Hillary Clinton

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I rise to join my colleague and friend, Senator Byrd, to announce our intention to introduce legislation which proposes October 11, 2007--the 5-year anniversary of the original resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq--as the expiration date for that resolution. As Senator Byrd pointed out, the October 11, 2002, authorization to use force has run its course, and it is time to reverse the failed policies of President Bush and to end this war as soon as possible. Earlier this week, President Bush vetoed legislation reflecting the will of the Congress and the American people that would have provided needed funding for our troops while also changing course in Iraq and beginning to bring our troops home. I believe this fall is the time to review the Iraq war authorization and to have a full national debate so people can be heard. I supported the Byrd amendment on October 10, 2002, which would have limited the original authorization to 1 year, and I believe a full reconsideration of the terms and conditions of that authorization is overdue. This bill would require the President to do just that. The American people have called for change, the facts on the ground demand change, and the Congress has passed legislation to require change. It is time to sunset the authorization for the war in Iraq. If the President will not bring himself to accept reality, it is time for Congress to bring reality to him. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Byrd and me in supporting this effort to require a new authorization resolution or to refuse to do so for these new times and these new conditions that we and our troops are facing every single day. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. I thank the Senator for his leadership on generic drugs and for his presence here today. In 1984 when the Hatch-Waxman generic drug law was written, very few biologic drugs existed and there was no need to empower the FDA to approve lower cost versions of existing biologic drugs. This is no longer the case and it is time to enact legislation that will allow the FDA to approve safe and effective follow-on versions of biotech drugs.

Mrs. CLINTON. I agree with my friend Senator Schumer, and note with gratitude that the HELP Committee began bipartisan discussions on how to accomplish this goal. And while I was disappointed that follow-on biologic legislation was not included during committee consideration of S. 1082, it was in good faith that I did not offer an amendment with the understanding that our bipartisan efforts would continue. As my colleagues and I move forward on this important effort, I think it is important to identify the key principles that must be contained in the legislation: We must provide the FDA with the authority and flexibility to approve biopharmaceuticals subject to a workable, abbreviated approval pathway that is efficient, effective and scientifically grounded. We must also include measures to ensure timely resolution of patent disputes, as well as adequate incentives for continued innovation.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, I am proud to introduce, along with Senator Gordon Smith, the Education for All Act of 2007. This bill would enable us to increase our spending on global education initiatives in order to help millions of children around the world have the opportunity to receive an education. Worldwide, more than 77 million children do not have access to primary school education. The majority of these--approximately 44 million--are girls. Approximately half of the school-age children who start primary school do not complete it. And there are hundreds of millions more children who are denied the opportunity to complete a secondary school education--to become the next generation of doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, and teachers. These statistics represent a unconscionable misuse of human potential--a misuse that we can and must remedy. In 2000, the United States, along with other governments around the world, committed to the goal of achieving universal basic education by 2015. Through some of the initiatives and partnership in which our government is participating, such as the Education for All Fast Track Initiative, we have made progress. Since the Fast Track Initiative was launched in 2002, approximately 4 million children each year have gained access to school. Yet despite such gains, we are not on track to meet our 2015 goal. In order to do so, we would need to help millions more children enter school each year--requiring a global financial commitment of more than $7 billion every year. The Education for All Act of 2007 would authorize $10 billion in spending over the next 5 years, enabling the U.S. Government to make a significant commitment to reach the 2015 goal, and help children in developing countries, particularly areas experiencing conflict or humanitarian emergencies, have access to a quality basic education. The bill that I am introducing today will make a tangible difference in the lives of children around the world, by helping them to attend school and receive a quality education. And its impact will go far beyond the individual, but will also benefit families, communities, and countries. A 2004 report by Barbara Herz and Gene Sperling from the Center on Universal Education at the Council on Foreign Relations detailed the gains that are to be made when we invest in education, particularly for girls. A single year of primary education correlates with a 10-20 percent increase in women's wages later in life. An extra year of a woman's education has been shown to reduce the risk that her children will die in infancy by 5-10 percent, and a study of South Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa found that from 1960 to 1992, equality in education between men and women could have led to nearly 1 percent higher annual per capita GDP growth. We have the data to show that education is the path to good jobs, strong democracies, and stable societies. We have the capacity, responsibility, and opportunity to help millions of children worldwide. All it takes now is the will to expand access to educational opportunity. I believe with bipartisan support we can turn this bill into law, and lead the world in meeting the goal of universal basic education, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress in making education for all a reality.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, I am proud to introduce, along with Senator Gordon Smith, the Education for All Act of 2007. This bill would enable us to increase our spending on global education initiatives in order to help millions of children around the world have the opportunity to receive an education. Worldwide, more than 77 million children do not have access to primary school education. The majority of these--approximately 44 million--are girls. Approximately half of the school-age children who start primary school do not complete it. And there are hundreds of millions more children who are denied the opportunity to complete a secondary school education--to become the next generation of doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, and teachers. These statistics represent a unconscionable misuse of human potential--a misuse that we can and must remedy. In 2000, the United States, along with other governments around the world, committed to the goal of achieving universal basic education by 2015. Through some of the initiatives and partnership in which our government is participating, such as the Education for All Fast Track Initiative, we have made progress. Since the Fast Track Initiative was launched in 2002, approximately 4 million children each year have gained access to school. Yet despite such gains, we are not on track to meet our 2015 goal. In order to do so, we would need to help millions more children enter school each year--requiring a global financial commitment of more than $7 billion every year. The Education for All Act of 2007 would authorize $10 billion in spending over the next 5 years, enabling the U.S. Government to make a significant commitment to reach the 2015 goal, and help children in developing countries, particularly areas experiencing conflict or humanitarian emergencies, have access to a quality basic education. The bill that I am introducing today will make a tangible difference in the lives of children around the world, by helping them to attend school and receive a quality education. And its impact will go far beyond the individual, but will also benefit families, communities, and countries. A 2004 report by Barbara Herz and Gene Sperling from the Center on Universal Education at the Council on Foreign Relations detailed the gains that are to be made when we invest in education, particularly for girls. A single year of primary education correlates with a 10-20 percent increase in women's wages later in life. An extra year of a woman's education has been shown to reduce the risk that her children will die in infancy by 5-10 percent, and a study of South Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa found that from 1960 to 1992, equality in education between men and women could have led to nearly 1 percent higher annual per capita GDP growth. We have the data to show that education is the path to good jobs, strong democracies, and stable societies. We have the capacity, responsibility, and opportunity to help millions of children worldwide. All it takes now is the will to expand access to educational opportunity. I believe with bipartisan support we can turn this bill into law, and lead the world in meeting the goal of universal basic education, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress in making education for all a reality.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today is National Healthy Schools Day. This day was established to build awareness and promote healthy school environments for our children and school personnel. National Healthy Schools Day has been recognized for the past 5 years thanks to the work of the Healthy Schools Network in New York. Many organizations have worked together over the years to raise awareness to the conditions that many of our children and teachers are subjected to on a daily basis. The ongoing work of these organizations is crucial in fostering the development and wellbeing of our Nation's children. Each day, parents send their children to school with the assumption that their children will spend the day in a safe environment. Many parents do not realize that their children's classrooms could be the very thing that harms them. Alarmingly, over half of our Nation's schools reported that they had at least one environmental hazard. These pollutants can have serious effects on health, such as respiratory problems, and can even interfere with cognitive functioning. Furthermore, children are more vulnerable to environmental hazards as they proportionally breathe in more air than adults. It is not surprising then that approximately 1 out of 13 school-age children has asthma, which is responsible for more than 14 million missed school days each year as the poor indoor air quality in these schools exacerbates the effects of asthma. However, a recent study sponsored by the American Lung Association and the American Federation of Teachers estimates that a shift from an unhealthy to a healthy school would result in a 25 percent reduction in cases of asthma among students. It is imperative that we address these problems. That is why I was the proud sponsor of the Healthy, High-Performance Schools Program in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). By incorporating this legislation into NCLB, Congress acknowledged that environmental factors can be a barrier to academic success. We must spread awareness of the health and learning effects that result from unhealthy schools and continue to fight on our children's behalf. I commend those across the nation who are using National Healthy Schools Day to do just that.