to honor a community in North Dakota that is celebrating its 100th anniversary. On July 4 and 5, the residents of Hague will gather to celebrate their community's history and founding. In 1882, a rural post office was established to serve the Grandin Brothers Bonanza Farm. In 1882, the Bonanza farm was 40,000 acres, which made it the largest wheat farm in the world. This Bonanza farm was managed by a man named John A. Hague, and he eventually lent his name to the town of Hague. Today, Hague is a small but vibrant community in south, central North Dakota. Residents of the community are truly proud of the St. Mary's Catholic Church, a Gothic-style, brick building built in 1929 that is on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Mary's Church possesses an iron cross cemetery that is a German-Russian tradition, which makes it a unique cultural gem. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the town of Hague will be having a wide range of events. To start off the festivities, the residents will be participating in a Tractor Trek. The town will also have a rodeo, parade, concerts, a magician, cloggers, and fireworks. Kristi Goblade, a local resident of Hague, will be performing cowgirl yodeling at the opening ceremony. A performance by Mylo Hatzenbuhler, a country humorist, is also expected. Mr. President, I ask the United States Senate to join me in congratulating Hague, ND, and its residents on their first 100 years and in wishing them well in the future. I believe that by honoring Hague and all the other historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places like Hague that have helped to shape this country into what it is today. I believe that Hague is deserving of our recognition. Hague has a proud past and a bright future.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I wish to recognize a community in North Dakota that will be celebrating its 125th anniversary. During this year's July 4th celebration, the residents of Lakota will gather to celebrate their community's history and founding. In 1882, Lakota, a Great Northern Railroad site, was founded. Lakota was named by Gov. Nehemiah G. Ordway for the Sioux word meaning ``allies.'' Lakota's post office was established in 1883, and it was designated as the county seat in 1883. Lakota officially became a city in 1889. Today, Lakota remains a small, proud farming community. Lakota residents enjoy many outdoor activities, from hunting to fishing in nearby Devils and Stump Lakes. Many residents take pride in the local golf course, Lakota Rock Creek Golf Course, saying that it is the ``best course around.'' The community is home to the A. M. Tofthagen Library and Museum, which was recognized in 1991 as a North Dakota historical site by the National Register of Historic Places. To celebrate the 125th anniversary, the residents of Lakota will gather for a wide range of events. An All School Reunion will be held during the same weekend of the anniversary celebration. Lakota will also celebrate with a variety show, banquet, craft show, parade, BBQ, a dance, car and motorcycle show, and lots of activities for the kids. I ask the Senate to join me in congratulating Lakota, ND, and its residents on their first 125 years and wishing them well in the future. By honoring Lakota and all the other historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the great pioneering frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places such as Lakota that have helped to shape this country into what it is today, which is why this fine community is deserving of our recognition. Lakota has a proud past and a bright future.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a community in Eddy County, ND, that will be celebrating its 125th anniversary. From July 3-6, the residents of New Rockford will gather to celebrate their community's history and founding. The Eddy County region was populated mainly by settlers of Scandinavian origin. The first pioneers followed the trail blazed by earlier Red River buffalo hunters. Later, they came by way of the Northern Pacific Railway. In 1882, Captain Walter G. Dunn established his merchandise store and post office just to the south of present-day New Rockford. As the railroads stretched northward, townsite promoters appeared a year later. These advocates sited the settlement along the James River and initially called it Garrison. Since Garrison was the name of another post office, the settlers decided upon the name New Rockford, derived from the area's river crossing. Today, New Rockford is a quiet, scenic place of 1,463 people. The township anchors a dynamic farm economy and contains a 117-acre industrial park. New Rockford is renowned for holding the Central North Dakota Steam Thresher's Reunion every third weekend of September, where a unique collection of antique operational steam engines is displayed. In addition, the community's rugged pioneering tradition persists and has been passed on to hometown son James Buchli, an astronaut and American hero. New Rockford boasts a vibrant natural heritage and offers some of North Dakota's finest wildlife habitats. Blessed to be near the Sheyenne and James Rivers, the town is a prime locale for fishing. New Rockford