Mike Crapo

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo .senate.gov to the Congressional Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record today's letters.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, unfortunately, a tragic accident is the occasion of my remarks today. On May 30, recently retired Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, John W. Keys, was killed, along with his passenger, when his plane crashed in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. John worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for close to 40 years, serving in most all regions including in Boise as regional director of the Pacific Northwest region. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him Commissioner of the Bureau, where he served for 5 years until his retirement in April 2006. John believed in the adapting mission of the Bureau of Reclamation. He joined the Bureau at the time in its history when the final projects it oversees today were being authorized. During his tenure, the Bureau went from constructing water projects in the West to maintaining and improving facilities and processes. John was well-known for his efforts to facilitate collaborative management and solutions to challenges. He was a man of solutions and integrity, and he cared deeply about people and our natural resources. Idaho benefited from John's leadership as he worked with the State legislature, interest groups, the Tribes and irrigation districts on solving some of the thorny issues that have arisen with Endangered Species Act requirements in the Columbia River system for species such as salmon and bull trout. In January, 2006, John spoke about the mission of the Bureau: Our mission has evolved from the construction of dams to management and maintenance. As water management has evolved, Reclamation has transformed into a more comprehensive water management agency. Today, much of our focus is on improving the safety, security, and efficiency of the facilities we already have, as well as meeting environmental obligations. The challenges we face today in maintaining and improving the system are as formidable as those challenges that we surmounted during Reclamation's construction heyday. One priority is security . . . We feel more prepared and, therefore, more secure against terrorism, than ever. A lot is changing, but some things remain constant. Since I was appointed Commissioner in 2001, my main priority has been carrying out Reclamation's core mission: deliver water, generate power, do the things it takes to get that done, and plan for the future. I'm interested not just in the next few years, but in setting up the framework that will enable Reclamation to succeed many years into the future. John left a tremendous legacy at work and in his family. He devoted his time in retirement to his family and his volunteer efforts with Angel Flight and other humanitarian efforts. He was a remarkable man who did remarkable things for the country and region he cared about so deeply. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo. senate.gov to the Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record today's letters.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, a day or so ago, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering close to 800, are heartbreaking and touching. It is not just filling the tank; these high energy prices touch every aspect of our lives--family time, food prices, work commutes, the list goes on and on. Many Idahoans have taken efforts to cut back on the niceties to accommodate the necessities, but now far too many face the choice of which necessity to ignore--gas or food, job or family. For years, Congress has unsuccessfully grappled with a national energy policy; now we are at a point where decisions must be made, compromises must be negotiated if we are to finally be forward-thinking. This isn't only a question of what we are handing future generations; it's affecting families right here, right now. It is not just Idahoans. It is an issue that touches the live of every single American, no matter their socioeconomic status. In an effort to seek solutions rather than focus only on the trouble, I have also asked Idahoans to share how they want Congress to resolve it, and the suggestions are voluminous and wide-ranging. Some start simply with conservation efforts, something that I have long supported, while others encourage increased offshore oil drilling and increased domestic production, more sustainable alternative and renewable energy sources, stronger support for nuclear energy options and more efficient transportation options. Nearly all have expressed concerns for not just their future, but for the future of their children and grandchildren. And they are adamant about Congress moving beyond half-truths and partisan politics to find solutions. While I may differ in my opinions on some suggestions, I am thrilled that so many have taken time to share their thoughts with me. Some have shared research, videos and book recommendations. To respect that effort, I plan on submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy prices@crapo.senate.gov to the Congressional Record. And to keep attention on this matter, I will be submitting them a few at a time every day until every one has been submitted. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention. I plan to continue working to find other ways to bring these stories to the attention of my colleagues in Congress. Today, I am starting this process with the following comments from Idahoans. I ask unanimous consent to print in the Record comments from Idahoans.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the Chamber's attention the 11th Annual Congressional Health Screenings and I would like to commend my colleague, Senator Shelby, for his leadership at this event. The Congressional Health Screenings occur each year during National Men's Health Week the week prior to Father's Day. I encourage all of my colleagues and their staffs to participate in these screenings. As U.S. Senators, we must set an example and not only encourage healthy habits but practice them as well. This year's program offers a number of convenient screenings, including prostate specific antigen, PSA, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, and body fat tests, as well as health education materials. The purpose of this event is to increase our awareness of health issues and to help develop comprehensive strategies to improve our health and that of our families. The state of men's health has become a national crisis. Because of poor health habits, lack of health insurance, failure to seek timely medical attention, and dangerous occupations, men are afflicted with more maladies and die younger than women. Today, men are living approximately 5 fewer years than that of their female counterparts and are dying at higher rates for 9 out of the Nation's top 10 causes of death. This includes death from cancer, diabetes, suicide, accidents, and diseases of the heart, kidney, and liver. When speaking about cancer, it is important to note that one in two men in his lifetime will be diagnosed with cancer and one in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Men's Health Network, along with Women Against Prostate Cancer, use National Men's Health Week to emphasize the fact that prostate health issues and prostate cancer is not merely a ``man's disease.'' Each year thousands of wives, daughters, sisters, and friends are impacted--often in devastating ways--by the loss and/or suffering of a man from prostate health issues. Early and regular screenings significantly increase the chance of early detection and successful treatment. I am pleased to report that we are steadily making progress. Last year during September's Prostate Awareness Month, Men's Health Network and the Washington Redskins held a prostate screening at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. Over 300 people gathered to help their fathers, grandfathers, sons, uncles, and friends move one step closer toward a happier, healthier future. Five of the gentlemen screened had potentially dangerous PSA readings. There is no better time than now to become more proactive with regard to men's health. Women are 100-percent more likely than men to regularly visit their doctors for annual examinations and to seek out preventative services. Half of the Nation's elderly widows living in poverty did not face economic hardships before the deaths of their husbands. Men between the ages of 45 and 54 are three times more likely to die of heart attacks, 1.5 times more likely to die from heart disease, and 1.5 times more likely to die from cancer than women. Half of the estimated 54,000 men diagnosed this year with colon cancer will die from it. Over 185,000 men are expected to develop prostate cancer in 2008--almost 15 percent of these cases are expected to be terminal. Preventive measures, such as prostate specific antigen exams, blood pressure and cholesterol screens, and routine self-testing exams for these and other types of cancers that target men can lead to invaluable early detection that will increase the survival rates for such cancers by almost 100 percent. In addition, I must reiterate the need for an Office of Men's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to tackle many of these aforementioned issues. Last year, I introduced S. 640, the Men's Health Act, which would establish such an office. The Office on Women's Health in the department does a fantastic job of saving the lives of thousands of women and improving the lives of many more. Similarly, an Office of Men's Health would provide a support network that would reach out to all men on issues related to men's health. In closing, I thank the Men's Health Network for hosting the 11th Annual Congressional Health Screenings. I hope that my colleagues and their staffs will take this unique opportunity to not only better their own health, but to encourage the people around them to do the same.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, I am pleased to recognize an extraordinary honor bestowed upon Horace P. Axtell, elder of the Nimiipu, more commonly known as the Nez Perce Tribe. Horace is a 2008 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, National Heritage Fellowship, an annual fellowship that honors American folk artists for contributions to American culture. The highest federal honor in the folk and traditional arts, only 10 NEA National Heritage Fellowships are awarded every year. Horace is a Nez Perce tribal historian, storyteller, singer and drum maker. In fact, he is a spiritual leader of the Seven-Drum religion, a traditional religion of the tribes of the plateau region that requires practitioners to memorize songs and accompany them on handmade drums. He still builds these drums in the traditional way, curing hides and stretching them over wooden frames. Spending his youth listening to stories of the tribal elders, some of whom survived the 1877 war against the Nez Perce by the United States, Horace is now a respected elder himself and a pipe carrier for his tribe, a position of great honor. He is the author of a memoir, the first one printed in over half a century by a Nez Perce elder. He has received numerous awards including the President's Medallion from the University of Idaho, an honorary doctorate from Lewis-Clark State College and the Washington State Historical Society Peace and Friendship Award. It is an honor for me to publicly recognize the remarkable achievements of Horace P. Axtell.