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, with this vote, Congress has provided funding for our troops while also putting forward sensible provisions to begin the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. I call upon the President to work with Congress in order to ensure the troops receive these funds and that we change course in Iraq. I am also pleased to announce with Senator Schumer that after a long struggle, and thanks to the leadership of Senator Byrd and Senator Harkin, we have secured $50 million for the monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment for the thousands of men and women whose health has been terribly affected by the dust, debris, and poisons that filled the air after the attacks of 9/11. I am grateful for the support of Senator Byrd, Senator Harkin and Senator Specter who have been steadfast in recognizing our duty to help those who helped New York in our hour of need--and help everyone whose health and lives have been affected by 9/11. This is a great victory for the victims and heroes, for New York, and for our values which were targeted on 9/11. The Centers of Excellence providing care through the Mt. Sinai consortium and the Fire Department of New York with Federal funds are doing heroic work--but more and more people are walking through the doors because of respiratory problems and other debilitating conditions. These treatment centers--centers that provide essential care to those who responded in our time of need--are on the brink of running out of Federal resources in the fall. Thanks to the funding in this bill, we will be able to send a lifeline of funding before these treatment centers fall over the financial cliff. Based upon the estimates of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it would take nearly $283 million to treat to 34,000 first responders and workers for just one year. And that number doesn't take into account the treatment needs of forgotten populations, such as residents, office workers, students, and others who were also exposed to these toxic substances. The funding contained in this legislation is a great step forward and will serve as a bridge fund until we are able to come up with a long term solution. This $50 million will be used to help provide both inpatient and outpatient treatment services for responders and workers affected by debilitating respiratory and mental health problems. These are more than names on a list or lines in a budget. These are lives that have been turned upside down, often silently, often without public notice. When the towers collapsed, thousands of tons of coarse and fine particulate matter were released into the air, and inhaled into the lungs of hundreds of thousands of individuals--substances that included cement dust, glass fibers, asbestos, lead, hydrochloric acid, and other toxic pollutants. The combustion of jet fuel after the attacks created a dense plume of black smoke, filled with other toxic substances like benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Fires at Ground Zero continued to burn underground for several months after the attacks. Of course, none of our incredibly brave firefighters, police officers, emergency responders, workers, volunteers and others stopped to think about the health implications of what they were walking into-- they risked their lives to help save others. The day after 9/11, I visited Ground Zero; it was evident that the air was not fit to breathe and these conditions continued for months afterwards. Over the next 9 months, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals were exposed to the dust and debris not only at Ground Zero, but also a site at Fresh Kills, the landfill in Staten Island, where workers sifted through the debris in an attempt to recover evidence from the attacks. People began coming down with what we would later call World Trade Center cough. We heard reports of previously healthy detectives who could bench press 250 pounds unable to lift a child. Firefighters who could run miles no longer able to climb stairs. Construction workers in perfect physical shape before the attacks with incredible difficulty breathing after the attacks. Increased risk of cancer. Newly developed asthma, bronchitis, persistent sinusitis, laryngitis, or other respiratory problems. For these individuals, their illnesses are a constant reminder of that terrible day. On March 21, the HELP Committee held a hearing--which I led along side Chairman Kennedy--on the long term impacts of 9/11. What we heard that day was nothing short of devastating and all of us in the room during the hearing came away with a new sense of urgency in making sure that the workers, residents, students, volunteers and others who are experiencing adverse health effects due to exposure of 9/11 toxins get the care they desperately need. Of particular concern: many of those who are ill are falling through the cracks of traditional health coverage. According to testimony presented at this hearing, more than 40 percent of the responders enrolled in the Mt. Sinai treatment program are uninsured, and an additional 23 percent are underinsured. New York City reports that approximately 60 percent of those enrolled at Bellevue Hospital's treatment program are also uninsured. Today, Congress has sent a powerful message to the police officers, firefighters, first responders, workers, and volunteers of 9/11: You are not forgotten. We will respond to an attack on our values and way of life by honoring our values and helping the victims. But we must go further. We need a longer-term Federal solution to provide monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment. The city and local organizations have done a tremendous service, but this was as an attack on our whole Nation and our whole Nation should support the efforts taking place in New York. These funds will only support the work for the short term. And a third treatment center at Bellevue Hospital--the only center that evaluates and treats many of the forgotten victims: residents, office workers, students, and others--has not received any Federal help at all. I have introduced the 9/11 Heroes Health Improvement Act to provide $1.9 billion in grants for ongoing medical and mental health treatment and monitoring, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to ensure that we have a long-term solution for 9/11 affected individuals. We should always keep in our hearts the people who deserve our help. Retired New York Police Detective Michael Valentin is one of those who is living with the health effects of 9/11. He rushed to Ground Zero from his home on Long Island on 9/11 and for the first few days searched for remains in the area, later working on the pile and providing perimeter security. Before 9/11, he was running miles a day and going to college at night to become a supervisor. Since 9/11, he has experienced respiratory problems and breathing difficulties, asthma attacks, operations to treat tumors he has developed, and other conditions. He could no longer find the strength to attend college at night or run enough to pass even the police department's physical test. He retired officially on January 31 of this year. Detective Valentin wanted to attend the hearing in Washington. He wanted to speak out and be heard because too many of the victims and heroes feel forgotten and left behind. Unfortunately, Detective Valentin was too sick to make the trip, and he is not alone. The tragedy of 9/11 is not over. The loss of life, the pain, and the suffering are not over. The tragic legacy continues for the families who lost loved ones and for residents, workers, volunteers, first responders and others who have faced hardship and health consequences in the aftermath of the attacks. Today, we have achieved a great victory--but it must only be a first step to make sure those that gave so much on that terrible day are not forgotten and receive the help they deserve.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, in recognition of National Crime Victim's Week, I am proud to reintroduce the ``Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act,'' a bill that will help rape and incest survivors across the country get the medical care they need and deserve. Women deserve access to emergency contraception. For millions of women, it represents peace of mind. For survivors of rape and incest, it allows them to avoid the additional trauma of facing an unintended pregnancy. This bill makes emergency contraception available for survivors of rape and incest at any hospital receiving public funds. Every 2 minutes a woman is sexually assaulted in the U.S. and each year, 25 to 32,000 women become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 50 percent of those pregnancies end in abortion. By providing access to emergency contraception, up to 95 percent of those unintended pregnancies could be prevented if emergency contraception is administered within the first 24 to 72 hours. I am proud that for 4 years, this has already been law in New York State. Survivors of rape and incest receive information and access to emergency contraception at every hospital in the State. In New York City, women are benefiting from Mayor Bloomberg's significant initiative to expand access to emergency contraception and family planning services and improve maternal and infant outcomes. I applaud this focus on increasing awareness about emergency contraception--to all women--so that we can work together at decreasing the rate of unintended pregnancy in this country. Last year, the FDA made emergency contraception available over the counter for women 18 years of age and older. Despite the ideologically driven agenda against Plan B, research shows that emergency contraception is safe and effective for preventing pregnancy. More than 70 major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommended that Plan B be made available over the counter. This bill will make sure hospitals provide women in crisis with the necessary information to evaluate this option for themselves. In addition, the bill ensures that patients can receive post-exposure treatment for sexually transmitted infections for which the deferral of treatment either would significantly reduce treatment efficacy or would pose substantial risk to the individual's health. Public health employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include access to emergency contraception as a protocol and viable option for these victims. The U.S. Department of Justice guidelines, however, make no reference to emergency contraception as a potential option for rape and incest victims. This is why I'm introducing this legislation today. It is my sincere hope that my colleagues join me in the fight to better protect and serve our Nation's rape and incest survivors.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, in recognition of National Crime Victim's Week, I am proud to reintroduce the ``Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act,'' a bill that will help rape and incest survivors across the country get the medical care they need and deserve. Women deserve access to emergency contraception. For millions of women, it represents peace of mind. For survivors of rape and incest, it allows them to avoid the additional trauma of facing an unintended pregnancy. This bill makes emergency contraception available for survivors of rape and incest at any hospital receiving public funds. Every 2 minutes a woman is sexually assaulted in the U.S. and each year, 25 to 32,000 women become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 50 percent of those pregnancies end in abortion. By providing access to emergency contraception, up to 95 percent of those unintended pregnancies could be prevented if emergency contraception is administered within the first 24 to 72 hours. I am proud that for 4 years, this has already been law in New York State. Survivors of rape and incest receive information and access to emergency contraception at every hospital in the State. In New York City, women are benefiting from Mayor Bloomberg's significant initiative to expand access to emergency contraception and family planning services and improve maternal and infant outcomes. I applaud this focus on increasing awareness about emergency contraception--to all women--so that we can work together at decreasing the rate of unintended pregnancy in this country. Last year, the FDA made emergency contraception available over the counter for women 18 years of age and older. Despite the ideologically driven agenda against Plan B, research shows that emergency contraception is safe and effective for preventing pregnancy. More than 70 major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommended that Plan B be made available over the counter. This bill will make sure hospitals provide women in crisis with the necessary information to evaluate this option for themselves. In addition, the bill ensures that patients can receive post-exposure treatment for sexually transmitted infections for which the deferral of treatment either would significantly reduce treatment efficacy or would pose substantial risk to the individual's health. Public health employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include access to emergency contraception as a protocol and viable option for these victims. The U.S. Department of Justice guidelines, however, make no reference to emergency contraception as a potential option for rape and incest victims. This is why I'm introducing this legislation today. It is my sincere hope that my colleagues join me in the fight to better protect and serve our Nation's rape and incest survivors.