Bob Casey

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Gary Lukasiewicz, an 18 year old senior at Riverside High School in Taylor, PA, who passed away Saturday, May 19, 2012 after a courageous battle against cancer. Born on November 15, 1993 to Chester and Cheryl Lukasiewicz, Gary excelled in everything he did. He was a varsity athlete in multiple sports, a member of the National Honor Society, and the President of his class. After being diagnosed with cancer, Gary bravely waged a two- year fight against the disease and inspired Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Nation. A Twitter hashtag ``Keep Fighting Gary'' was spread by tens of thousands of Twitter users and seen by countless more. The day before Gary passed, he was able to find the strength to attend his senior prom, where he was crowned ``Prom King.'' As Gary's family and friends mourn his loss, we offer our condolences and we pray that they find comfort in their love for Gary and memories of him. May we all remember Gary's grit and determination as we struggle to understand his loss. May God bless the Lukasiewicz family, Gary's friends, and the entire Riverside High School community and let them never forget how Gary and his strength affected their lives.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, it is the majority leader's intention to begin consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 400, S. 3187, the FDA user fee bill, and equally divide the time until 10:30 a.m., with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the second half. At 10:30 a.m., the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the Stein and Powell nominations, both nominees to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. At noon, there will be two votes on confirmation of the nominations.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 17; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and that the majority leader be recognized.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. CASEY

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise tonight to speak about the war in Afghanistan. I have spoken on the Senate floor many times over the last number of years about the war. I have done so because I believe the American people and our servicemembers in the field deserve a policy worthy of their efforts and their sacrifice and a thorough examination of the issues at hand. I have done so also because when it comes to matters of war, the Senate has an important responsibility to ask tough questions of any administration. I believe we are entering a critical phase in our engagement in Afghanistan which will have implications for our eventual drawdown of troops in the year 2014. Earlier this month the President spoke to us from Kabul on the new Strategic Partnership Agreement known by the acronym SPA. Of course, this is an agreement with Afghanistan. He described a transition plan which focuses on protecting and promoting shared Democratic values, advancing long-term security, reinforcing regional security and cooperation, social and economic development, and strengthening Afghan institutions and governance. I agree with the general approach laid out in the Strategic Partnership Agreement, but I have several outstanding questions and concerns regarding U.S. engagement in Afghanistan. I wish to describe some of these concerns and lay out specific steps the administration should take with respect to the war to ensure that U.S. security interests and the tangible security, political, and economic gains in Afghanistan are, in fact, protected. I have participated in more than 20 hearings on Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. I have personally chaired four hearings on aspects of our engagements in the region. I have visited Afghanistan and Pakistan three times, most recently in August 2011, with the Presiding Officer, Senator Bennet, along with Senator Blumenthal and Senator Whitehouse. When we were there, we met with, as I have done on other visits, U.S. military and civilian leaders, as well as senior government officials in both countries. Through this engagement, I have sought to examine U.S. goals and progress in this war within three broad areas: first, the formation of representative political institutions; second, the overall security environment; and third, the development of key sectors in Afghan society, including education, health, the economy, and the well-being of women and girls. In examining these factors, it is clear to me that a responsible drawdown of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan must be concurrent with not only progress on security and an increase in well-trained Afghan national security forces but with a strong commitment to a transparent political process in Afghanistan. We should work to ensure that there will not be a crumbling of institutions similar to that seen prior to Afghanistan's civil war in the 1990s. In fact, without representative political institutions, I am concerned that the training of the Afghan national security forces could, in fact, be counterproductive and that we would end up developing a force that answers to a dysfunctional political system. Politics and governing institutions matter a great deal, and there are tangible steps the United States can take to support Afghanistan's political development in the short term. Let me be clear. We should be under no illusions that Afghanistan's political system will, nor necessarily should, reflect our Western