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, Idaho lost one of her native sons on May 25, a man who put Idaho on the map and made ``Famous Potatoes'' synonymous with Idaho across the world. John Richard ``J.R.'' Simplot passed away at the age of 99, leaving a legendary legacy of hard work and shrewd business dealing--a pioneer in every respect. Who would have thought that a young man, with no more than an eighth grade education who used to hunt wild horses to feed hogs--his first business venture as a teenager--would put Micron on the global map some 50 years later? Among other things, J.R. can be credited with catapulting the ubiquitous McDonald's French fry to worldwide fame. By the reckoning of some, J.R. Simplot is responsible for the employment of 14,000 Idahoans today, as well as the establishment of many Boise retail and hospitality centers such as the Boise Centre on the Grove, the Boise Factory Outlet and the Qwest Arena. Those of us who knew him knew a man with a colorful personality and a resolute sense of self and what he believed in. He was a dogged businessman, as comfortable in his role in convincing President Reagan to support U.S. business interests as he was wandering into a campground near his cabin to visit with folks around the fire. His personality was as multifaceted as the organizations and institutions to which he gave millions of dollars. J.R. donated to multiple causes including millions of dollars to Boise State University and other Idaho institutions of higher learning, the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the arts, Idaho Public Television, the Boise Zoological Society, Boise area medical centers, the YMCA and public libraries. Being rated by Forbes as one of the top 100 wealthiest Americans, and the oldest living billionaire in the United States, didn't change J.R.'s outlook on life, nor his habit of driving to McDonald's to eat a few times a week. In his trademark pragmatic way, he outlined for Esquire Magazine, at age 92, what it takes to be successful in business. He compared business to playing a game of marbles: ``Each man has his own taw, and if he gets good with that taw, he can knock the hell out of some marbles. And he can win, but he has to have strong fingers and the right aim. It's like anything else: You got to work at it.'' J.R. was a no-nonsense, down-to-earth, highly perceptive businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Idaho can be proud of his incredible legacy.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the close to 4 years of dedicated service and leadership provided by Dr. Timothy White, outgoing president of the University of Idaho. Son of immigrants from Argentina to Canada and then to the United States, Dr. White is a first-generation college graduate. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and is known internationally for his work in kinesiology, gerontology and human biodynamics, working in those fields at the University of Michigan and at Berkeley. Before coming to Idaho in August 2004, Dr. White served as provost and executive vice president at Oregon State University and as interim president. Dr. White put his vision of excellence in research, math and science into practice at the University of Idaho. Indeed, he shares my strong belief in the critical importance of math and science to education, from primary school to graduate degree programs. In a recent guest editorial, Dr. White stated: ``Idaho will prosper in the global economy if our work force is better prepared in the areas of math, science, technology and engineering Critical-thinking and reasoning abilities-- cornerstones of an educated citizenry and work force--are also dramatically aided by strong math and science skills.'' And Dr. White put ideas into action, overseeing critical programs that bridge the gap between middle and high school teachers and students and the University. While serving as president, Dr. White oversaw both the Gateway to Mathematics Program, which provides middle school teachers the chance to improve math teaching skills through interactive distance technology, and the Gateway to Calculus Program, which offers rural high school students an opportunity to learn calculus online when their particular school cannot offer such courses. He also oversaw the innovative and nationally acclaimed Polya Mathematics Learning Center at the University which helps undergraduate students master entry-level mathematics in an interactive and creative way, using both advanced technology and teaching staff to help students of varied learning styles overcome aversions to math. Dr. White's influence reached beyond math and science programs and initiatives. He created the Plan for Renewal of People, Programs and Place, based on the report of a task force he established to reinforce and enhance the university's academic and institutional excellence in today's world. The plan centered the University's resource allocation and mission, vision, and values around five key academic areas: science and technology, liberal arts and sciences, entrepreneurial innovation, the environment, and sustainable design and lifestyle. He saw the university engage in programs such as Operation Education Scholarship, Water of the West, Building Sustainable Communities, Bioregional Planning and Community Design and Biological Applications of Nanotechnology. During his term as president, the University of Idaho has been involved in many public-private partnerships with science and technology across the State, particularly in agriculture research. In 2006, the university opened an aquaculture biotechnology laboratory at its Hagerman fish culture experiment station, and University scientists now conduct cutting edge small grains germplasm research together with USDA Agriculture Research Service staff at a new addition to the ARS Aberdeen research facility, also opened in 2006. Under the direction of Dr. White, the University of Idaho continued its efforts to open a critical agriculture research endeavor the Idaho Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies that will serve as an environmental research center for dairy and livestock and operate as a self-sustaining animal feeding operation. And agriculture is not the only science and technology partnership the university has pursued under Dr. White's leadership: it is a partner with the Idaho National Lab in a multiuniversity public-private research and development endeavor in Idaho Falls called the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. Dr. White has worked diligently over the past 4 years to adapt the University of Idaho to our changing world, meeting students' educational needs and keeping the university on the cutting edge of innovative education, research, and academic excellence. I wish Tim and his wife Karen all the best as they move to southern California and he assumes the chancellorship of University of California, Riverside, this fall.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, on May 4, Idaho lost a pioneer and one of her strongest champions. The legacy of Louise Shadduck will live in the hearts of many Idahoans, particularly for Idaho women now involved in politics or journalism. She blazed trails and inspired action and involvement in the governance of and commentary on our society. Louise lived an incredible and full life, working as a journalist in the 1930s and 1940s and then shifting to politics where she served on the staffs of historical figures such as Governors Len Jordan and Charles Robins, Senator Henry Dworshak and U.S. Representative Orval Hansen. She was a staunch supporter of Idaho Republicans over the years, but did so with discernment, always making sure to remind those in office in her own way that it was Idahoans who they served, not themselves. Louise enjoyed people, and they enjoyed her in return. In high school in Coeur d'Alene in the early 1930s, Louise wrote an article for a journalism contest to win a trip to Alaska. According to an old friend, the entire school got together and voted for her article; she won the trip. Louise was a hard worker. Also in high school, Louise and her six brothers took turns driving the Shadduck family dairy milk truck on its route in the mornings before school started. Some afternoons, Louise would invite her friends to pile on to the empty milk crates on the bed of the truck to go to Spokane to catch a movie. She was a pioneer in women's rights, serving as Idaho State Secretary of Commerce and Development in 1958 the first woman in the country in that position. Louise also ran unsuccessfully against Gracie Pfost for Congress in 1956. It was an historic campaign, not only because it was the first time two Idaho women ran against each other in a general election for a national legislative office, but Pfost, the Democrat incumbent, was the first woman to represent Idaho in Congress. Louise served as executive director of the Idaho Forest Industry Council and received an honorary law degree from the University of Idaho in 1969. She was president of Idaho Press Women in 1966 and was president of the National Federation of Press Women from 1971 to 1973. Louise was an avid consumer of history, news and the world, traveling often and writing. She authored four books about Idaho and was working on a fifth when she became ill. Her mind was always sharp, as was her wit. People could count on her to be honest, forthright and inclusive, even of strangers. Many felt as if they had a second mom in Louise. She was a lover of knowledge and history, arranging family trips to show younger generations where their Shadduck pioneer roots lay. She remembered your name after the first introduction. People were vitally important to Louise, and her thirst for knowledge made her the go-to person for many people when they were researching information about Idaho. She was artistically gifted, and was known for her impromptu illustrations, sometimes hastily sketched in the front of a copy of one of her books and given to a friend. Much of Idaho is rural. Louise internalized the importance of small- town life and the intrinsic value of people. In a small-town, you get to know just about everyone. You learn to appreciate the fact that people are much more than just faces in a crowd. In today's hurried, populated world, Louise reminded many of us what was truly important-- morals, faith, mutual respect, honesty, individuality, and trustworthiness. Louise once told a reporter that people who leave this world without writing their story down means that we have lost a story. While Louise wrote many stories, we have lost an epic with her passing. I offer my condolences to Louise's family and friends at this sad time.