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, at a moment of profound change for our country, as the global economy grows more interdependent, the reach of technology more vast, and the consequences more important for future generations of Americans, I am proud to support the America COMPETES Act as an original cosponsor and proud to have been able to include several of my proposals in the final bill. I am also pleased to see that partnership--not partisanship--ruled the day. The challenge is to achieve the promise while avoiding the perils of this moment. Modern technology is making the American workforce more and more productive--while making it increasingly possible for employers to hire the most skilled workers no matter where in the world they live. Our young people see so many promising new fields and avenues--but too many American students, even some graduates of college, are not equipped with the skills to compete, especially when it comes to participation in challenging math and science fields. That is why this bill is so important: education will help us overcome these obstacles while opening the doors to new opportunities. America's global economic competitiveness will rest more and more on the back of our education system, and the scientists, engineers, and inventors that the system produces--but today that back is breaking. The United States currently ranks 21st out of 40 industrialized nations in the largest and most comprehensive educational study to date. China produces far more engineers than the United States each year. Fewer well-educated scientists and engineers means fewer inventions, fewer high-tech exports, and fewer jobs for Americans. And we are trying to compete with one hand behind our back: half our population disproportionately avoids math and science. Women and minorities are routinely underrepresented in these fields. The National Academy of Sciences, NAS, outlined solutions to these and other challenges America will face as we contend with other counties in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Their report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future,'' gave us a roadmap to avoid this storm. The America COMPETES Act will implement these recommendations. For example, this legislation would provide funding to increase the number of teachers serving high-need schools who are qualified to teach advanced, college level courses in math and science. It also supplies grants to community colleges to offer training to allow women to enter higher paying technical jobs. This act also provides new incentives for math and science research. The bill doubles the current funding for the National Science Foundation, NSF. I am also pleased this legislation includes two of my amendments. The first asks the National Academy of Sciences to collect and disseminate ``Promising Practices'' in the areas of math and science education, as well as techniques proven to help teachers improve their instructional skills. Many States across the country are doing an amazing job of raising their State standards, while others are watering them down. The NAS report outlined the need for consistency in math and science education as one of the important recommendations in their report. That is why I introduced the Math and Science Consistency Act which instructs the National Academy of Sciences to create voluntary goals for learning in the areas of math and science education. I thank everyone involved with this package, in particular Senator Bingaman, for working with me to include elements of my legislation into the America COMPETES Act. If we want to truly prepare our students to compete, then it is especially important to look at successful models of math and science education and place this information in the hands of our math and science teachers. These promising practices will help all States improve their math and science education. It is imperative that we figure out what is working and reproduce it. The math and science education our children receive today is an investment in the economy of tomorrow. I also worked alongside Senator Schumer to include a provision that will create two new fellowship programs within the National Science Foundation. These new fellowship programs are modeled after the highly successful Newton Fellowship and Newton Master Teacher Programs in New York City. Through Math for America, the Newton Fellowship Program has brought a cadre of talented professionals to teach math in NYC school. Additionally, the Newton Master Teacher Program trains current math teachers who demonstrate solid math knowledge to become leaders in their schools through mentoring and professional development. I am pleased our amendment will allow these successful models to be replicated around the country. Once implemented, the first fellowship program will be available for professionals who possess advanced math and science skills. It will allow professionals from the private and public sectors to apply to become ``NSF Teaching Fellows.'' If selected, these individuals would receive a scholarship to attend a 1-year master's program that results in certification. The fellows would then commit to teach for 4 years in a high-need school. This is the commonsense approach we need in order to build a pipeline of math and science teachers who are experts in their fields. The second fellowship program entitled the ``NSF Master Teaching Fellows'' Program, will allow current teachers who hold a master's in math or science to apply and serve as leaders in a high-need school. In exchange for receiving a stipend, these fellows would commit to mentoring their peers, developing curricula, and assisting in professional development activities for 5 years. I am pleased that we are making a commitment to expanding the pipeline of math and science teachers, and this amendment is our first step in that expansion. I thank Math for America and the Newton Fellows and Newton Master Teachers for all they do every day to improve math education for students in New York City and around the country. The America COMPETES Act is a comprehensive strategy to help America compete and win in the global marketplace. As cochair of the Senate Manufacturing Caucus, I am pleased that this legislation makes a significant investment in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program that is critical to sustaining our nation's manufacturing base. I am also pleased that this bill includes a new energy research proposal modeled on DARPA. This is an idea that I first put forward at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2005, and introduced legislation on in January of 2006. My legislation would create a new agency to sponsor a diverse portfolio of projects that will: Increase national security by significantly reducing petroleum and imported fuels consumption; significantly improve the efficiency of electricity use and the reliability of the electricity system; and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Section 2005 of the America Competes Act mirrors many of these provisions. However, section 2005 does not include provisions from my legislation that provide additional management flexibility, and that I believe are important to the success of this new agency. In addition, section 2005 does not authorize a specific level of funding. I recognize that there are funding constraints, but I think that a much bigger, bolder investment is needed. So I am pleased that section 2005 is included in the bill, but I hope that we can make improvements during conference with the House. We must do what is best for our children and their economic future. When Americans have the tools for success, America succeeds and that is what this bipartisan legislation can help us achieve.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I welcome the vote on this important piece of legislation, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. Stem cell research holds great hope of providing cures for chronic, incurable conditions from which millions of Americans suffer. But unless we act, the Bush administration will continue to meet this unparalleled moment of scientific discovery with unbridled ideology-- and the American people and scientific community will pay the price. The President's stem cell ban amounts to a ban on hope for millions of Americans. It's time this Congress put an end to the Bush administration policy which is holding science back and holding our Nation back in the race to new medical treatments and discoveries. We all expect that this bipartisan legislation will pass both the Senate and the House. There is a broad consensus in the Congress, among medical experts, scientists, and patient advocacy organizations, and among the American people, demanding that we open the doors to scientific innovation--instead of barring those doors shut. Even within the Bush administration, there is a desire to pursue stem cell research. The Director of the National Institutes of Health, Doctor Elias Zerhouni, has gone on record supporting expanded access to new lines of embryonic stem cells. I am deeply concerned, however, that we have been down this road before a road that begins with the promise of new cures and ends, not with discovery, but with ideology and a veto by the President. The promise of stem-cell science is crystal clear--and already being demonstrated. Embryonic stem cells develop into a variety of more specialized types of cells--like nerve cells or muscle tissue that could be used to replace or repair tissue lost or damaged from illness. In New York, researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have been using embryonic stem cells to develop bone, cartilage or muscle replacement therapies. And in 2006, a team of researchers from Columbia University and another team from Cornell published research on new ways of turning embryonic stem cells into treatments for Parkinson's disease. These are just several examples, but the work of these scientists and scientists around the world is inspiring hope for millions in New York and the country living with chronic diseases, or caring for a loved one with these conditions. In fact, New York is leading the way--letting science, not politics, guide research. My State will soon invest $600 million in stem-cell and regenerative medicine research over the next decade. Thanks to this stem cell funding plan, New York researchers will benefit from expanded resources for all types of stem cell research, including embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and somatic cell nuclear transfer. And our economy will benefit as well, as we draw great American scientists and innovators pursuing the next great American scientific innovations. This is encouraging news for New York, but as a Nation, the leadership vacuum under the Bush administration has left the scientific community holding its breath. The Bush administration has put a ban on certain kinds of research, prohibiting Federal funding for any research on stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001. Federally-funded scientists are limited to less than 20 stem cell lines, instead of the 78 lines advertised. And not all of these lines are even suitable for research. Some may be contaminated with mouse cells, which can increase the risk of creating strains of diseases which can more easily pass to people. Other problems because of the ban include genetic instability, which is associated with formation of tumors, and practical issues associated with using so few lines-- preventing scientists from collecting evidence they need. While American scientists are being held back, other countries are racing ahead, putting billions of dollars into stem cell science-- creating research institutions, clinical centers, and investments of all kinds to attract scientists from the United States and elsewhere who will come to pursue this research. We are losing ground instead doing what Americans do best: leading the world in innovation, ingenuity, and new ideas. The Bush administration's stem cell policy is impeding science and compromising America's ability to remain at the forefront of biomedical research. At the same time, the Bush ban is a ban that affects more than 100 million Americans who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, cancers as well as for their friends, families, and caregivers. These are real people I meet every day in New York and across the country. It's an adult with type I diabetes--or a mom whose son or daughter has the disease. It's a senior citizen struggling with Parkinson's disease or a son or daughter with a parent struggling with Alzheimer's. These are Americans crossing every divide imaginable--hopeful if not for themselves or their children, then for their grandchildren and great grandchildren. My dear friends Christopher and Dana Reeve, whom we lost in the past several years, were eloquent, passionate advocates for this research. Christopher, from his wheelchair, performed his greatest role after his accident, to try and bring the best of American ingenuity to bear on the worst kinds of illnesses and diseases. I respect my friends on the other side of the aisle who come to the floor with grave doubts and heartfelt concerns. This is a balancing act and we must never lose sight of our ethics and values. But we can strike that balance--and I believe we have in this bill. When the promise of embryonic stem cell research became apparent in the 1990s, the Clinton administration, working through the National Bioethics Advisory Commission and the NIH, examined the ethical and medical issues involved with such research. In September 1999, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission released its report, ``Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cells Research.'' In this report, it recommended that research using cells from embryos created, but not used for, infertility treatment, should be eligible to receive Federal funding. By August of 2000, the NIH had released guidelines for research using stem cells. These guidelines would have allowed funding for research from lines derived from embryos voluntarily donated which would have otherwise been discarded. These recommendations are followed in this bill, which also includes funding for non-embryonic stem cell research, such as work with stem cells derived from amniotic fluid. As we wade into these new scientific waters, we must always be steered by our values and morals, which is why I have stood against, and voted to ban, human cloning. We must make a strong legal and ethical stand, but we cannot simply stand still as scientific opportunity passes us by and new cures remain just out of reach. I applaud the leadership of Senators Harkin, Specter, and Kennedy on this bill. I am hopeful that we can send the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act to the President, and end the ban on research and hope for Americans looking to us to fund the next great medical discoveries.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Housing America's Workforce Act. My legislation will address the need to ensure safe, decent, and affordable housing as well as creating and sustaining healthy communities for our Nation's workforce. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez for her leadership in introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives. The sad truth is that across the Nation, working full-time no longer guarantees the security and comfort of a home. The shortage of workforce housing has emerged as a national crisis as housing costs have far outgrown the rate of inflation in many markets. As the gap between wages and housing costs widens, affordable housing is pushed beyond the reach of an increasing number of working families. As a result, people who provide the bulk of vital community services--teachers, firefighters, police officers, and laundry and restaurant workers--often cannot themselves afford to live in the high- priced communities in which they serve. That is why I am reintroducing the Housing America's Workforce Act. This bill creates incentives to expand employer assisted housing initiatives across the Nation. This legislation offers a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar that an employer provides to eligible employees, up to $10,000 or six percent of the employee's home purchase price, whichever is less, or up to $2,000 for rental assistance. In addition, this act defines housing assistance as a nontaxable benefit to ensure that employees receive the full value of employers' contributions. Finally, the act establishes a competitive grant program available to nonprofit housing organizations that provide technical assistance, program administration, and outreach support to employers undertaking housing assistance initiatives. The benefits of this legislation are far reaching. Employees receive financial support to buy or rent a home closer to work, while their employer enjoys the benefits of a more stable workforce, including improved morale, and reduced turnover and recruitment resulting in bottom line savings. Furthermore, the surrounding community receives a new investment in the form of property taxes, as former commuters buy homes near the jobsite. Research has shown that this legislation is needed. Recent data shows that the number of working families with critical housing problems, defined as those paying more than half of their income for housing and/ or living in dilapidated conditions, has increased 67 percent from 1997 to approximately 5 million families. In addition, a recent workforce housing study released by the National Association of Home Builders found that workers who provide vital services to the community can only find affordable housing in less than half of the Nation's top 25 metropolitan areas. The Housing America's Workforce Act addresses our Nation's housing challenge from a new perspective by allowing the private sector to play a direct role in promoting housing affordability. This legislation will create opportunities for us as a Nation to expand these public-private partnerships and will make a profound impact in the lives of our workforce. I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this legislation and move it to the floor without delay.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Housing America's Workforce Act. My legislation will address the need to ensure safe, decent, and affordable housing as well as creating and sustaining healthy communities for our Nation's workforce. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez for her leadership in introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives. The sad truth is that across the Nation, working full-time no longer guarantees the security and comfort of a home. The shortage of workforce housing has emerged as a national crisis as housing costs have far outgrown the rate of inflation in many markets. As the gap between wages and housing costs widens, affordable housing is pushed beyond the reach of an increasing number of working families. As a result, people who provide the bulk of vital community services--teachers, firefighters, police officers, and laundry and restaurant workers--often cannot themselves afford to live in the high- priced communities in which they serve. That is why I am reintroducing the Housing America's Workforce Act. This bill creates incentives to expand employer assisted housing initiatives across the Nation. This legislation offers a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar that an employer provides to eligible employees, up to $10,000 or six percent of the employee's home purchase price, whichever is less, or up to $2,000 for rental assistance. In addition, this act defines housing assistance as a nontaxable benefit to ensure that employees receive the full value of employers' contributions. Finally, the act establishes a competitive grant program available to nonprofit housing organizations that provide technical assistance, program administration, and outreach support to employers undertaking housing assistance initiatives. The benefits of this legislation are far reaching. Employees receive financial support to buy or rent a home closer to work, while their employer enjoys the benefits of a more stable workforce, including improved morale, and reduced turnover and recruitment resulting in bottom line savings. Furthermore, the surrounding community receives a new investment in the form of property taxes, as former commuters buy homes near the jobsite. Research has shown that this legislation is needed. Recent data shows that the number of working families with critical housing problems, defined as those paying more than half of their income for housing and/ or living in dilapidated conditions, has increased 67 percent from 1997 to approximately 5 million families. In addition, a recent workforce housing study released by the National Association of Home Builders found that workers who provide vital services to the community can only find affordable housing in less than half of the Nation's top 25 metropolitan areas. The Housing America's Workforce Act addresses our Nation's housing challenge from a new perspective by allowing the private sector to play a direct role in promoting housing affordability. This legislation will create opportunities for us as a Nation to expand these public-private partnerships and will make a profound impact in the lives of our workforce. I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this legislation and move it to the floor without delay.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Heroes at Home Act of 2007, the Restoring Disability Benefits for Injured and Wounded Warriors Act of 2007, and the Protecting Military Family Financial Benefits Act of 2007 to serve our servicemembers and send a message: you will be treated as heroes before deployment, during deployment, and upon returning home. You didn't offer excuses and do not deserve to be offered excuses by your country. I want to thank Senator Collins for co-sponsoring the Heroes at Home Act of 2007 and for partnering with me on numerous pieces of legislation and initiatives related to these and other important health issues. This is a moment of profound challenge for our country, for our military, and for our men and women in uniform. And while there are often strong disagreements here in Washington, I hope we can unite around our common values and patriotism when it comes to how we treat our servicemembers and veterans. If you serve your country your country should serve you. That is the promise our country must keep to the men and women who enlist, who fight, and who return home often bearing the visible and invisible scars of sacrifice. Sadly, too often in the past several years, that promise has been broken: whether it's a lack of up-armored vehicles on the ground in Iraq or a lack of appropriate care in outpatient facilities at Walter Reed. Last year, I authored and passed into law the Heroes at Home initiative to assist returning servicemembers experiencing the complex, diffuse, and life-altering symptoms of traumatic brain injury and other mental health difficulties. One out of every 10 returning servicemembers are affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI), which has been widely identified as the ``signature wound'' of the Global War on Terror. This includes severe injuries as well as invisible wounds that result in trouble remembering appointments, holding down a job, and returning to civilian life. Unfortunately, troops have an increased risk of sustaining more than one mild or moderate TBI because of multiple deployments and the prevalent use of Improved Explosive Devices by enemy combatants in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. However, mild and moderate TBI may go undetected, especially if the servicemember has sustained more obvious injuries. Further, it can be difficult to distinguish mild TBI from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since both conditions have common symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety and depression. Although many wounded servicemembers receive cognitive evaluations upon returning from deployment, the lack of a baseline test conducted prior to the injury leads these servicemembers to question the validity of their post- deployment assessments. When I visited Walter Reed a few weeks ago, I met a young Army soldier who had lost one arm and lost his ring finger because his wedding band had melted onto it. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, ``You know, I'm working hard at my rehabilitation and they're taking great care of me with my prosthetics.'' He said, ``but what really bothers me is my memory. I don't have the focus that I used to have. I can't really set out tasks and know that I can accomplish them.'' And he said, ``That's the thing that really bothers me I've got to have my brain back.'' His story, and the stories of hundreds of other servicemembers like him, demonstrates that we need to do more to help rapid identification of traumatic brain injury in order to facilitate the best care once the servicemembers return home, and expand support systems for members and former members of the Armed Services with traumatic brain injury and their families. That's why I, along with Senator Collins, am introducing the Heroes at Home Act of 2007 today, to build on last year's Heroes at Home initiative. I am grateful to have developed this proposal with the Wounded Warrior Project, the National Military Family Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the American Academy of Neurology. We should provide pre-deployment cognitive screening to better diagnose and treat traumatic brain injury when these men and women return home. This legislation will improve detection of mild and moderate TBI by implementing an objective, computer-based assessment protocol to measure cognitive functioning both prior to and after deployment. This baseline test will help detect mild and moderate cases of TBI and distinguish them from PTSD. My legislation will also require that the same assessment tool be used across all branches of the 6yArmed Services and for every member of the Armed Forces who will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. We should also help families take care of a loved one by providing them with training to become certified caregivers, so that they can receive compensation for care giving they already provide. Family members of returning soldiers with TBI are often ill-equipped to handle the demands of caring for their loved one, which in some bases can become a full-time responsibility. My legislation will establish a Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Personal Care Attendant Training and Certification Program, which would train and certify family caregivers of TBI patients as personal care attendants, enabling them to provide quality care at home and at the same time qualify for compensation from the VA. Finally, we should explore new ways to treat TBI in rural settings and outpatient clinics through telemedicine. Servicemembers and veterans continue to face problems in accessing needed medical and mental health care, especially veterans or Guard and Reserve members who live in rural areas. The Heroes at Home Act of 2007 will help increase the reach of needed care for TBI by creating a demonstration project, administered jointly by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs that would use telehealth technology to assess TBI and related mental health conditions and facilitate rehabilitation and dissemination of educational material on techniques, strategies and skills for servicemembers with TBI. On March 6, 2007 Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter Schoomaker and the then Army Surgeon General Lieutenant General Kevin C. Kiley, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that soldiers appearing before the Physical Evaluation Board were ``short-changed'' and had not received appropriate disability benefits. According to the Congressional Research Service, since the enactment of the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program at least 45 percent of claims have been denied. In March 2006 the Comptroller General issued GAO Report 06-362: Military Disability System: Improved Oversight Needed to Ensure Consistent and Timely Outcomes for Reserve and Active Duty Service Members--the Department of Defense did not heed the recommendations provided in this report and as a result injured and wounded warriors continue to languish in an inefficient and adversarial disability system. I am also introducing legislation to fix the disability benefits system for our wounded warriors. When I've visited Walter Reed, one common thread uniting the problems is the disjointed and unfair process for evaluating disabilities. There were only three lawyers and one paralegal assigned to Walter Reed's entire evaluation process. Compare that to 4,000 Army JAG lawyers assigned to active duty, the National Guard, and the Reserves. The ``Restoring Disability Benefits for Injured and Wounded Warriors Act of 2007'' will restore disability benefits for wounded and injured members of the Armed Forces. The act will direct reviews of disability claims, traumatic injury claims, and the Physical Evaluation Board process. Additionally, the ``Restoring Disability Benefits for Injured and Wounded Warriors Act of 2007'' will increase the availability of legal counsel for members appealing their disability cases, and direct the Comptroller General to provide a follow up report on the efforts currently being made by the Department of Defense to address certain deficiencies in the Disability Evaluation Systems; the adequacy of the Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Schedule