is also a hub for hunters because of the waterfowl, whitetail deer, and upland game that populate the area. To celebrate their 125th anniversary, the people of New Rockford have planned a number of events, including pitchfork fondues, dances, children's games, and a fireworks display. Mr. President, I ask the United States Senate to join me in congratulating New Rockford, ND, and its residents on their first 125 years and in wishing them well through the next century. By honoring New Rockford and all the other historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the great pioneering frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places such as North Rockford that have helped to shape this country into what it is today, which is why this fine community is deserving of our recognition. New Rockford has a proud past and a bright future.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased today to honor a community in North Dakota that is celebrating its 100th anniversary. On June 20-22, the residents of Reeder will gather to celebrate their community's founding and history. Reeder is located in the scenic southwestern part of North Dakota with a population of about 181. The town was named after E.O. Reeder, an assistant chief engineer with the Milwaukee Road Railroad, which established a station in Reeder in 1908. By the end of 1908, it was a thriving prairie town with numerous businesses. In celebration of the community's centennial, there are many activities planned for entertainment and to remember the town's history. Events will include a parade, variety show, bike races, dances, and plenty of food. The centennial celebration will also serve as a high school reunion for the graduates of Reeder High School. The school closed in 2000, but the town has turned it into the Dakota Prairie Enrichment Center. The community center is now used for receptions, basketball games, dances, and benefits. It also provides lodging for those who travel to the area to hunt, a popular activity in Reeder. Mr. President, I ask the United States Senate to join me in congratulating Reeder, ND, and its residents on their first 100 years and in wishing them well through the next century. By honoring Reeder and all the other historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the pioneering tradition alive for future generations. Places such as Reeder shaped this country into what it is today, which is why this fine community deserves our recognition. Reeder has a proud past and a bright future.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased today to recognize a community in North Dakota that will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. On June 21-22, the residents of Kief will gather to celebrate their community's history and founding. Kief is a small town located in the center of North Dakota with a population of 16. The land upon which Kief was founded was first homesteaded by a Ukrainian immigrant named Anton Bokovoy. In 1908, he sold half of his land to the Tri-State Land Company, which then sold the land to other settlers from Scandinavia, Russia, and Germany, effectively establishing the town of Kief. It was customary to give the first settler the opportunity to name the town. Anton Bokovoy chose to name the settlement after his birthplace of Kiev, Ukraine. Kief grew throughout the years. In 1910, the town was able to construct a schoolhouse, which served the community's students until it was closed in 1959. Kief officially became a village in 1918. At that time, the town had about 300 inhabitants. The many businesses that opened in Kief made the town a pleasant place to live. Multiple grain elevators and businesses related to agriculture offered a livelihood to many of the town's residents. In their free time, residents of Kief could be found enjoying themselves at the outdoor theater, pool hall, and bowling alley. Today, Kief supports three businesses. Krueger's Standard Grocery has been in operation since 1982. Recently, a long haul trucking company and a truck freight brokerage have been established. Current and former residents of Kief will gather to celebrate the 100th anniversary. They will enjoy a parade, an ice cream social, and a street dance. Children and adults will play horseshoes, tug o' war, and other games throughout the weekend. Horse and buggy rides will remind celebrants of the conveyances of yesteryear. Mr. President, I ask the United States Senate to join me in congratulating Kief, ND, and its residents on their first 100 years and in wishing them well through the next century. I believe that by honoring Kief and all the other historic small towns of North Dakota, we keep the frontier spirit alive for future generations. It is places like Kief that have helped to shape this country into what it is today. I believe that the community of Kief is deserving of our recognition. Kief has a proud past and a bright future.