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I also rise today in support of the farm bill conference report. Before my colleague, Senator Lincoln, leaves the floor, I wish to take a few minutes to thank her for the tremendous work she has been willing to do with me. She and I were both elected to the House of Representatives in the same year, and we were elected to the Senate in the same year. We have served on a lot of the same committees, not the least of which has been the Agriculture Committee and the Finance Committee, both of which have important parts of this legislation. We have had a tremendously good relationship over the years. We come from different sides of the aisle, but we work closely together in a bipartisan way on issue after issue. One of those very important issues, which Senator Lincoln already mentioned, is the Endangered Species Reform Act. I will talk about that later in my remarks. Before she left the floor, I wished to thank her for being the lead cosponsor on that legislation that we have worked on literally for 6 or 7 years, to make sure we build a consensus-based solution to issues in this country that will make a difference. Again, I thank the Senator for that. I truly appreciate the working relationship we have, and I could not agree more with the comments she has made overall about the farm bill and the tremendous blessing we have in this Nation to have literally the lowest per capita cost in the world in our budgets for the American families with regard to the dollars they must put forward for food and fiber. At a time when people around the world are struggling to deal with recent natural disasters and to ensure that their families have the food they need, we need swift enactment of this farm bill that will provide long-term certainty for farm families as they continue to feed the world's hungry. This is the third farm bill that I have worked on since I have been elected to Congress. I have to say that although each bill, as we moved through the issues of the day, presented their unique problems, this has been the most difficult to bring together in a conference where we could literally come together--House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats--and propose good, solid policy for our Nation's food and fiber. I think we have to give credit to those who have been leaders in the Senate in making that happen: our chairman, Senator Harkin; our ranking member, Senator Chambliss; and on the Finance Committee, which, as I said, also has a significant piece of this legislation, our chairman, Max Baucus; and the ranking member, Charles Grassley. There are many others. Now that I started mentioning Senators, I could literally go through the members of the Agriculture Committee, both sides of the aisle, the members of the Finance Committee, both sides of the aisle, and list Member after Member who has worked tirelessly to make sure this policy comes together in a farm bill we can be proud of and which will strengthen America globally. It is not limited to just the members of the Agriculture or Finance Committees. This Senate is committed to making sure we develop the kinds of policies that will keep our Nation strong and globally competitive, and many of those policies are included in this legislation. In preparation for this farm bill, I held 23 farm bill listening sessions in my State, all across Idaho, to get input from Idahoans about what they need and what they saw important in a new farm bill. I appreciated the input I got from my constituents and, frankly, utilized that input in working with my fellow members on the Agriculture Committee and Finance Committee as we crafted this legislation. There are a number of provisions I wish to highlight tonight. The first, which I have already mentioned, is a part of the bill that comes in the conservation piece the Finance Committee worked so hard to bring forward. As I think most people who followed the debate in the battles over the farm bill over the last few months have realized, one of the battlegrounds--in fact, the major battleground--was the effort by the Finance Committee in the Senate to bring forward a significant new addition to the conservation efforts in our country as we deal with conservation policy. One of the more important pieces of that battleground, if you will, was the Endangered Species Reform Act. The battle was not really over the policies; it was over the dollars because we wanted to make sure we paid for the increased costs of what we were doing. But it was nevertheless a very difficult time as we tried to find a path forward. Most people who are involved in land management issues, whether they be farmers, consumers, or people who are involved in development or simply homeowners, realize that we have had a significant area of conflict in this country for decades over the implementation of the Endangered Species Act. There is very little disagreement that we want to protect and preserve the beautiful environmental heritage we have and the species we have that are so rich and abundant in our country. At the same time, we wanted to try to find a way to avoid conflict with private property owners and with the economic activities of people in our country who are trying to develop jobs and opportunities in the economy to provide for themselves and their families. It is that conflict which we have worked on in the context of the Endangered Species Act now for about, as I say, 6 or 7 years, to try to build a solution that could be broadly supported but which would help both species and people, the economy, and help private property owners and those who are interested in protecting and preserving our rich environmental heritage. We have succeeded in the Endangered Species Reform Act. This act is broadly supported by the environmental community because over 80 percent of the threatened or endangered species in our Nation is located on private property. The act does not give us the ability to reach into the private property as effectively as we need to help implement recovery plans for species that are threatened or endangered. This legislation does so. At the same time, as I indicated earlier, our private property owners have been concerned about the reach of the Endangered Species Act and what it would do to them if an endangered species were found on their property. This act makes it so they can actually find economic compensation if that happens. The core of the act is that it focuses on helping landowners on a voluntary basis have a tax deduction for actions they undertake on their property to help implement recovery plans, to help facilitate and strengthen species. This is a tremendous incentive, with the backing of the Federal Government, for these tax deductions to encourage private property owners to undertake activities that will tremendously benefit species on their property. The private property owners are compensated for the impacts on their property, the species are benefited, and everyone in the country is a winner in terms of the improvement of the opportunities to strengthen our endangered species protection. This has the broad support of sportsmen organizations across this country, of environmental organizations across the country, and of private property groups across the country. I am glad we were able to work our way through literally the battlegrounds we faced in order to make sure we got this legislation included in the final piece of the farm bill. There is more to do. We had to work it through and adjust pieces of it that we would rather have kept in, but we got the core of the bill in place. And now we look forward to strengthening and improving this important protection of the Endangered Species Act. While she is on the floor, I thank Senator Stabenow for her tremendous efforts in the conference to make sure we were successful in getting this critical legislation for the endangered species and private property owners included in the final conference report. Specialty crop producers were also very significantly benefited by this legislation. Speciality crop producers in Idaho and nationwide will receive more than a $2 billion investment in programs important to them, including $456 million for speciality crop block grants that assist with marketing, research promotion, and other efforts to increase the competitiveness of speciality crops. Again, Senator Stabenow should be given great credit for fighting to work with me and many others to make sure this happened. The legislation also contains significant assistance for producers impacted by disaster, including new assistance for aquaculture producers who are impacted by drought or assistance for ranchers utilizing the Federal grazing permits who are impacted by a loss of grazing due to fire. In addition, more than $4 billion in new spending is going to be provided for conservation programs which enable landowners to meet the environmental needs and goals and, frankly, in many cases mandates that we put on them to make sure our environment is protected and preserve. I have often said, as we talked about different farm bills, and this one is no different--in fact, this one is probably a better example than any we have done so far--that one of the most, I will say the most important pieces of legislation this Congress ever works on with regard to truly making a difference in protecting, preserving, and strengthening our incredible environmental heritage in this country is the farm bill because of the powerful provisions we have in the conservation title. This farm bill moves forward with significant strides to strengthen and enhance the environmental and conservation goals of our country through farm policy and private property policies. This investment is an important step we must not forget. Farm bill conservation programs are an example of the Federal Government assisting with the environment in the right way with a carrot rather than a stick. Our conservation programs have contributed significantly to improving water and air quality and preserving and enhancing habitat for species. An estimated 95 percent of the world's consumers live beyond our borders. The bill also will assist in reaching those consumers by expanding market opportunities through the inclusion of $200 million annually for the Market Access Program. In addition, the bill seeks to better ensure adherence to the softwood lumber trade commitments through inclusion of a softwood lumber importer declaration program. I appreciate the tremendous work that was done to include this important provision. The legislation also continues and expands support for the Idaho commodity producers, including our barley, dairy, pulse crop, sugar, wheat, and wool producers. Idaho's agricultural industry is more than a $5 billion industry and is a critical part of Idaho's economy. The commodity title in this bill will continue to allow those farmers to be protected and strengthened as they face incredible global pressures and, frankly, what I consider to be anticompetitive actions by other nations as we deal in a global agriculture market. The legislation benefits rural America in a number of important ways. Across the United States, rural communities struggle to access funds necessary to comply with Federal, State, and local environmental regulations. Through changes to SEARCH grants, small rural communities with populations of 2,500 or less will have greater and more streamlined access to funding to assist with water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Let me explain what this means. Across this country, we have requirements that our wastewater and our drinking water be protected. In fact, often in America we talk about the fact that we have the safest, cleanest water in the world. When you come to America to visit, you don't have to worry about drinking the water. When you live here, you don't have to worry about drinking the water. The reason is because of our very strong environmental standards. We are proud of that, and we need to protect our water quality. But the protection comes at a price, and often the mandates we put on communities to assure that water quality are not able to be met by the smaller communities because they simply don't have the economies of scale to be able to implement the wastewater and other treatment facilities that are necessary to enable them to comply with the environmental mandates and keep the water quality so clear and clean. We need to provide ways to assist these strapped rural communities as they try to do what we all want to do, and that is make sure America has clean, safe water. That is what these projects will do in the SEARCH legislation. The bill also provides $120 million in mandatory spending to be directed at pending applications for water and wastewater disposal grants and loans--Again, to help with the same problem. As well in the rural areas, broadband access is a key to growth and economic development. This farm bill simplifies the application process for broadband assistance and ensures that broadband assistance is targeted at communities with the least amount of access. Improving the economic position of rural areas by stimulating the growth of rural businesses is accomplished through reauthorization of important programs such as the rural business opportunity grants and the rural cooperative development grants, which will ensure the continuation and