for Ratings as it relates to the nature of wounds our warriors suffer in combat today; and to report on the standards and procedures of Physical Evaluation Boards. So I am proposing an up-and-down review of previously-denied cases and failed appeals, an independent review of traumatic injury claims under the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program where up to 45 percent of claims have been denied, and a fix to ensure members have the proper liaison and legal assistance when appearing before the Physical Evaluation Board. We must stop short-changing our wounded warriors. Finally, I am introducing the Protecting Military Family Financial Benefits Act of 2007 to close gaps in coverage for the Death Gratuity and Survivor Benefits beneficiaries and improve pre-deployment counseling and services for all members of the Armed Forces. Every day single-parents deploy to distant battlefields and leave their minor children in the care of a financially ill-prepared guardian or caretaker. Unfortunately, when tragedy strikes and a military servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice, minor dependent children and families are excluded from benefits and entitlements. In too many cases pre-deployment counseling and help are under-funded or unavailable. These provisions will add an option for members of the Armed Forces to designate guardians or caretakers as a beneficiary for Death Gratuity benefits for care of dependent children and to receive annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for care of dependent children. These options do not exist under current law. The Department of Defense will be required to commission an independent panel to review and assess military pre-deployment counseling and services, and implement recommended changes and best practices within 120 days of receiving the report. This review will include pre-deployment counseling and services available for unmarried members of the Armed Forces with dependent children, unmarried single members without dependent children, and married members with or without dependent children. Specifically, what level of counseling or services are available for these members to maximize financial protections for the proper care of their surviving dependents under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, Death Gratuity, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivor Benefits Plan, and benefits payable under the Social Security Act. The review will include the preparation and maintenance of Family Care Plans for single-parents including elements for such plans relating to death benefits, wills, powers of attorney, trusts, safeguarding of the plan during deployment, and the acknowledgement of specific guardian and caretaker duties relating to use of financial benefits for the care of minor dependent children. Finally, this review will determine the adequate level of resources available at military pre-deployment centers including: the availability of legal and financial counseling, training level of pre- deployment counselors, Family Support Group involvement, availability of PTSD screening, and availability of suicide prevention counseling. Let us all join together in accepting our responsibility as a nation to those who serve and resolve to improve their care for traumatic brain injuries, reform their disability benefits, and fix their survivor benefits. I ask unanimous consent letters of support for this legislation be printed in the Record.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Heroes at Home Act of 2007, the Restoring Disability Benefits for Injured and Wounded Warriors Act of 2007, and the Protecting Military Family Financial Benefits Act of 2007 to serve our servicemembers and send a message: you will be treated as heroes before deployment, during deployment, and upon returning home. You didn't offer excuses and do not deserve to be offered excuses by your country. I want to thank Senator Collins for co-sponsoring the Heroes at Home Act of 2007 and for partnering with me on numerous pieces of legislation and initiatives related to these and other important health issues. This is a moment of profound challenge for our country, for our military, and for our men and women in uniform. And while there are often strong disagreements here in Washington, I hope we can unite around our common values and patriotism when it comes to how we treat our servicemembers and veterans. If you serve your country your country should serve you. That is the promise our country must keep to the men and women who enlist, who fight, and who return home often bearing the visible and invisible scars of sacrifice. Sadly, too often in the past several years, that promise has been broken: whether it's a lack of up-armored vehicles on the ground in Iraq or a lack of appropriate care in outpatient facilities at Walter Reed. Last year, I authored and passed into law the Heroes at Home initiative to assist returning servicemembers experiencing the complex, diffuse, and life-altering symptoms of traumatic brain injury and other mental health difficulties. One out of every 10 returning servicemembers are affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI), which has been widely identified as the ``signature wound'' of the Global War on Terror. This includes severe injuries as well as invisible wounds that result in trouble remembering appointments, holding down a job, and returning to civilian life. Unfortunately, troops have an increased risk of sustaining more than one mild or moderate TBI because of multiple deployments and the prevalent use of Improved Explosive Devices by enemy combatants in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. However, mild and moderate TBI may go undetected, especially if the servicemember has sustained more obvious injuries. Further, it can be difficult to distinguish mild TBI from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since both conditions have common symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety and depression. Although many wounded servicemembers receive cognitive evaluations upon returning from deployment, the lack of a baseline test conducted prior to the injury leads these servicemembers to question the validity of their post- deployment assessments. When I visited Walter Reed a few weeks ago, I met a young Army soldier who had lost one arm and lost his ring finger because his wedding band had melted onto it. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, ``You know, I'm working hard at my rehabilitation and they're taking great care of me with my prosthetics.'' He said, ``but what really bothers me is my memory. I don't have the focus that I used to have. I can't really set out tasks and know that I can accomplish them.'' And he said, ``That's the thing that really bothers me I've got to have my brain back.'' His story, and the stories of hundreds of other servicemembers like him, demonstrates that we need to do more to help rapid identification of traumatic brain injury in order to facilitate the best care once the servicemembers return home, and expand support systems for members and former members of the Armed Services with traumatic brain injury and their families. That's why I, along with Senator Collins, am introducing the Heroes at Home Act of 2007 today, to build on last year's Heroes at Home initiative. I am grateful to have developed this proposal with the Wounded Warrior Project, the National Military Family Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the American Academy of Neurology. We should provide pre-deployment cognitive screening to better diagnose and treat traumatic brain injury when these men and women return home. This legislation will improve detection of mild and moderate TBI by implementing an objective, computer-based assessment protocol to measure cognitive functioning both prior to and after deployment. This baseline test will help detect mild and moderate cases of TBI and distinguish them from PTSD. My legislation will also require that the same assessment tool be used across all branches of the 6yArmed Services and for every member of the Armed Forces who will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. We should also help families take care of a loved one by providing them with training to become certified caregivers, so that they can receive compensation for care giving they already provide. Family members of returning soldiers with TBI are often ill-equipped to handle the demands of caring for their loved one, which in some bases can become a full-time responsibility. My legislation will establish a Traumatic Brain Injury Family Caregiver Personal Care Attendant Training and Certification Program, which would train and certify family caregivers of TBI patients as personal care attendants, enabling them to provide quality care at home and at the same time qualify for compensation from the VA. Finally, we should explore new ways to treat TBI in rural settings and outpatient clinics through telemedicine. Servicemembers and veterans continue to face problems in accessing needed medical and mental health care, especially veterans or Guard and Reserve members who live in rural areas. The Heroes at Home Act of 2007 will help increase the reach of needed care for TBI by creating a demonstration project, administered jointly by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs that would use telehealth technology to assess TBI and related mental health conditions and facilitate rehabilitation and dissemination of educational material on techniques, strategies and skills for servicemembers with TBI. On March 6, 2007 Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter Schoomaker and the then Army Surgeon General Lieutenant General Kevin C. Kiley, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that soldiers appearing before the Physical Evaluation Board were ``short-changed'' and had not received appropriate disability benefits. According to the Congressional Research Service, since the enactment of the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program at least 45 percent of claims have been denied. In March 2006 the Comptroller General issued GAO Report 06-362: Military Disability System: Improved Oversight Needed to Ensure Consistent and Timely Outcomes for Reserve and Active Duty Service Members--the Department of Defense did not heed the recommendations provided in this report and as a result injured and wounded warriors continue to languish in an inefficient and adversarial disability system. I am also introducing legislation to fix the disability benefits system for our wounded warriors. When I've visited Walter Reed, one common thread uniting the problems is the disjointed and unfair process for evaluating disabilities. There were only three lawyers and one paralegal assigned to Walter Reed's entire evaluation process. Compare that to 4,000 Army JAG lawyers assigned to active duty, the National Guard, and the Reserves. The ``Restoring Disability Benefits for Injured and Wounded Warriors Act of 2007'' will restore disability benefits for wounded and injured members of the Armed Forces. The act will direct reviews of disability claims, traumatic injury claims, and the Physical Evaluation Board process. Additionally, the ``Restoring Disability Benefits for Injured and Wounded Warriors Act of 2007'' will increase the availability of legal counsel for members appealing their disability cases, and direct the Comptroller General to provide a follow up report on the efforts currently being made by the Department of Defense to address certain deficiencies in the Disability Evaluation Systems; the adequacy of the Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Schedule for Ratings as it relates to the nature of wounds our warriors suffer in combat today; and to report on the standards and procedures of Physical Evaluation Boards. So I am proposing an up-and-down review of previously-denied cases and failed appeals, an independent review of traumatic injury claims under the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program where up to 45 percent of claims have been denied, and a fix to ensure members have the proper liaison and legal assistance when appearing before the Physical Evaluation Board. We must stop short-changing our wounded warriors. Finally, I am introducing the Protecting Military Family Financial Benefits Act of 2007 to close gaps in coverage for the Death Gratuity and Survivor Benefits beneficiaries and improve pre-deployment counseling and services for all members of the Armed Forces. Every day single-parents deploy to distant battlefields and leave their minor children in the care of a financially ill-prepared guardian or caretaker. Unfortunately, when tragedy strikes and a military servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice, minor dependent children and families are excluded from benefits and entitlements. In too many cases pre-deployment counseling and help are under-funded or unavailable. These provisions will add an option for members of the Armed Forces to designate guardians or caretakers as a beneficiary for Death Gratuity benefits for care of dependent children and to receive annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for care of dependent children. These options do not exist under current law. The Department of Defense will be required to commission an independent panel to review and assess military pre-deployment counseling and services, and implement recommended changes and best practices within 120 days of receiving the report. This review will include pre-deployment counseling and services available for unmarried members of the Armed Forces with dependent children, unmarried single members without dependent children, and married members with or without dependent children. Specifically, what level of counseling or services are available for these members to maximize financial protections for the proper care of their surviving dependents under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, Death Gratuity, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Survivor Benefits Plan, and benefits payable under the Social Security Act. The review will include the preparation and maintenance of Family Care Plans for single-parents including elements for such plans relating to death benefits, wills, powers of attorney, trusts, safeguarding of the plan during deployment, and the acknowledgement of specific guardian and caretaker duties relating to use of financial benefits for the care of minor dependent children. Finally, this review will determine the adequate level of resources available at military pre-deployment centers including: the availability of legal and financial counseling, training level of pre- deployment counselors, Family Support Group involvement, availability of PTSD screening, and availability of suicide prevention counseling. Let us all join together in accepting our responsibility as a nation to those who serve and resolve to improve their care for traumatic brain injuries, reform their disability benefits, and fix their survivor benefits. I ask unanimous consent letters of support for this legislation be printed in the Record.