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, pursuant to section 308(a) of S. Con. Res. 21, the 2008 budget resolution, I previously filed revisions to S. Con. Res. 21, the 2008 budget resolution. Those revisions were made for Senate amendment 4825, a complete substitute for S. 3036, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008. The Senate did not adopt Senate amendment 4825. As a consequence, I am further revising the 2008 budget resolution and reversing the adjustments made pursuant to section 308(a) to the aggregates and the allocation provided to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for Senate amendment 4825. Mr. President, this will be the final revision to the 2008 budget resolution. This week, Congress passed S. Con. Res. 70, the 2009 budget resolution. The 2009 budget resolution now replaces the 2008 budget resolution for purposes of budget enforcement in the Senate. I ask unanimous consent to have the following revisions to S. Con. Res. 21 printed in the Record.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, I would like to briefly discuss the Climate Security Act and indicate how I would vote if I were going to be present for tomorrow's cloture vote. There can be no question that climate change is real. The scientific consensus is clear. Human activity is increasing the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, warming the planet, melting the polar ice caps, and causing severe weather events across the globe. The effects that we have seen to date are small in comparison to what scientists say are the likely consequences of continued warming. These developments have very serious implications for this country, and for the world. We need only to look to the droughts in my part of the country over the last few years or the increased frequency and ferocity of severe weather events across the country to see the very real effects of global climate change. We have an obligation to current and future generations to take meaningful action to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gasses, and I very much appreciate the efforts of Senator Lieberman, Senator Warner, and Senator Boxer to address this issue. However, this is a very complicated piece of legislation that will have far-reaching effects on our economy, our competitiveness, and the economic security of the people I represent. It is critically important that we understand these effects and ensure that we have minimized the economic costs of the bill. Our economy depends on affordable, reliable, and abundant sources of energy. Whether that means renewable sources of power like wind, solar, and biomass, or power derived from natural gas, petroleum, or coal, we have a responsibility to ensure that our businesses, manufacturers, and households have access to energy sources at reasonable costs. We rely on energy in almost everything we do in the course of a day, from turning on the light in the morning, to driving our cars to work, to cooking our dinner at the end of the day. During my time in the Senate, I have remained committed to keeping energy costs affordable for all North Dakotans and all Americans. The bill before us could reduce the affordability of these sources of energy. Over time, it will require companies that produce and use natural gas, petroleum, and coal to acquire credits for each ton of greenhouse gas emissions for which they are responsible. According to estimates from the Department of Energy's Energy Information Agency, the cost of allowances will range from approximately $20 in 2012 to between $60 and $80 in 2030 for each ton of emissions. I am very concerned about what these costs will mean for consumers in my state, where over 90 percent of our electricity comes from coal. I am also concerned about the effects of these cost increases on our international competitiveness. In the absence of a binding international agreement, other nations that are leading emitters of greenhouse gasses will not be subject to strict emissions controls. We would risk putting U.S. manufacturing--which relies on affordable energy--at a significant competitive disadvantage with the rest of the world. We have already witnessed the loss of jobs to manufacturers in Mexico and China. I recognize and appreciate that the authors of this bill have sought to address competitiveness concerns. But we must do more. Unfortunately, the tactics of some of our colleagues have made it impossible to have a full debate on these issues. There will be no opportunity to offer amendments that would address these concerns and improve the bill. I will be necessarily absent tomorrow for a long- planned and critically important meeting with senior Air Force leadership at Minot Air Force Base in my state. However, if I were here, I would have no choice but to oppose cloture. This legislation will not be the final word in the Senate on this subject. As this debate resumes, we need to continue working for a solution that carefully balances the need for action with the concerns about the impact on our economy and our competitiveness. We need to carefully consider impacts on States with energy dependent economies, such as North Dakota. We need to carefully consider the impact on different types of energy and make sure we do not put some forms of energy--such as lignite coal, which is the leading source of power in my State--at an unfair disadvantage. We need to carefully weigh the impacts that any plan will have on energy consumers. And we need to make sure this legislation is part of a global effort, so that countries such as China do not derive an unfair competitive advantage from our action. I very much hope to be a part of finding innovative and creative solutions that achieve this necessary balance. Getting climate change legislation right will require an enormous amount of additional, careful work. I look forward to working with Senators Boxer, Lieberman, and others to address this very real problem.