technical assistance and training to our Nation's rural businesses and cooperatives. In addition, value-added producer grants are going to continue to provide producers with the means to improve on the value of their products through planning activities and marketing and the reauthorization of the national rural development partnerships which will enable individual State partnerships, such as the Idaho Rural Partnership, to continue working to strengthen and improve life in rural America. The farm bill also incorporates language from the Biodiesel Education and Expansion Act of 2007. That is S. 1791 which I introduced with Senator Klobuchar to reauthorize the Biodiesel Education Program. This program has been very important to the biodiesel effort in Idaho. The University of Idaho has received about 20 percent of those funds through a competitive grants process to help educate Government and private owners of vehicle fleets about the benefits and technical aspects of biodiesel fuel. In addition, the bill includes a new temporary cellulosic biofuels production tax credit for up to $1.01 per gallon available through December 31, 2012. The conference report also provides $300 million for the Bioenergy Program which provides incentives for expanding production of advanced biofuels made from agricultural and forestry crops and associated waste materials, including animal manure and livestock food processing waste. The importance of this is that we in the United States have a serious problem in our energy policy. We can debate the many aspects of it in other contexts. The bottom line is we are far too dependent on petroleum in this country as a source of energy. And in the context of petroleum, we are far too dependent on foreign sources of petroleum. I often analogize our core need in terms of energy policy of being one of trying to diversify our energy portfolio. We need to move into alternative and renewable fuels, and we need to provide the support to enable us to do the research and development to expand energy opportunities. One of the things this bill does in areas I already mentioned, such as cellulosic biofuels and other efforts in that context, is to help us do the research and to do then the thinking that goes into making sure we move into these other types of alternative and renewable fuels. Another important part of this legislation in that context is that we establish a sugar-to-ethanol program which will better enable the sugar industry to contribute to our energy independence. There are many things we could be doing and we ought to be doing--all of them to find the ones that will best work and will best help us to diversify our energy economy. The legislation also provides expanded fresh fruit and vegetable programs, which provides domestically grown fresh fruit and vegetables to students as healthy snacks and educates our students in every State on the importance of eating healthy foods. This program has already been well received as a pilot program in a number of States, including Idaho. I am proud to continue this program not only in Idaho but to help expand it to all States across the country. The bill strengthens assistance for America's food banks by providing more than $1 billion for the next 10 years for commodity purchasing, nearly doubling the current funding level. Access to food banks is particularly important given the economic hard times that we are facing with regard to high gas prices. Also, I would like to talk a little bit more about the global competition we face. As I indicated earlier, one of the pressures that our producers face is anticompetitive conduct from other nations. These are subsidies, tariffs, or nontariff barriers which are erected against our producers. Yes, we support our agricultural producers and, yes, we have tariffs. I am not sure what the numbers are today, but within the last couple of years the imbalance in those tariffs shows what I am talking about. The average I am recalling that we have discussed over the last few years is that the average tariff against our producers as we try to export into other countries is around 60 percent, whereas the average that we impose on those bringing their products into our country is more in the neighborhood of 10 or 12 percent. Those kinds of disparities create tremendous trade barriers to our producers. The same is true with the level of subsidies provided to producers in other countries that compete with our producers. One of the critical parts of this bill is to provide that safety net or that protection to our producers in the international contest as we seek to make sure the trade arena globally is balanced fairly. I know some have criticized this bill by saying it spends too much limited Federal funding on agriculture. Let me make an important note there. This bill has a number of titles. Agriculture commodity programs are one of those titles. About 70 percent of the spending in this bill goes to our nutrition programs, such as the Food Stamp Program. Most people in America don't realize that because we often call this the farm bill. Yet 70 percent of it goes into our nutrition programs. What percent goes to the commodity programs? A little less than 14 percent. And those important conservation programs I talked about? They get around 7 percent of the funding in the bill. The rest, the 8 or 9 percent that is left over, goes into the rural development part, the titles--the energy titles and other portions of the bill that are critically important to our national concerns, such as rural development and energy. When you look at this bill, it is not an ag bill or a farm bill. It is a food and fiber bill. It is much more than that. It is a bill that is very important, as I have said, to everything from energy policy to rural development to our conservation efforts in this country to our agriculture commodity programs and to our nutrition programs for those who face hunger in this Nation. It is important to recognize that. Also, I think it is important for us to note that some criticize this bill for not being reform minded enough and not being strict enough on payment limitations for the extremely wealthy who, it is claimed, get all of the resources of the bill in that 14-percent commodity title. However, the conference report has taken major steps forward in terms of reform. I think those steps need to be recognized and noted. The conference report would eliminate the triple entity rule, which has already been talked about extensively on the Senate floor tonight, and changes the current adjusted gross income limit from $2.5 million to $500,000 for nonfarm and $750,000 for farm income. These are considerable reforms that should be acknowledged and recognized. This is a broad and diverse country, and no bill is a perfect bill from the perspective of any individual Senator, I am sure. We have 50 States and 435 Congressional Districts and we have tremendous debates about how we should implement policy. But this bill worked its way through that process to develop policy and reforms that are meaningful and significant and should not be undermined. In conclusion, this legislation with its 15 titles covers a wide range of important policy matters that go far beyond our traditional farm support, as I have said. These titles include things, as I have indicated, such as conservation, trade and food aid, nutrition, farm credit, research, energy opportunities, crop insurance, and disaster assistance and many more. The breadth and depth of this legislation reaches into so many people's lives--everyone in America, not just those in farm country--everyone in America should be paying attention to this legislation and should be glad that we have been able to find that agreement that has enabled us to get a conference report between the House and Senate. Again, I thank all my colleagues for their tremendous work in this very difficult and lengthy process we have been going through, to make sure we develop the right policies for our food and fiber in this Nation, and we continue to keep America strong and on the competitive edge in the production of food and fiber for the world.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, today I recognize a longtime and dear friend of mine, Louis Carney, on the occasion of his recent Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. Louis has spent the better part of the last 50 years giving of himself not only to friends, neighbors and family members, but to the Boy Scouts as well. He served as a cubmaster in 1964; den leader in 1965; Webelos leader in 1969; Boy Scout chairman in 1980; vanguard staff in 1987; District Cub Scout Committee in 1981; and District Eagle chairman from 2004 to today. Until very recently, Louis attended Scout Camp annually and is the recipient of countless Scout leadership awards including two Extra Mile awards, the Arrowhead honor, the District Award of Merit, the Eagle Feather award, the Wood Badge Training award, numerous leadership training awards, and an On My Honor award. In addition to Louis's service to the Scouts, he is a Korean war veteran, worked in the U.S. Postal Service for 25, years and spent time as a potato farmer. During his adult life, he has volunteered at the Family Center, the food kitchen and the Museum of Idaho and served in many leadership positions in the LDS church all in my home town of Idaho Falls, ID. He also has spent thousands of hours volunteering in local schools. He has a reputation for reliability, and his selfless service has been demonstrated countless times and in countless ways when it comes to the youth and community in eastern Idaho. Many grown men who were Boy Scouts in their youth remember Louis's devotion to them and to Scouting, and his example of leadership through service has doubtless lived on in these individuals. When it comes to Scouting, Louis has said ``I love Scouting; it's the one thing that can keep a family together.'' His service went well beyond the Boy Scouts or his community volunteer activities--Louis and I served in our church together when we were both younger. His service was close to home as well. Many snowy mornings, we would wake up to find that Louis had plowed not only our driveway but those of our neighbors. He is the salt of the earth and made his community his neighborhood and made his community members, including me, his neighbors in the truest sense. My wife Susan and I offer Louis our heartfelt congratulations on his Silver Beaver Award and our gratitude for his kindness, generosity, and friendship over the years.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, today I am proud to honor an Idahoan who has devoted his adult life to helping the disabled, and the past 37 years, doing this by leading the Development Workshop Incorporated, DWI, the largest community rehabilitation program in Idaho. DWI provides work and life skills and job training to those with disabilities, and helps them move into gainful employment. When Dwight founded DWI in 1971, it served 12 individuals; now, it's grown to a company that serves 700 to 800 people with locations in five eastern Idaho counties. Dwight's steady leadership, renowned courtesy and high integrity led DWI to success and earned him the Milton ``Milt'' Cohen Leadership Award from the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped in 2006. Dwight led efforts over the years to preserve funding and promote legislation at both the State and national level for individuals with disabilities. In his position, he has consistently sought out commonsense solutions to service and funding challenges and has surely been most rewarded by seeing DWI grow into an organization of such esteem and reputation. The face of community rehabilitation in southeast Idaho has undergone a significant transformation over the past four decades, and the citizens of Idaho Falls and the surrounding areas have Dwight to thank. I wish him well in his retirement and am certain that he will bring the same gifts of leadership, comity and energy to whatever path he chooses to walk next.