model developed over centuries. But there are universal principles that should apply in Afghanistan, including the inclusion of all key political groups and transparency in elections and governance. In fact, the adoption of these universal principles is perhaps the only antidote to continued decades of conflict. First, the 2014 transition to Afghan leadership will require the active participation of the constellation of ethnic groups in Afghanistan. They will need to have some confidence in the political process or Afghanistan could very easily again descend into civil conflict, similar to that seen in the aftermath of the Soviet withdrawal in the 1990s. The opposition represented in what was formerly known as the Northern Alliance will likely be among the most skeptical. The United States can play an important role in bringing the interested parties together for dialog to identify areas of concern and a path forward looking toward 2014 and beyond. Second, Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in 2014. According to the Constitution, President Hamid Karzai is limited to two terms and should step down. President Karzai has seen his country through a very difficult and historic time. Afghanistan's elections-- the foundational act in a democratic system--have historically not met international standards and have established the basis for an unresponsive government, unresponsive government officials, and, unfortunately, widespread corruption. A peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan is not only good for the country and good for its democratic institution, it is vital to our own transition out of Afghanistan. Third, Afghanistan's Independent Electoral Commission needs to become a truly independent body. Currently, the President selects the commissioners, creating the suspicion that the body is biased. In accordance with international standards, the commissioners should be selected by a body that reflects the broad consensus of the Afghan people, not just the President. A statutory check on executive authority is needed to ensure the impartiality of the body in the years to come and enhance public confidence in the electoral system overall. Fourth, President Karzai has issued a Presidential decree which allows him to nominate the 5 national and 133 provincial commissioners of the Electoral Complaints Commission. This body also needs to be independent from the executive branch to remove any perception of bias. During the last election, there was a lack of transparency in the handling of these electoral complaints. Afghan authorities need to take steps now to ensure that the national and provincial commissioners are fair and transparent in their work. As it stands now, the political opposition does not trust the Electoral Complaints Commission to equitably deal with inevitable disputes that emerge from the process. Throughout this process, the United States should emphasize the importance of international standards in the conduct of elections and stand ready to support a process that is based on those universally accepted principles. We know at the Bonn conference in 2011 Afghanistan pledged--pledged--to strengthen and improve its electoral process. We must hold them to that commitment. The United States should condition its aid in support of the administration of the 2014 election based on these reforms. Let's send a very clear message: We will not be a party to funding the administration of an election similar to those conducted in the years 2009 and 2010. The administration must begin to act now. Electoral reforms take time to adopt and implement. The clock is ticking. While political challenges abound in Afghanistan, the Parliament has emerged as an important check on the executive and over the past several years has begun to exercise more of a voice in governance. We have seen several examples in recent years where the Parliament has weighed in on important issues. Moreover, 27 percent of the Afghan Parliamentarians are women--a stunning statistic compared to where we were 10 years ago. The Parliament's upward trajectory is a promising pillar of the democratization process, but more can be done. The United States can play an important role in exposing Afghan Parliamentarians to legislative experiences from other and different developing democracies and the opportunity to meet their counterparts in other Parliaments. During our trip to Afghanistan last August, I and Senators Whitehouse, Bennet, and Blumenthal had the fortunate opportunity to travel to five of the ISAF regional commands. We saw firsthand the progress made by our airmen, soldiers, marines, and sailors on the ground. Due to their efforts, the enemy has lost territory and influence. According to the Pentagon, the number of attacks by militants dropped in 2011 for the first time in 5 years. There has been undeniable progress in pushing back the Taliban, but these military gains are delicate and will be short-lived without an Afghan force that can assume more responsibility for security. I discussed these issues with LTG William Caldwell, the former commander of the NATO effort to train the Afghan forces. Lieutenant General Caldwell has been ably replaced by LTG Daniel Bolger. We have seen significant progress in the training and deployment of the Afghan Special Forces Units which, according to the Pentagon, have made ``impressive strides towards becoming an independent and effective force.'' We have also seen growing independence of the Afghan