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Pediatric Research Improvement Act, legislation to reauthorize the Pediatric Rule and extend it permanently. I believe that doing so is critically important to ensure that the drugs designed for children are safe and effective for children. This legislation will result in better health outcomes for our children, grandchildren, and many generations of children to come. In 1998, the FDA issued a regulation called the pediatric rule, which allowed the agency to require companies to perform pediatric clinical trials on medications used by children. It is important to note that this requirement does not slow the drug approval process. If a drug is not likely to be used in the pediatric population, it is not subject to this testing. Companies can also apply for a deferral, so that they can perform necessary tests after a drug has been approved and is being used in the adult population. In October 2002, a U.S. District Court found that the FDA had exceeded its statutory authority when it promulgated the Pediatric Rule, and that Congress needed to explicitly award the FDA the power to require these clinical trials. In response, I worked with my colleagues in Congress to pass the Pediatric Research Equity Act, legislation that codified the Pediatric Rule, and which was signed into law on December 3, 2003. Since 2003, over 100 drugs have been evaluated under PREA--and since 1998, more than 1,000 drugs have fallen under the authority of the pediatric rule. The legislation has successfully resulted in increased pediatric evaluations. We've been able to collect data on drugs commonly used in children--like azithromycin, an antibiotic used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections--as well as drugs that may not be so commonly used, but that help keep children alive, like emtriva, one of the newer drugs we have to treat AIDS. But unless we act to reauthorize this legislation now, the pediatric rule is set to sunset on September 30 of this year, placing in jeopardy the ability of the agency to require these safeguards for our children. In order to address this, I am introducing the Pediatric Research Improvement Act to remove the sunset for the pediatric rule, so that we will never again be in danger of losing the authority to make sure that the drugs designed for children are safe for children. In addition to making the rule permanent, this reauthorization would do the following: Improves Coordination between Pediatric Specialists and Others at the FDA. In order to improve coordination with the pediatric exclusivity provisions of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA), PRIA would expand an internal FDA committee to review all issues of pediatric-related labeling and assessments. Doing so ensures that a drug that falls under PRIA or BPCA is reviewed not only by experts for that particular drug, but those with pediatric expertise. Streamlines the process for obtaining pediatric data on already- marketed drugs. If a company chooses not to pursue pediatric exclusivity for an already marketed drug under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, the Secretary has the authority to require the submission of pediatric data for the drug. This authority has never been utilized, in part due to the lengthy administrative process required. PRIA would streamline this administrative process and help get essential data on drugs for which it is vitally needed, while preserving the ability of companies to have a fair review of the agency's decisions. Increases Data about the Use and Applicability of PRIA. PRIA would require two reports--one from the Institute of Medicine and one from the GAO--that would allow us to have better data on the number and ways in which the pediatric rule is used, and evaluate its contributions to ensuring overall pediatric drug safety. This legislation is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Pediatric Society, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, and the Society for Pediatric Research. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation as quickly as possible, and help to ensure that our pediatricians and other health professionals have the tools they need to provide safe and effective treatment to our Nation's children.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Pediatric Research Improvement Act, legislation to reauthorize the Pediatric Rule and extend it permanently. I believe that doing so is critically important to ensure that the drugs designed for children are safe and effective for children. This legislation will result in better health outcomes for our children, grandchildren, and many generations of children to come. In 1998, the FDA issued a regulation called the pediatric rule, which allowed the agency to require companies to perform pediatric clinical trials on medications used by children. It is important to note that this requirement does not slow the drug approval process. If a drug is not likely to be used in the pediatric population, it is not subject to this testing. Companies can also apply for a deferral, so that they can perform necessary tests after a drug has been approved and is being used in the adult population. In October 2002, a U.S. District Court found that the FDA had exceeded its statutory authority when it promulgated the Pediatric Rule, and that Congress needed to explicitly award the FDA the power to require these clinical trials. In response, I worked with my colleagues in Congress to pass the Pediatric Research Equity Act, legislation that codified the Pediatric Rule, and which was signed into law on December 3, 2003. Since 2003, over 100 drugs have been evaluated under PREA--and since 1998, more than 1,000 drugs have fallen under the authority of the pediatric rule. The legislation has successfully resulted in increased pediatric evaluations. We've been able to collect data on drugs commonly used in children--like azithromycin, an antibiotic used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections--as well as drugs that may not be so commonly used, but that help keep children alive, like emtriva, one of the newer drugs we have to treat AIDS. But unless we act to reauthorize this legislation now, the pediatric rule is set to sunset on September 30 of this year, placing in jeopardy the ability of the agency to require these safeguards for our children. In order to address this, I am introducing the Pediatric Research Improvement Act to remove the sunset for the pediatric rule, so that we will never again be in danger of losing the authority to make sure that the drugs designed for children are safe for children. In addition to making the rule permanent, this reauthorization would do the following: Improves Coordination between Pediatric Specialists and Others at the FDA. In order to improve coordination with the pediatric exclusivity provisions of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA), PRIA would expand an internal FDA committee to review all issues of pediatric-related labeling and assessments. Doing so ensures that a drug that falls under PRIA or BPCA is reviewed not only by experts for that particular drug, but those with pediatric expertise. Streamlines the process for obtaining pediatric data on already- marketed drugs. If a company chooses not to pursue pediatric exclusivity for an already marketed drug under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, the Secretary has the authority to require the submission of pediatric data for the drug. This authority has never been utilized, in part due to the lengthy administrative process required. PRIA would streamline this administrative process and help get essential data on drugs for which it is vitally needed, while preserving the ability of companies to have a fair review of the agency's decisions. Increases Data about the Use and Applicability of PRIA. PRIA would require two reports--one from the Institute of Medicine and one from the GAO--that would allow us to have better data on the number and ways in which the pediatric rule is used, and evaluate its contributions to ensuring overall pediatric drug safety. This legislation is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Pediatric Society, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, and the Society for Pediatric Research. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation as quickly as possible, and help to ensure that our pediatricians and other health professionals have the tools they need to provide safe and effective treatment to our Nation's children.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, Senator Collins and I are reintroducing the Positive Aging Act, to improve the accessibility and quality of mental health services for our rapidly growing population of older Americans. I want to thank Senator Collins for her leadership on aging issues, and for partnering with me on numerous pieces of legislation and initiatives related to these and other important health issues. We are pleased to be reintroducing this important legislation in anticipation of reauthorization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). I want to acknowledge and thank our partners from the mental health and aging community who have collaborated with us and have been working diligently on these issues for many years, including the American Psychological Association, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the National Association of Social Workers, the Alzheimer's Association, the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, the American Society on Aging, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York, the Gerontological Society of America, Mental Health America, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the National Council on Aging, Psychologists in Long Term Care, the Older Women's League, the Society of Clinical Geropsychology, the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, and all the other groups who have lent their support. American society today has benefited tremendously from advances in medical science that are helping us to live longer than ever before. In New York State alone, there are an estimated two and a half million citizens aged 65 or older. And this population will only continue to grow as the first wave of Baby Boomers turns 65 in less than ten years. According to a December 2006 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of older Americans aged 65 and over is expected to double over the next 25 years, and nearly 20 percent of citizens will be 65 years or older by the year 2030. Further, the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is the age group of Americans who are 85 and older. Although it is encouraging that our Nation's citizens are living longer than ever before, mental and behavioral health challenges accompany this increased longevity. So as we look forward to leading longer lives, we must also acknowledge the challenges that we face related to the quality of life as we age. Although most older adults enjoy good mental health, it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of Americans age 55 or older experience a mental disorder. In New York State alone, there are an estimated 366,000 adults aged 55 or older with mental health or substance abuse disorders. Nationally, it is anticipated that the number of seniors with mental and behavioral health problems will almost quadruple, from 4 million in 1970 to 15 million in 2030. Among the most prevalent mental health concerns older adults encounter are anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, and substance abuse. When left untreated, these problems can have severe physical and psychological implications. In fact, men age 85 and older have the highest rates of suicide in our country and depression is the foremost risk factor. The physical consequences of mental health disorders can be both expensive and debilitating. Depression has a powerful negative impact on ability to function, resulting in high rates of disability. The World Health Organization projects that by the year 2020, depression will remain a leading cause of disability, second only to cardiovascular disease. Even mild depression lowers immunity and may compromise a person's ability to fight infections and cancers. Research indicates that 50-70 percent of all primary care medical visits are related to psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Further, evidence suggests that an estimated 75 percent of seniors who commit