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, our outlook on life and the effect we have on others is largely dependent upon how we respond to our life experiences. We can choose to make a difference in our world, or sit back and let others blaze trails. As I get older, I am more and more convinced that these choices have little to do with our physical capabilities or the circumstances of our upbringing. I meet people who have overcome seemingly monumental challenges and live to make a difference in the lives of others. In the same manner, I meet those with observably few challenges who are content to sit on the sidelines. A most remarkable example of someone who has responded to the circumstances and events in his life by choosing to make a difference in the lives of others is Idahoan Kelly Buckland, president of the National Council for Independent Living and an extraordinary advocate for people with disabilities. Kelly grew up on a farm outside of Rexburg, ID. When he was 15, he became a quadriplegic as a result of a diving accident. Kelly has recalled that, upon returning home after a year of hospitalization, he became deeply depressed. But with the encouragement of his parents who, among other things, rigged up farm equipment so that Kelly could continue doing what he had done before the accident, Kelly began to recover from his depression. Recalling the people that helped him and others during his hospitalization, Kelly made a choice that would change his life and the lives of many others over the years: he chose to use his many gifts and talents to help those in need. Kelly obtained a bachelor's degree in social work from Boise State University. He graduated summa cum laude with a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from Drake University. He was exposed to the legislative process early in his career and realized that he had an interest and a gift for public policy. In the 1980s, Kelly was instrumental in the initial effort to install curb cuts in the city sidewalks in Burley, ID, to help with wheelchair accessibility. Kelly's advocacy then turned to the State, where he was able to help change Idaho State law to provide protections for parents with disabilities. Idaho State law now prohibits the removal of a child from a home or the denial of visitations solely because of a parent's disability. Idaho was the first State in the Nation to pass equal child custody rights for parents with disabilities in all areas of child custody. As the executive director of the Idaho State Independent Living Council, Kelly made it his priority to fight for equal rights and equal protection under the law for those with disabilities, especially in areas of fair housing and healthcare. His outreach and advocacy has gone beyond just the State level as well--Kelly has testified before Congress on issues facing individuals with disabilities in his capacity as president of the National Independent Living Council. Kelly has received several local and national awards. In 2000, he received the University of Idaho's President's Medallion. Kelly was honored with the 2005 Hewlett-Packard Company Award for Distinguished Leadership in Human Rights and, in 2007, Kelly was honored at the Kennedy Center with induction into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame for significant contributions to quality of life and advancements toward a better future for all individuals with spinal cord injury or disease. One of Kelly's profound strengths is unique ability to perceive and appreciate the position of others, and to help others understand his point of view in a respectful, honest manner. He is highly skilled at helping those who may perceive themselves in opposition to one another reach a place where they can meet and find a common middle ground. Despite his many accomplishments, Kelly is exceedingly humble, preferring to give credit to others for many of the successes in which he's been instrumental. He has observed that we all have something we perceive as a hindrance to our own success, but it is our responsibility to acknowledge perceived limitations and move forward rather than devote time and energy in focusing on what we think our particular limitations prevent us from doing. Kelly has devoted his time and energy to ensuring that those who have experienced legal, occupational and personal difficulties as a result of their disabilities have a voice in changing our laws to ensure true independence for all. His own words echo his convictions: ``I want to insure that no one need be institutionalized because there are inadequate community services. I want freedom to be a reality for everyone.'' Kelly Buckland is a voice of compassion, inspiration and reason and it is my distinct honor to recognize him today.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I wish to use my time by following up on the comments our leader has made with regard to the budget. It is budget time in Washington right now. Although many people are focused very heavily on the President's budget submission, the reality is that the budget is a uniquely legislative responsibility. The President makes a recommendation, but it is this Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, that establishes the budget for our Nation. The budget that was announced yesterday and reviewed, which we will be evaluating in the Budget Committee today, in my opinion, is not responsible. In fact, it is an embarrassment. We often talk about the fact that we want to avoid tax-and-spend politics in Washington. But this budget plunges headlong back into the very tax-and-spend policies of the past that have put us in the dire fiscal position we are in today. The budget is a failure on the spending policy, it is a failure on the tax policy, and it is a failure on the additions to our national debt that are monumental, which it contemplates. It is a failure because it does not do a single thing about the most significant fiscal problems facing us, namely the entitlement problems and the entitlement portion of our budget. Let me go through all those briefly. To do so, I am going to explain--this may be a little bit basic to those in the middle of budgeting, but I am not sure the folks who pay attention to those understand exactly how the budgeting process works. This year we will have the first budget that exceeds $3 trillion in Federal spending. In rough approximation, that budget is approximately two-thirds entitlements and spending on the interest on the national debt. The other remaining third is made up of what we call discretionary spending. Again, approximately half of that is our national defense budget, and the remaining half is the rest of our nondefense discretionary spending; basically the rest of everything in Government more than our entitlement programs, interest on the national debt, and defense spending. The problem, the most significant problem we face in our budget today, is the fact that the two-thirds portion I talk about, the entitlements and the interest on the national debt, are out of control. I often say they are on auto pilot, this spending in that two-thirds of our budget. That is growing at a rate that has often doubled, sometimes more than doubled, even tripled or quadrupled the rate of the growth of our economy. It grows without a vote in Congress. Previous Congresses have passed legislation, and previous Presidents have signed the legislation into law that has established our entitlement programs. Entitlement programs grow regardless of what we do in Congress. We could never vote again here in Congress and this spending would continue at rates that have nothing to do with the health or strength of the economy and which, as I have said, far ourpaces our economy. What does the budget before us propose to do about this? Nothing. Yet again we have no opportunity proposed in the budget that we will be battling over to try to address this incredible fiscal problem our Nation faces. What does the budget do instead? It increases spending dramatically in the discretionary part of the budget as well as allowing the entitlement section of the budget to rage uncontrolled. We are looking in this budget at a $350 billion deficit, and that doesn't count war spending except for a small portion. It doesn't take into account the fact that we just passed a stimulus package that put another $150 billion of debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren without paying for it under the pay-go rules we are required to live by in Congress--in other words, $150 billion of new spending with no offsets against any other spending immediately put on the backs of our children and grandchildren in the form of national debt which they will pay back at a much higher rate as interest compounds on it over the years. What does this budget do in order to try to deal with this increased rush for spending? It raises taxes. It raises taxes over $700 billion in the next 5 years. How does that happen? By the way, this tax increase America will face under the assumptions of this budget will occur with no vote in Congress. How does that happen? To explain that, I need to explain how the budget works. As most people in America are becoming aware, there is a filibuster in the Senate that requires, on major policies where there is disagreement, essentially that in order to move forward, 60 votes are needed to get past the filibuster, to get cloture. Because of that 60- vote requirement on filibusters, it is difficult to either increase taxes or cut taxes because there is usually opposition to either move, and it requires 60 votes to move forward. But there is one bill each year on which we don't have to have 60 votes. It is called the reconciliation bill. It is a part of our budget process. Because of the way the law is set up, we can have a 50-percent-plus-one vote on that reconciliation bill each year. That is how the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 were put into place. Those tax cuts, as a reminder, were reductions in the income tax marginal rates for every American, with the largest percentage of those reductions in the lower and middle-income categories, reductions of the capital gains tax, reductions of the dividends tax, and a number of other very important tax policies that in 2001 and 2003 reduced taxes because we were able to use the reconciliation bill to do so. The problem is that the reconciliation process requires a sunset. People around the country must wonder why we are facing a sunset of these tax cuts. It is because in order to avoid the filibuster and get the tax cuts put into place, the reconciliation process was used, which itself carries a sunset. So over the next 3 or 4 years, the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 will expire. Once they expire, taxes will go back up in nominal amounts on every American. All we have to do is to extend those tax cuts to keep tax rates at their current levels, to be responsible about tax policy. But what does this budget do? In order to facilitate the explosion of new spending this budget contemplates, it assumes there will be no vote in Congress to extend those tax rates cuts. What does that mean? Let's look at the first chart. Over the next 5 years, that means taxes are going to go up by $1.3 trillion. The lower income tax rates people are paying today are going to go back up. The child tax credit, the marriage penalty elimination, the estate tax reductions, and the small business tax relief all go back up. One year of AMT fix is contemplated, but the alternative minimum tax which is now slamming the middle class will not be accommodated in any year of this budget except for the first year. There are other extensions of other types of R&D tax credits and other