regular units. As of the end of March, 13 ANA kandaks have been designated as able to operate independently with advisers. In September of 2011, there was only one kandak with that designation. We have gone from 1 unit to 13 in a rather short period of time, so we know there is progress. But despite this progress, however, challenges in training the Afghan National Security Forces, in fact, remain. First, the Afghan security forces still do not have an elite Pashtun officer corps and only 6.6 percent of the enlisted recruits are southern Pashtuns. This is a significant shortfall that must be addressed if the security forces are going to develop the cohesion necessary to ably represent the ethnic makeup of the country and address ongoing security challenges in the south. Second, NATO currently requires 2,774 trainers to conduct its training mission but faces a shortfall of 440 positions. While this capability has improved, the training shortfall remains stubbornly high and has an adverse impact on NATO's ability to adequately train the Afghans in a timely manner. Our NATO partners can and should do more to help address this deficit. Finally, I have concerns about the long-term pricetag associated with the Afghan National Security Forces. While investing in these forces will be a fraction--a small fraction--of the $100 billion to $120 billion a year currently spent in Afghanistan by our government, we must work to ensure that the force is right-sized to the security challenges in the country and that there are strict accountability measures in place to ensure that the Afghan National Security Forces abide by all U.S. standards in terms of human rights and the Geneva Conventions. While we have made progress on the battlefield, the Taliban and terrorist groups like the Haqqani network remain capable of spectacular attacks across the country and, as we know, in Kabul, the capital. Thirty-four percent of the attacks by militants took place in Regional Command East, an area where the Haqqani network is most active. I believe that the Afghan National Security Forces will be capable by 2014 of providing security in much of the country, but we need to maintain a capability to attack and disrupt terrorist groups in the country that seek to project force outside of Afghanistan's borders and do harm to U.S. interests. Central to the political effort is the ongoing effort to reconcile with the Taliban. I have a high degree of skepticism that this can work, at least in the short term. The Taliban has shown little interest in compromise, and recent events show that this group is willing to target civilians and to conduct devastating terror attacks against the Afghan people. Ultimately, there does need to be a political end to this conflict, as there is in all wars. But how we get there is important, and the administration must set clear guidelines. In the meantime, I support maintaining pressure on the Taliban until it accepts the Afghan Constitution and agrees to peacefully participate in the political process. During our visit to Afghanistan last August, we also had the honor to meet with several of Pennsylvania's servicemembers. Since 2001, Pennsylvania has lost 80--80--servicemembers, and 589 have been wounded. These courageous individuals gave what President Lincoln called the ``last full measure of devotion'' to their country. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and we owe a debt of gratitude, as well, to their families and to veterans returning from the field. I, like a lot of our colleagues, have visited with our wounded warriors and their families at Bethesda, Walter Reed, and other places, and we keep them in our thoughts and prayers every day. The courage and commitment of these young Americans is hard to describe in a speech and it is hard to illustrate, but it does demonstrate the best of who we are as a country, and we see that every day. We know in the area of development as well, there are enormous challenges across a lot of sectors in Afghanistan that will likely extend for years. Prior to the civil war, Afghanistan was one of the poorest countries in the world. After decades of war, Afghanistan's minimal infrastructure was destroyed. The challenges today to significant progress are indeed substantial. Government corruption obstructs any serious effort at rule of law and any basic respect for contracts, which is a fundamental element of business growth. The precarious security environment also serves to deter any international investment. Poppy growth, fueled by the heroin trade, remains rampant. Women continue to be subjected to unspeakable violence and discrimination across the country. Amid these daunting challenges, the United States should prioritize a few key areas for developmental progress, so as to mitigate the challenges leading to 2014. The foundational basis for development in any society is the educational system. We know that in 2002 only 900,000 students were enrolled in school. Just 9 years later, 2011, more than 8 million children were enrolled in school, 35 percent of whom were girls. This will have a long-term, long-lasting effect on Afghan society, and the United States should be proud of this element of our engagement and should seek to protect those gains. I and other Senators, when we saw this, were pleased to see that the partnership agreement prioritized the access to, and the enhanced quality of, education. We have also seen significant strides in the field of health care. In 2002, only 9 percent of