suicide have visited a primary care professional within a month of their death. Mental disorders do not have to be a part of the aging process because we have effective treatments for these conditions. But despite these effective treatments, too many American seniors go without the services they need and deserve because of poor integration of physical and mental health care. As of 2006, only 37 percent of New Yorkers who suffer from depression had obtained mental health treatment. The current divide in our country between health care and mental health care manifests itself in many ways. Too often physicians and other health professionals fail to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems. Even more troubling, knowledge about treatment is simply not accessible to many primary care practitioners. As a whole, we have failed to fully integrate mental health screening and treatment into our health service systems. These missed opportunities to diagnose and treat mental health disorders are taking a tremendous toll on seniors and increasing the burden on their families and our health care system. It is within our power and our responsibility to bridge the gap between physical and mental health care and help promote the well-being of older Americans. In last year's reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, Senator Collins and I successfully enacted Title I of the Positive Aging Act of 2005, which authorized grants for the delivery of mental health screening and treatment services for older adults and grants to promote awareness and reduce stigma regarding mental disorders in later life. While this took an important step toward improving mental health services for older adults, significant efforts are necessary to ensure comprehensive geriatric mental health care. That is why I am reintroducing the Title II provisions of the Positive Aging Act of 2005 as the Positive Aging Act of 2007 with my cosponsor Senator Collins. This legislation would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve access to mental health services for our nation's seniors by integrating mental health services into primary care and community settings. Specifically, the Positive Aging Act of 2007 would fund demonstration projects to support integration of mental health services in primary care settings. It would fund grants for community-based mental health treatment outreach teams to improve older Americans' access to mental health services. This legislation would also ensure that these geriatric mental health programs have proper attention and oversight by: mandating the designation of a Deputy Director for Older Adult Mental Health Services in the Center for Mental Health Services; including representatives of older Americans or their families and geriatric mental health professionals on the Advisory Council for the Center for Mental Health Services; and requiring state plans under Community Mental Health Services Block Grants to include descriptions of the states' outreach to and services for older individuals. And because substance-related disorders require the same attention as mental health conditions, the Positive Aging Act of 2007 will target substance abuse in older adults in projects of national significance. Today, we are fortunate to have a variety of effective treatments to address the mental health needs of American seniors. I believe that we owe it to older adults in this country to do all that we can to ensure that they have access to high quality mental health care, so they can enjoy their golden years. The Positive Aging Act of 2007 takes a critical step in this direction, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation during the upcoming SAMHSA reauthorization. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letters of support be printed in the Record.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, Senator Collins and I are reintroducing the Positive Aging Act, to improve the accessibility and quality of mental health services for our rapidly growing population of older Americans. I want to thank Senator Collins for her leadership on aging issues, and for partnering with me on numerous pieces of legislation and initiatives related to these and other important health issues. We are pleased to be reintroducing this important legislation in anticipation of reauthorization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). I want to acknowledge and thank our partners from the mental health and aging community who have collaborated with us and have been working diligently on these issues for many years, including the American Psychological Association, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the National Association of Social Workers, the Alzheimer's Association, the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, the American Society on Aging, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York, the Gerontological Society of America, Mental Health America, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the National Council on Aging, Psychologists in Long Term Care, the Older Women's League, the Society of Clinical Geropsychology, the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, and all the other groups who have lent their support. American society today has benefited tremendously from advances in medical science that are helping us to live longer than ever before. In New York State alone, there are an estimated two and a half million citizens aged 65 or older. And this population will only continue to grow as the first wave of Baby Boomers turns 65 in less than ten years. According to a December 2006 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of older Americans aged 65 and over is expected to double over the next 25 years, and nearly 20 percent of citizens will be 65 years or older by the year 2030. Further, the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is the age group of Americans who are 85 and older. Although it is encouraging that our Nation's citizens are living longer than ever before, mental and behavioral health challenges accompany this increased longevity. So as we look forward to leading longer lives, we must also acknowledge the challenges that we face related to the quality of life as we age. Although most older adults enjoy good mental health, it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of Americans age 55 or older experience a mental disorder. In New York State alone, there are an estimated 366,000 adults aged 55 or older with mental health or substance abuse disorders. Nationally, it is anticipated that the number of seniors with mental and behavioral health problems will almost quadruple, from 4 million in 1970 to 15 million in 2030. Among the most prevalent mental health concerns older adults encounter are anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, and substance abuse. When left untreated, these problems can have severe physical and psychological implications. In fact, men age 85 and older have the highest rates of suicide in our country and depression is the foremost risk factor. The physical consequences of mental health disorders can be both expensive and debilitating. Depression has a powerful negative impact on ability to function, resulting in high rates of disability. The World Health Organization projects that by the year 2020, depression will remain a leading cause of disability, second only to cardiovascular disease. Even mild depression lowers immunity and may compromise a person's ability to fight infections and cancers. Research indicates that 50-70 percent of all primary care medical visits are related to psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Further, evidence suggests that an estimated 75 percent of seniors who commit suicide have visited a primary care professional within a month of their death. Mental disorders do not have to be a part of the aging process because we have effective treatments for these conditions. But despite these effective treatments, too many American seniors go without the services they need and deserve because of poor integration of physical and mental health care. As of 2006, only 37 percent of New Yorkers who suffer from depression had obtained mental health treatment. The current divide in our country between health care and mental health care manifests itself in many ways. Too often physicians and other health professionals fail to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems. Even more troubling, knowledge about treatment is simply not accessible to many primary care practitioners. As a whole, we have failed to fully integrate mental health screening and treatment into our health service systems. These missed opportunities to diagnose and treat mental health disorders are taking a tremendous toll on seniors and increasing the burden on their families and our health care system. It is within our power and our responsibility to bridge the gap between physical and mental health care and help promote the well-being of older Americans. In last year's reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, Senator Collins and I successfully enacted Title I of the Positive Aging Act of 2005, which authorized grants for the delivery of mental health screening and treatment services for older adults and grants to promote awareness and reduce stigma regarding mental disorders in later life. While this took an important step toward improving mental health services for older adults, significant efforts are necessary to ensure comprehensive geriatric mental health care. That is why I am reintroducing the Title II provisions of the Positive Aging Act of 2005 as the Positive Aging Act of 2007 with my cosponsor Senator Collins. This legislation would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve access to mental health services for our nation's seniors by integrating mental health services into primary care and community settings. Specifically, the Positive Aging Act of 2007 would fund demonstration projects to support integration of mental health services in primary care settings. It would fund grants for community-based mental health treatment outreach teams to improve older Americans' access to mental health services. This legislation would also ensure that these geriatric mental health programs have proper attention and oversight by: mandating the designation of a Deputy Director for Older Adult Mental Health Services in the Center for Mental Health Services; including representatives of older Americans or their families and geriatric mental health professionals on the Advisory Council for the Center for Mental Health Services; and requiring state plans under Community Mental Health Services Block Grants to include descriptions of the states' outreach to and services for older individuals. And because substance-related disorders require the same attention as mental health conditions, the Positive Aging Act of 2007 will target substance abuse in older adults in projects of national significance. Today, we are fortunate to have a variety of effective treatments to address the mental health needs of American seniors. I believe that we owe it to older adults in this country to do all that we can to ensure that they have access to high quality mental health care, so they can enjoy their golden years. The Positive Aging Act of 2007 takes a critical step in this direction, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this legislation during the upcoming SAMHSA reauthorization. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letters of support be printed in the Record.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to increase the number of high-need school districts and communities served by Teach For America. My legislation will address the need to build a pipeline of talented teachers to prepare our children to compete in the global economy. As the teaching population ages, more and more schools will face significant shortages of qualified and motivated teachers. Schools across the country will need to replace at least 1 million teachers over the next ten years. Our Nation's inner cities and rural communities will be even harder hit as their teachers move to suburban schools or leave the teaching profession altogether. That is why I am sponsoring the Teach For America Act. Teach For America is the national corps of exceptional recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in public schools. Teach For America's corps members and alumni become lifelong leaders in the effort to ensure that all children in our Nation have an equal chance to succeed in life. Since its inception in 1990, more than 12,000 individuals have joined Teach For America, directly impacting the lives of over 2 million students in under- resourced schools across the country. This legislation will help Teach For America grow to over 7,500 corps members in 32 communities teaching over 600,000 low-income students every day. It will do so by providing funding for Teach For America to expand its program of recruiting, selecting, training, and supporting new teachers. Teach For America's alumni lead the way for fundamental long-term change across the country. After their two years of service, 63 percent of Teach For America alumni remain in education as teachers, principals, school founders and policy advisors. Others, equipped with insight gained through their classroom experience, go on to work in a variety of fields--including law, medicine, and social work--and continue to increase opportunities for children living in low-income communities. The Teach For America Act addresses the need to effectively build a corps of dedicated, talented college graduates to teach and make a lasting impact in our underserved communities. I am hopeful that my Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me in moving this legislation to the floor without delay.