things that are important for our economy that will go up. When you have totaled it all up, this budget contemplates and provides for $1.3 trillion of new taxes. Over a 10-year period, the number is even more phenomenal: $3.9 trillion of new taxes. That is how we are facilitating the increased spending contemplated in this budget. As I indicated, we are now facing a situation where Washington has returned to the tax-and-spend policies of the past. If we do nothing, which is what this budget contemplates, entitlement spending will continue to rage, driving up our debt. Discretionary spending will be accelerated, driving up the debt. Taxes will explode. When those tax rates go up, remember, it is going to happen with no vote in Congress. We are simply going to sit back and let America have the hugest tax increase it has ever had by taking no action to protect the American taxpayer. I was elected to the House of Representatives back in 1992 or 1993. Ever since that time, we have tried to reduce taxes to accommodate a better tax policy and tax structure in this policy. Every time we have proposed a tax cut, that tax cut was attacked as a tax cut for the wealthy. That simply is not true. As our leader said, whether you look at the alternative minimum tax, the marriage tax penalty, the small businesses, the child tax credit, or the reductions of income tax rates across the board for every taxpayer in America, these taxes squarely hit the middle class and every income category across the board. We often talk about that typical family of four and the several thousand dollars of taxes they are going to be asked to pitch in for this. But it really is not just that typical family of four; it is a single mother, a single man, a family with children, a family without children, a married couple. Everybody who pays taxes is going to see their taxes go up dramatically. This budget is not responsible. It is not responsible on spending policy. It is not responsible on taxing policy. It is not responsible because it provides for no action to deal with the entitlement reform so pressing in our Nation. I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today regarding the extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act, ATPA. This program, which has been in place for approaching two decades, has broadened economic opportunities in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru as an alternative to illegal drug production and trafficking. With the current extension of this program expiring tomorrow, it is important that Congress is acting this week to extend the program for an additional 10 months. The extension should allow necessary time for passage of the U.S.-Colombia FTA, implementation of the Peru FTA, and continued commerce for Andean producers and U.S. consumers and importers. However, this extension does not minimize the continued need for the timely advancement of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, FTA, which would deepen our two nation's important relationship, broaden market opportunities for U.S. producers and companies, and provide longer term certainty for Colombian exporters and workers that short- term ATPA extensions do not provide. We must do all that we can to maintain and improve our Nation's global competitiveness and relations throughout the world, and the U.S.-Colombia FTA is a much needed step in the right direction for providing economic opportunities for Americans through reciprocal trade treatment for U.S. products. For example, the U.S.-Colombia FTA would provide immediate duty-free access for fresh potatoes and almost all processed potatoes. Currently, Colombia's WTO tariff bindings on potatoes and potato products range from 70 to 102 percent and applied tariff rates range from 5 to 20 percent. This is just one example of the areas where the U.S. stands to gain improved access into one of the region's fastest growing markets through this agreement. Additionally, as with all trade preferences and agreements, the requirements must be fully enforced. The U.S. is providing special trade preferences to these countries through this program, and with that comes a responsibility to comply with the standards and obligations set forth in ATPA. Our ATPA partner countries must treat U.S. investors consistently with current ATPA eligibility.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, during the first full week of February this year, we recognized the third annual National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. In addition to the U.S. Senate, close to 50 national, State, and local agencies and organizations and many Governors also participated in the awareness efforts this year. Domestic violence and legal advocates, education and child advocacy organizations, public officials and law enforcement have joined this nationwide effort to raise awareness of teen dating violence. I am pleased to report that Idaho students, under the guidance of the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, are among the Nation's leaders in this campaign. Members of the Idaho Teen Advisory Council, a coalition of Idaho teens from cities and towns statewide, have volunteered to be the first voices speaking out against dating violence and emotional abuse in their respective communities and schools. As we look back on another successful Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, I would like to call public attention to the following Idaho students who work to promote healthy relationships among their peers not just during the awareness week but all year long: Sarah Marie Grigg from Pinehurst; Katherine Kilbourne from Osburn; Tiffany Delphous from Elk River; James Walker from Orofino; Benjamin Allen from Kooskia; Kyle Conger from Kooskia; Samantha Larsen from Weiser; Megan Keller from Kuna; Kelsey Eldridge from Boise; Katie Seale from Boise; Christi Avery from Boise; Challis Lewis from Jerome; Bronwen Kate Raff from Hailey; Erika Ramirez from American Falls; Monique Betty from Pocatello; Natalie Milligan from Idaho Falls; Jordyn Bochenek from Rexburg; Jaden Cook from Rexburg/Madison High, and Haley Nord from Caldwell. I proudly and publicly honor these students today for their selfless and committed contribution to reducing teen dating violence and emotional abuse in Idaho.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, good mayors are those who leave the communities, citizens, and environment of the towns they have led in better condition than when they were first elected. An exceptional mayor is one who imparts a vision of what the community could be and works with the members of his or her community and outside interests to achieve that vision. There are examples of this across my State of Idaho, and the outgoing mayor of Bonners Ferry, Darrell Kerby, is one such remarkable example. Darrell is retiring from public service after serving the citizens of Bonners Ferry for over 20 years, first on the city council and most recently as mayor. He is known to city employees and the public as a man of outstanding character, courtesy, kindness, and confidence. His leadership has been marked by a penchant for conviction tempered in small-town graciousness. He was at the helm in 2003 when Bonners Ferry was selected as Idaho's Most Friendly Town by travelers and tourists. He was instrumental in the revitalization of downtown Bonners Ferry through the construction of the tunnel connecting the downtown business area to the Kootenai River Inn. He promoted the construction of the International Gateway Visitors Center, improved parking in the downtown business district, secured improvements to and expansion of the city water system that included obtaining a critical Federal grant, led improvements to the city powerplant, and fueled positive city growth. Darrell's participation in the community extends beyond his mayoral office. He has served or serves on the Boundary Regional Health Center Board of Directors, the Idaho Board of Health & Welfare, the Association of Idaho Cities, the Idaho Energy Resources Authority, the Boundary County Economic Development Committee, and the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative Committee, a collaborative effort that I have been pleased to work with him on over the years. Speaking of the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative, Darrell has been instrumental in keeping my staff informed and involved as the stakeholders involved work to collaboratively manage the natural resources of the Kootenai Valley and begin restoration work on the Myrtle Creek Watershed after the devastating fire in 2003. Darrell received the Harold Hurst Award in 2007 for exemplary performance by a city official and has contributed in an outstanding manner to the accomplishments of the Association of Idaho Cities. I wish Darrell well in his retirement and thank him for his exemplary years of public service. The residents of Bonners Ferry and Boundary County, as well as the State of Idaho, have gained immeasurably from Darrell's efforts and dedication.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I am proud to be involved for a second year in the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Programme, an exchange program in which outstanding college students from Australia's top universities compete to serve as interns for the U.S. Congress. The program is in its ninth year of bringing the Washington experience to our friends from Australia, firsthand. In addition to working in congressional offices, the program provides students with a number of other opportunities and activities, including visits to historic sites, visits to government agencies, meetings with government leaders, and educational events. This year, Suzi Allan, a student from the University of Canberra, Australia, is taking a 2-month hiatus from her communications degree to help me serve Idaho constituents. Of the program, Suzi says, ``The UCWIP has given me the unique opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the world's most influential government. I have had incredible experiences while working in Senator Crapo's office and have enjoyed learning more about the U.S. Congress. Working in the heart of America's political establishment is a fantastic experience that I will always remember.'' This year, I would again like to thank Director Eric Federing and his wife, Daphne, for their continued commitment to enlarging the educational experience of students in their home country of Australia. Free nations have a responsibility to work together to promote the liberty that have provided social, cultural, and economic success. Bringing young people together in their formative educational years promotes these partnerships for prosperity across national lines and highlights our Nations' shared goals and interests. I am pleased to be able to participate in this well-crafted and successful program.