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I thank Senator Chambliss for this minute. I thank the chairman of the committee as well for his leadership in bringing this bill back because of the unfortunate clerical error made in the House that necessitates it. I wanted to report briefly to our colleagues on the budget circumstances, because we have seen misreporting in the press, and it needs to be made abundantly clear the budget circumstance we face. The conference report on the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act that was overwhelmingly supported on a bipartisan basis in both the House and Senate is fully paid for over both the 5- and 10-year periods. That is not my determination; that is the determination of the Congressional Budget Office. They say over the first 5 years, it saves $67 million; over 10 years, it saves $110 million. The farm bill is fully pay-go compliant. It is fully paid for. It does not add a dime to the debt. The bill is identical to the conference report already passed and scored by CBO. The spending contained in the original bill has already been assumed. Therefore, this legislation has no additional cost. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. We have passed it overwhelmingly before. I wanted to make certain that this is in the Record so it is understood that this bill is fully paid for. It adds nothing to the debt. Again, I thank our colleagues: the chairman of the committee, for his vision and leadership; and to our very able ranking member, the Senator from Georgia, who has been such a rock as we have gone through this process. We appreciate so much what they have done. This is good for the country.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. We have agreement on that. My friend is going to stand up here and say: ``The biggest tax increase in the history of the world.'' I wish to recall his words from last year. Last year he said about our budget: It includes, at a minimum, a $736 billion tax hike on American families and businesses over the next 5 years--the biggest in U.S. history. Here is what happened. There was no tax increase.

Mr. CONRAD. Let me conclude on this thought. Here is the record. We had tax cuts of $194 billion. That is the record. That is what happened. No tax increase; tax reductions. If anybody wonders, go to your mailbox and look at the checks you have received from the United States Government. That was passed by a Democratic Congress. I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, as we begin the debate, first I thank my colleague, the ranking member of the Budget Committee, Senator Gregg, for his continuing graciousness and his professionalism as we have sought to find a way to conclude our work on the budget for this year. I also thank his staff. We appreciate very much the relationship we have and the very constructive dialog between us as we have searched to find a way to bring this debate to a close. With that, I wish to describe the conference agreement in general terms. This agreement, we believe, will strengthen the economy and create jobs. It will do that by investing in energy, in education, in infrastructure. It will expand health coverage for our kids. It will provide tax cuts for the middle class. It will restore fiscal responsibility by balancing the books by 2012 and maintaining balance in 2013. It also seeks to make America safer by supporting our troops, by providing for our veterans' health care, and by protecting the homeland and rejecting the President's proposals for deep cuts in law enforcement, the COPS program, and for our first responders. The tax relief in this budget is significant. This conference agreement extends the middle-class tax relief, provides for marriage penalty relief, the extension of the child tax credit, the 10-percent bracket. It also provides for alternative minimum tax relief so more than 20 million people in this country don't get caught up with additional tax obligations. It provides estate tax reform, it allows energy and education tax cuts as incentives to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and it provides assistance for families who are struggling to pay college costs. It also provides for significant property tax relief and, of course, for the important extenders package. The record under this administration has been a record of debt and deficits as far as the eye can see. This chart shows very clearly what has happened to the debt under this administration. This President, at the end of his first year, had a debt of $5.8 trillion. We don't hold him responsible for the first year because he inherited that budget. But over the 8 years he is responsible for, the debt has gone from $5.8 trillion to $10.4 trillion--almost a doubling of the debt in this