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will create an undergraduate institution designed to cultivate a generation of young leaders dedicated to public service. The United States Public Service Academy Act, (The PSA Act), will form a national academy to serve as an extraordinary example of effective, national public education. The tragic events of September 11 and the devastation of natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita underscore how much our Nation depends on strong public institutions and competent civilian leadership at all levels of society. We must take a step forward in the 110th Congress with a positive agenda to ensure competent civilian leadership and improve our Nation's ability to respond to future emergencies and to confront daily challenges. That is why Senator Specter and I have come together to sponsor the PSA Act. This legislation will create the U.S. Public Service Academy to groom future public servants and build a corps of capable civilian leaders. Modeled after the military service academies, this academy will provide a four-year, federally-subsidized college education for more than 5,000 students a year in exchange for a five year commitment to public service. The PSA Act will meet critical national needs as the baby-boomer generation approaches retirement. Already, studies show looming shortages in the Federal civil service, public education, law enforcement, the non-profit sector and other essential areas. Academy graduates will help to fill the void in public service our Nation will soon face by serving for five years in areas such as public education, public health, and law enforcement. Unfortunately our young people are priced out of public service careers all too often with the average college graduate owing more than $20,000 in student loans. A recent study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute found that more than two-thirds of the 2005 freshman class expressed a desire to serve others, the highest rate in a generation. By providing a service-oriented education at no cost to the student, the PSA Act will tap into the strong desire to serve that already exists among college students while erasing the burden of enormous college debt. The establishment of a United States Public Service Academy is an innovative way to strengthen and protect America by creating a corps of well-trained, highly-qualified civilian leaders. I am hopeful that my Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me today to move this legislation to the floor without delay.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to increase the number of high-need school districts and communities served by Teach For America. My legislation will address the need to build a pipeline of talented teachers to prepare our children to compete in the global economy. As the teaching population ages, more and more schools will face significant shortages of qualified and motivated teachers. Schools across the country will need to replace at least 1 million teachers over the next ten years. Our Nation's inner cities and rural communities will be even harder hit as their teachers move to suburban schools or leave the teaching profession altogether. That is why I am sponsoring the Teach For America Act. Teach For America is the national corps of exceptional recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in public schools. Teach For America's corps members and alumni become lifelong leaders in the effort to ensure that all children in our Nation have an equal chance to succeed in life. Since its inception in 1990, more than 12,000 individuals have joined Teach For America, directly impacting the lives of over 2 million students in under- resourced schools across the country. This legislation will help Teach For America grow to over 7,500 corps members in 32 communities teaching over 600,000 low-income students every day. It will do so by providing funding for Teach For America to expand its program of recruiting, selecting, training, and supporting new teachers. Teach For America's alumni lead the way for fundamental long-term change across the country. After their two years of service, 63 percent of Teach For America alumni remain in education as teachers, principals, school founders and policy advisors. Others, equipped with insight gained through their classroom experience, go on to work in a variety of fields--including law, medicine, and social work--and continue to increase opportunities for children living in low-income communities. The Teach For America Act addresses the need to effectively build a corps of dedicated, talented college graduates to teach and make a lasting impact in our underserved communities. I am hopeful that my Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me in moving this legislation to the floor without delay.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will create an undergraduate institution designed to cultivate a generation of young leaders dedicated to public service. The United States Public Service Academy Act, (The PSA Act), will form a national academy to serve as an extraordinary example of effective, national public education. The tragic events of September 11 and the devastation of natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita underscore how much our Nation depends on strong public institutions and competent civilian leadership at all levels of society. We must take a step forward in the 110th Congress with a positive agenda to ensure competent civilian leadership and improve our Nation's ability to respond to future emergencies and to confront daily challenges. That is why Senator Specter and I have come together to sponsor the PSA Act. This legislation will create the U.S. Public Service Academy to groom future public servants and build a corps of capable civilian leaders. Modeled after the military service academies, this academy will provide a four-year, federally-subsidized college education for more than 5,000 students a year in exchange for a five year commitment to public service. The PSA Act will meet critical national needs as the baby-boomer generation approaches retirement. Already, studies show looming shortages in the Federal civil service, public education, law enforcement, the non-profit sector and other essential areas. Academy graduates will help to fill the void in public service our Nation will soon face by serving for five years in areas such as public education, public health, and law enforcement. Unfortunately our young people are priced out of public service careers all too often with the average college graduate owing more than $20,000 in student loans. A recent study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute found that more than two-thirds of the 2005 freshman class expressed a desire to serve others, the highest rate in a generation. By providing a service-oriented education at no cost to the student, the PSA Act will tap into the strong desire to serve that already exists among college students while erasing the burden of enormous college debt. The establishment of a United States Public Service Academy is an innovative way to strengthen and protect America by creating a corps of well-trained, highly-qualified civilian leaders. I am hopeful that my Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me today to move this legislation to the floor without delay.

Mrs. CLINTON

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, as part of the PATRIOT Act's reauthorization in 2006, Congress bestowed upon the Attorney General new authority to appoint interim U.S. attorneys indefinitely, without any independent oversight. The Department of Justice proceeded to abuse this provision to orchestrate a series of firings of U.S. attorneys. An ever-growing body of evidence reveals that the firings were little more than a political purge. To defend its conduct, the Department of Justice gave Congress misleading testimony about these politically motivated firings, tarnishing the professional reputations of these U.S. attorneys in the process. Sadly, this is only the latest in a long series of episodes that call into question the independence and the leadership of an Attorney General more concerned with advancing a partisan agenda than impartially enforcing the law. It is unacceptable that the Attorney General has allowed his loyalty to the President to politicize the Department of Justice and corrupt the administration of justice. Because his conduct is unbecoming an Attorney General, I have called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign his post. For these same reasons I support and am a cosponsor of Senator Feinstein's Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, which would reinstate the process for the appointment of interim U.S. attorneys that existed for 20 years prior to 2006. Senator Feinstein's legislation would authorize the Attorney General to make an interim appointment for 120 days. If a successor is not named and confirmed by the Senate at the end of the 120-day period, then the relevant district court must appoint a U.S. attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled. The legislation's provisions are also retroactive, meaning it would also terminate existing interim appointments 120 days from its enactment, or upon confirmation of a successor, whichever comes first. The legislation is an important measure that will make great strides toward restoring the historic independence of the U.S. attorneys. But even with the passage of this legislation, there is still a lot of explaining to be done by the Attorney General and the Bush administration. Numerous questions remain about who called for the U.S. attorney firings, what specific reasons were cited to justify the firings, and to what extent the White House participated in the decision to achieve political ends. The Attorney General and the President and their respective staffs need to be forthcoming with explanations and documents that answer these and other questions and end the current practice of providing misleading, inconsistent, and unclear responses. Some have attempted to defend the Attorney General's inexcusable behavior by positing arguments that divert attention away from what really occurred. First, much has been made of the fact that these fired U.S. attorneys served at the pleasure of the President and thus were subject to dismissal at any time. The administration's desire to have U.S. attorneys engage in politically motivated investigations in direct violation of their obligation to impartially enforce the law cannot serve as proper grounds for dismissal. Terminating these Federal prosecutors because they refused to serve as partisan henchmen cannot be the source of the President's displeasure. Further, the assertion that the Clinton administration engaged in similar misdeeds is also baseless. Holdover U.S. attorneys appointed by a previous administration are routinely replaced by the new incoming President. Even Stuart M. Gerson, Assistant Attorney General in the administration of President George H.W. Bush, observed, ``It is customary for a President to replace U.S. attorneys at the beginning of a term.'' This practice allows the new President to appoint new Federal prosecutors who share his or her priorities and strategy for fighting crime. You will find similar turnover when President Bush replaced President Clinton in 2001 and when President Reagan replaced President Carter in 1981. The firings we are seeing today are nothing like what happened in 1981, 1993, or 2001. The essential question here is why were these U.S. attorneys--President Bush's own appointees--fired in the middle of his second term. There is substantial evidence that the Bush administration fired them for political reasons: for pursuing corruption charges against Republicans too aggressively, for failing to prosecute Democrats aggressively enough, or for not pursuing what one U.S. attorney described as ``bogus'' election claims against Democrats and public interest groups in the months leading up to the 2006 elections. This incursion on the independence of U.S. attorneys is unacceptable conduct, and the Attorney General and administration must be honest with the American people about what happened. The Attorney General took an oath to uphold our Constitution and respect the rule of law. But time and time again, he has demonstrated that his loyalties lie with the President and his political agenda, not the American people or the evenhanded and impartial enforcement of our laws. In executing the White House's political directives by firing U.S. attorneys who would not carry out the administration's partisan witch hunts, the Attorney General undermined the objectives of the Department of Justice, putting politics ahead of the just enforcement of the law. The Department of Justice should not serve as a political arm of any party, and U.S. attorneys should not double as political operatives. The administration's insistence to the contrary and the Attorney General's complicity are a betrayal of the highest order to the fundamental mission of the Department of Justice to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. Attorney General Gonzales acknowledges that ``mistakes'' were made in the dismissal of these U.S. attorneys and maintains that responsibility for these unjustified firings lies with him. I agree. Because he has betrayed his obligations and the trust of the American people, Attorney General Gonzales should resign his post as head of the Department of Justice.