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. I thank the Senator from Texas and my colleagues on both sides for allowing me this few minutes to have a break in the debate on the FISA bill to discuss a very important issue to the people of Idaho and, frankly, to the people in rural communities throughout the country. I rise to talk about the need to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000 and to fully fund the payments in lieu of taxes, or the PILT payments, which we call them in Congress. I encourage my colleagues to make this overdue extension and funding a top priority for Congress in the coming days. This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the passage of the act requiring the U.S. Forest Service to return 25 percent of its gross receipts to the States to assist counties that are home to our national forests and other Federal lands with school and road services. This program was put into place to compensate local governments for the tax- exempt status of national forests which we all enjoy. Otherwise, many rural communities that neighbor these beautiful national treasures are unable to fully meet the school and road needs of their communities. One hundred years ago, the impact of large Federal forest reserves on neighboring local economies was discussed and debated on the floor of the Senate, as former Idaho Senators Weldon B. Hayburn and William Edgar Borah joined their Senate colleagues in debating this issue which remains an issue today. However, the unfortunate reality of today is that in recent years, timber receipts have eroded to the point that the Federal obligation to our local communities is simply not being met. The receipts are not adequate for the needs of the communities and have been dropping off dramatically. Congress has acted in recognition of this to ensure that communities have the necessary assistance. In the year 2000, I joined with my colleagues, Senators Larry Craig, Ron Wyden, Gordon Smith of Oregon, and many others to support and secure enactment of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self- Determination Act of 2000. This law provided the necessary assistance known as county payments to communities where regular Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management receipts-sharing payments had declined so significantly. The assistance has prevented the loss of essential school and road infrastructure needs in our local rural communities. The law also enabled very significant forest improvement projects. The best solutions to natural resource challenges are achieved through local collaboration, and the more than 70 Resource Advisory Committees--or RACs, as we call them--provided for in this law have created valuable partnerships in carrying out projects to address a wide variety of improvements on public lands. These projects include habitat and watershed restoration, reforestation, fuels reduction, road maintenance, campground and trail enhancements, and noxious weed eradication. At a time when increased public demands are being placed on our Nation's natural resources, the RACs have provided the necessary cooperation to help resolve natural resource challenges throughout these local rural communities. Additionally, payments in lieu of taxes, known as PILT payments, have augmented county payments to provide local governments with the means of offsetting a part of the tax revenues they lose because of the tax- exempt status of these Federal lands in their jurisdictions. PILT payments have supported community services such as firefighting and police protection in rural communities. Through PILT, the Federal Government partners with counties to provide public lands the stewardship and community services they need. Unfortunately, PILT funding is also not meeting this obligation, and we need to work together in Congress to achieve full and adequate PILT funding. I am proud of the largely bipartisan effort in the 110th Congress to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act and to fully fund PILT. Progress has been made but more needs to be done to achieve the Federal Government's commitment to these communities. In March of 2007, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment which I cosponsored to the fiscal year 2007 emergency supplemental appropriations act to reauthorize county payments for 5 years with offsets. However, this language was replaced with a 1-year extension, with the final payments made at the end of December 2007. In December last year, Senators McCaskill, Craig, Smith, Dole, Murkowski, Stevens, and Bennett joined me in urging the Senate leadership to attach a reauthorization of county payments and PILT funding to any legislative vehicles expected to be enacted before Congress concluded its work last year. Unfortunately, the reauthorization was attached only to the energy package which also would have increased taxes on domestic oil and gas producers to pay for incentives for renewable power, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and other technologies. I support incentives for alternative energy resources and the extension of county payments, but I am opposed to paying for those incentives by increasing taxes on our domestic oil and gas production. We are facing real and increasing constraints on our energy supply, resulting in higher energy costs daily. We simply cannot meet those needs by decreasing conventional energy production in the United States, which would further our dependency on foreign energy supplies and dramatically increase the cost for gasoline and electricity. This would negatively impact communities across the Nation, not just the rural communities we are seeking to help. We need to again turn our attention to focusing on the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools legislation and increasing and achieving full and adequate PILT funding. It is unfortunate that the county payments extension was dropped from the enacted Energy bill and was not included in other legislative vehicles before the end of last year. However, today is another day. As we embark on the second session of this Congress, we have every opportunity to work together to extend and fund county payments and fully pay for PILT payments for students in rural areas. We must do this to prevent the closure of numerous isolated schools and to enable rural county road districts to address severe maintenance backlogs. Time is of the essence for many rural communities across the Nation, and this important legislation impacts millions of students and their families in more than 4,000 school districts and more than 7,000 counties. I am hearing from Idaho communities that, absent an extension, personnel layoffs as a result of program closures are expected soon. Communities in more than 40 States are facing similar pressures. Just as the economic impact of Federal land ownership on neighboring rural communities has not been worn away by time, neither has this Nation's responsibility to the States worn away. It is my hope that others will join me in working to meet this Federal responsibility by reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools Act and providing the full funding for PILT. This must be achieved in a timely manner that prevents the cutoff of needed services in rural communities nationwide and provides some long-term certainty to those rural communities. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my distinct dismay with the outcome of what has become omnibus funding legislation for 11 of the 13 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008. H.R. 2764 is a sad testament to Congress's inability to draft and pass responsible Federal funding legislation. I am very disappointed that critical funding for drug abuse education efforts, crime victims and, more specifically, victims of domestic violence has been stripped from this bill. Idaho will lose more than 10 percent of Victims of Crime Act Funding, money, incidentally, which was never supposed to be subject to the appropriations process in the first place. Furthermore, funding for programs that help victims of sexual assault in 15 cities in Idaho and a program that has helped thousands of Idaho schoolchildren learn of the dangers of Internet predators have been eliminated during the conference process on this omnibus spending bill. Justice assistance grants have been significantly reduced. The Office of National Drug Control Policy Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign was significantly cut, which jeopardizes important anti drug and, particularly anti meth media messaging for Idaho's youth. Although I have supported important funding along the way in these bills including veterans funding, border funds and other Idaho priorities, in my view, victims of crime and our youth are the clear losers in this legislation, and because of this and other substantial concerns I have with this, I have to vote against the bill.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a dear friend and colleague here in the Senate whom I have served with in this body as long as I have been in the Senate. Over the course of his 35 years in Congress, Senator Trent Lott has developed a reputation for strong leadership, a bipartisan approach to legislating, and an unwavering commitment to Republican ideals and values. As you know, he is the only Senator to have served as whip in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and it was under his watch as a younger legislator that our Nation saw significant economic recovery and increased national security in the 1980s that had the support of those on both sides of the aisle. Over the years, from my time in the House of Representatives to my time here in the Senate, I have looked to Trent for collaborative examples of how to accomplish important, conservative goals such as tax reform, support for our military, and health care transformation, to name just a few. He has gained a remarkable, lasting reputation for being able to bring competing interests to the table, to work out successful answers to policy challenges--a quality that is in increasing deficit here in Congress these days. Trent has committed his congressional service to Mississippians to furthering policies that stand for America: a strong national defense, responsible and fair tax policies that encourage economic growth, and health care that puts patient needs above Government mandates. I am especially heartened that Trent remains unequivocal in his belief in second amendment rights. Trent and I have worked together over the past few years on the Finance Committee, and I have been pleased to have his support on legislation that we have moved through the committee, legislation that advocates tax policies that do not penalize Americans for saving or investing. Trent understands that tax structures that favor small business investments, individual saving and investing, and a financial services system unburdened by onerous regulations are critical keys to a healthy economy for the United States, one that translates into a more stable global economy. I have been pleased to host Trent when he has come to Idaho, and I have had the pleasure of visiting the great State of Mississippi. Trent's retirement from the Senate, while in his best interest and in the interest of his family, will be a loss for the Senate and the promotion of conservative values here in Congress.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I am proud to announce the recent appointment of my legislative fellow for 2007, Ms. Reta LaFord, to the position of Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Coronado National Forest in New Mexico and Arizona. Reta has been invaluable in my office throughout this past year, specializing in Native-American and natural- resource issues. Her 20 years of experience working for the Forest Service in Montana and other parts of the West provided me with greater expertise related to how the Federal Government can successfully work with the tribes and other stakeholder groups on critical land management issues. She has particular sensitivity to the cultural concerns of the tribes in the West, and the USDA Forest Service will indeed gain from her knowledge and understanding as the Federal Government works with tribal governments in the Coronado National Forest to resolve important resource management challenges. Reta's diligence and thoroughness for the projects she manages will bring her tremendous success in this next chapter of her career. I wish her the very best and thank her for her devoted service to the great state of Idaho during 2007. She will be missed in my office.