country. This President's fiscal failures are manifest. They are written across the pages of the economic history of this country. This budget seeks to take the country in a different direction. Under this budget, we reduce the debt as a share of the gross domestic product each and every year, from 69.3 percent of GDP to 65.6 percent by the end of the fifth year. The same is true of the deficit picture under this budget. I am proud to report that we balance the books by the fourth year of the budget. We maintain balance in the fifth year. While the President's budget balances in the fourth year, it swings right out of balance once again in the fifth year. We don't believe that is a responsible course. Under this conference report, spending goes down as a share of gross domestic product, from 20.8 percent of gross domestic product in 2009 to 19.1 percent of GDP in 2012 and 2013. We will hear a lot from the other side about spending in this budget and we will hear claims that this takes spending through the roof. Let's compare the spending in this conference report with what the President proposed. In this conference report, total spending is $3.07 trillion in 2009. The President has $3.04 trillion. That is a difference of 1 percent. Again, the conference report shows spending of $3.07 trillion, the President proposed $3.04 trillion, a difference of 1 percent. Where did the difference go? Well, it went in those areas I have discussed: energy, education, and infrastructure, all of them critical needs. On the revenue side, the President proposed $15.2 trillion of revenue over the 5 years of this budget. We have $15.6 trillion of revenue--a modest difference, a 2.9 percent difference in revenue. We believe that can be accommodated without any tax increase. There is no assumption of a tax increase in this budget. In fact, as I have identified, there are substantial middle-class tax cuts in this budget. In addition, we believe this modest increase in revenue over what the President has proposed can be provided by aggressively going after the tax gap--the difference between what is owed and what is paid--by going after the offshore tax havens, as well as closing down abusive tax shelters. We believe that difference can be easily accommodated in those ways. Now, I predict that my colleague, for whom I have great respect and real affection, will stand up here momentarily and he will tell all of us this is the biggest tax increase in the history of the United States. He may even say that is the biggest tax increase----

Mr. CONRAD. Momentarily.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, on a point of personal privilege, I thank the leader for coming and making the statement he has. People see this body and sometimes they see it at its worst. This, in many ways, is the Senate at its best: Senator Domenici agreeing to withhold his vote to pair with Senator Byrd who could not be here because of illness; Senator Warner, whom I asked yesterday to pair and who readily agreed he will pair with Senator Kennedy who could not be here. This is to me an act of graciousness, it is thoughtful, it is respectful, and it is exactly what one would expect of Senator Domenici and of Senator Warner. I wish to say a special note about Senator Gregg who told me yesterday if we couldn't find someone else to pair with Senator Kennedy or Senator Byrd, he would be willing to do that. When I told my staff, I told them that is class. I wish to say publicly what I said to my staff privately, that Senator Gregg has demonstrated the highest example of what the Senate should be about and I thank him for it.

Mr. CONRAD. I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I again thank all our colleagues. This is a significant vote because this is the first time in an election year since 2000 that we have been able to pass a budget. That sets a good example for the future. I, again, especially thank Senator Domenici. This is his last vote on a budget. He, out of respect for this institution, respect for Senator Byrd, respect for the budget process, agreed to pair with Senator Byrd. We thank Senator Domenici for that gracious act. And Senator Warner, I deeply appreciate your willingness to pair with Senator Kennedy, who, as we all know, is ill and recovering. You are a pro's pro, and we deeply appreciate the respect that you have shown for our colleague, Senator Kennedy. Again, I thank all of the staff who have worked so hard. I again want to conclude by thanking the ranking member, Senator Gregg, for all he did to allow us to complete work today.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. in room 332 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 10 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Improving Detainee Policy: Handling Terrorism Detainees within the American Justice System'' on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 to conduct a hearing. The Committee will meet in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I have been asked to request that we go into a period of morning business until 12:45, with the time equally divided.

Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Chair, and I thank very much my colleague and my friend, Senator Cochran.