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the Coburn amendment. This amendment calls into question how we are going to modernize the FHA reversion mortgage program, often called the HECM, or home equity conversion mortgage program. I have long been a supporter of the program, and I have worked with a number of members of the Banking Committee, a bipartisan group, to remove the volume limit on the amount of reverse mortgages the FHA may insure. I especially thank the other Senators who have worked on this: Senators Dodd, Shelby, Reed, and Allard. I understand the concerns my colleague from Oklahoma is raising about the need to further understand and be able to evaluate the development of the reverse mortgage industry. Although I support the report that is in the bill that will help us to do that, it is very important to understand why this amendment is the wrong approach to getting a better handle on understanding reverse mortgages. There has been a cap imposed on the number of reverse mortgages that can be issued by the FHA and by HUD. That cap has already been reached. So if we don't lift the cap while we are conducting the study, the program essentially terminates. The reason we must not allow that to happen is the very reason the Senator from Oklahoma has been talking about: We need to have further ability to study and evaluate this program and refine its effectiveness. That is what the study is in place for. We need a program for the study to continue to be effective. What does the report that we included in the bill do? It requires that the GAO help Congress analyze and determine the effects of limiting the amounts of the costs or fees under the program from the amounts charged under the program as of the date of enactment. It goes through a number of requirements; for example, requiring that we focus on the cost to mortgagors for participating in the program, the financial soundness of the program, the availability of credit under the program, the cost to the elderly homeowners under the program, particularly evaluating mortgage insurance premiums charged under the program, the upfront fees, and the margin rates charged under the program. I went through that on purpose because I think it is important that we understand there are issues here about reverse mortgages that we are studying. But the issues right now focus most significantly on making sure that the elderly who are participating in this program don't pay significantly high or overly high upfront fees. The program is very successful in terms of protecting the taxpayer. Over the next 5 years, it is estimated that not only will this program not cost the taxpayers any money, it is estimated to generate about $1.5 billion in revenues to the Treasury over the next 5 years because of the fees that are being charged as these mortgages are entered. I think it is important to note, because it is going to be critical for the future of this program, and understand what the level of these should be, what the level of the mortgage premium should be, and have the ability to work effectively as we move forward in refining the program. A reverse mortgage is a unique loan that enables a senior to remain in their home and to remain financially independent by converting part of the equity in their home into tax-free income, without having to sell the home, give up title, or take on a new monthly mortgage payment. The reverse mortgage is aptly named because the payment stream is reversed. Instead of making monthly payments to the lender, as one would do with a regular mortgage, the lender makes payments to the homeowner. This HECM program was created to serve our seniors who are ``cash poor'' but ``equity rich.'' They need to have a cashflow and they have significant equity in their home that they have built up over the years. The majority of the recipients are elderly widows. The funds from a reverse mortgage can be used for anything, such as daily living expenses, home repairs or modifications, health care expenses, prescription drugs, in-home care, existing debts, prevention of foreclosure, or any other needs that the elderly may have. As reverse mortgages have become more understood and the real-life success stories have been told, this HECM program has grown. There is a significantly increased interest in it. Clearly, this sector of industry is going to continue to grow as baby boomers get older and the consumers' acceptance and understanding of the program increases. Increased lender participation led to competition that has already resulted in mortgage fee reductions across the country. The point I am leading to here is simply this: This is a program we must not stop dead in its tracks by simply reimposing the cap. It is critical that the legislation we put together that lists the cap, while we are conducting this study, makes sure that we better understand how to approach defining the level of support for the program and that it is able to continue. Rather, what the amendment would do is simply reimpose the cap and essentially stop the program. There would be nothing further to study then, because the program would be ended. I think we can all agree we need to develop these kinds of unique and helpful programs for those in our country who have reached the point in their lives where they have significant equity but don't have the cashflow they need to meet their critical life needs. This program is one that helps them in a way that preserves their dignity, their ability to live in their own home, and assures that they have an opportunity for a cashflow that will enable them to live out their lives in a way that doesn't put them in a position of constantly wondering how they are going to make next month's payments. With that, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, on October 9, 2007, a beloved Idahoan passed away. Lodice Grant was raised in Nampa and, after moving out of State for a number of years, moved back to Nampa for the remainder of her life. She was small in stature but strong in her direction and devotion. She was a friend of mine and, together with her husband of 51 years, Fred Kelly Grant, worked closely with me in recent years on the Owyhee Initiative. Before her children were born, Lodice worked as the assistant sales manager for the University of Chicago Press and the Johns Hopkins University Press. Prior to her move back to Nampa, Lodice became the sales manager for Johns Hopkins University Press, earning such an outstanding reputation that noted authors refused to have anyone but her serve as their principal assistant and adviser as they were publishing their works. In Nampa, Lodice raised two boys and dedicated much of her time to working for and supporting the Roman Catholic Church in Caldwell and then for the Diocese of Idaho. When Lodice retired from the church in 2003, she continued her staunch support of her husband's work as legal counsel for Owyhee County; they both made improving Owyhee County the capstone of their labor and life's work over the past few years. Lodice was a pillar of strength for her entire family. Her influence for good and her acts of service benefited countless people who loved her and will miss her energy, friendship, and spirit. She tended people in the same way she lovingly tended her beautiful yard and garden--with tenderness, careful attention, and tireless devotion. I was blessed to know her, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to Fred, their children Andy and Jon, five grandchildren, and family and friends during this difficult time.

Mr. CRAPO

Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, over the past years Congress has wrestled with the question of what was the appropriate level of regulation of futures exchanges and derivative markets. I have been very concerned about the potential efforts to change the manner in which we regulate derivatives or to impact the manner in which derivatives operate in the economy. It is critical that we strike the appropriate balance between protecting consumers and markets from trading abuse while ensuring continued growth and innovation in the U.S. markets. The President's Working Group on Financial Markets, PWG, has played an important role in this debate by explaining why proposals that we have faced in the last few years for additional regulation of energy derivatives were not warranted, and has urged Congress to be aware of the potential for unintended consequences that would harm America's financial markets. I have been repeatedly warned by our federal financial regulators that the importance of derivative markets in the U.S. economy should not be taken lightly, as businesses, financial institutions, and investors throughout the economy rely on these risk management tools. Derivatives markets have contributed significantly to our economy's ability to withstand and respond to various market stresses and imbalances. In September of 2007, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, CFTC, held a hearing to examine the oversight of trading on regulated futures exchanges or exempt commercial markets. Based on this hearing, the CFTC reported that the current risk-based, tiered regulatory structure has successfully encouraged financial innovation, competition, and modernization. However, the CFTC also found that additional oversight was warranted for certain contracts traded on an ECM that serve a significant price discovery function in order to detect and prevent manipulation. The CFTC proposed four legislative recommendations that were endorsed by the PWG. In September of 2007, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission held a hearing to examine the oversight of trading on regulated futures exchanges and exempt commercial markets. Based on this hearing, the CFTC reported that the current risk-based, tiered regulatory structure has successfully encouraged financial innovation, competition, and modernization. However, the CFTC also found that additional oversight was warranted for certain contracts traded on an ECM that serves a significant price discovery function in order to detect and prevent manipulation. The CFTC proposed four legislative recommendations that were endorsed by the PWG. It is for this reason that I decided to work with a bipartisan group of Senators who also wanted to address the appropriate level of regulation of futures exchanges and over-the-counter derivative transactions. I want to thank Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Harkin, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Chambliss, Senator Feinstein, Senator Snowe, Senator Levin, and Senator Coleman for all their work. I appreciate their willingness to work off the framework that was endorsed by the PWG and believe this allowed all of us to reach a deal. This was a significant concession to some Senators who have supported an alternative approach, and I would like to thank them for doing so. In addition, this amendment extends the reauthorization of the CFTC, clarifies the CFTC authority over off-exchange retail foreign currency transactions, clarifies the antifraud authority over principal-to- principal transactions, increases civil and criminal penalties, and makes technical and conforming amendments. These provisions were also largely based off the framework that was endorsed by the PWG letter of November of 2007. Earlier this week the House Agriculture Committee approved by voice vote a similar measure to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It is my hope that in a conference the House and Senate will reconcile their differences over the reauthorization period and Zelener related issues. I strongly believe that Congress needs to reauthorize the CFTC and frankly, so that we can give this agency all the tools it needs to protect investors and promote the futures industry and preserve the integrity of our markets. Moreover, the Senate must act to confirm Walt Lukken as Chairman of the CFTC. He has demonstrated throughout this reauthorization process the strong leadership that is essential to managing an agency. I want to commend him, his fellow commissioners, and staff for all their tremendous work.