Afghans had access to basic health services. Today that number has grown to 64 percent of the population. More children live to see their fifth birthday than ever before in Afghanistan. Health care too was emphasized in the agreement that the President talked about recently, and it focused on basic health services and specialized care for women and children. These are real achievements, but they are very fragile. Also fragile are the overall gains made for women and girls in Afghanistan. I was privileged, as I know Senator Bennet, Senator Whitehouse, and Senator Blumenthal were privileged, to meet with a group of Afghan women leaders during our August 2011 trip. We were all tremendously inspired by their determination to continue to fight for women's rights in the face of blatant oppression and violence. In 2010, I cochaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the plight of women in Afghanistan. We must preserve the progress that women and girls have achieved in the past 10 years. Empowered women have an immensely positive impact on their communities, investing resources in education, health care, and other basic needs. They also dissuade young men from turning to militancy. In 2011, Secretary Clinton told a group of Afghan women--and I am quoting--``We will not abandon you, we will stand with you always.'' We as a nation have an obligation to stand by that commitment to the women and girls of Afghanistan. It is not only the right thing to do, it is in our national security interest to do this as well. I agreed, like many did, with the findings of a 2011 report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which made three main recommendations with respect to U.S. assistance to Afghanistan. First, it called for a multiyear civil assistance strategy for the country. Second, the report called for a ``Reevaluation of the performance of stabilization programs in conflict zones.'' Third, it called for a focus on sustainability. The report argued that all U.S. assistance projects should meet three basic criteria: They should be ``necessary, achievable, and sustainable.'' This simple concept is critically important. A great deal of funding and resources has been expended in Afghanistan, much of it on important and necessary programs. But with the withdrawal of international troops and a commensurate decrease of funds going into the country, there is a distinct possibility that Afghanistan could experience an economic depression which could have dramatic security implications. There is time now to address this problem by conducting a careful review of all U.S. assistance to the country. Those programs that are not sustainable should be phased out. While this may have painful short-term consequences, it will be better for the long-term viability of the Afghan economy. The United States and the international community should consistently reemphasize that while there will be a transition in 2014, this does not mean the wholesale withdrawal and disengagement from Afghanistan. The Strategic Partnership Agreement has helped send this message. The United States will still have significant security concerns in the country and should maintain a strong counterterrorism capability. Work will still remain in providing support and assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces. The international community can also continue to play a key role in helping Afghan society to develop. All of this falls squarely within our national security interests, and all parties in Afghanistan and in the region should hear this message. Finally, I will end with a few comments about Pakistan. I continue to believe that Pakistan is too important to U.S. interests for us to sever ties or significantly diminish the relationship. We know we have had trouble in our relationship, but we know a couple of other things as well. Pakistan has lots of nuclear weapons. It is a hotbed of Islamic extremism. It also provides the best logistics routes for our supplies headed into and out of Afghanistan, and Pakistan will play an essential role in ensuring the transition to a peaceful Afghanistan. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges and at times divergent strategic interests, we must continue to find a way forward and work together where our interests do overlap. Pakistan has made significant sacrifices in countering extremism within its borders, mostly against forces that represent a direct threat to the state itself. It has yet to go after the Haqqani network in a serious way. It continues to provide a haven for the Quetta Shura Taliban, which is the headquarters of those seeking to destabilize the Afghan State. Pakistan has not taken adequate measures to confront the proliferation and trade in illicit bombmaking materials which have killed thousands of its own citizens and hundreds and hundreds of our U.S. troops across the border in Afghanistan. Taking all of this into account, there is a significant element of Pakistani society that we cannot consider allies. This is why I strongly support the conditionality built into U.S. assistance to Pakistan, which requires that the Pakistani authorities make significant progress in countering terrorism and attacking IED networks. If they do not take steps to address these issues, this assistance will be significantly cut, and it should be. For more than 2 years I have worked to address this critical problem of improvised explosive devices, which are responsible for the majority of deaths and injuries among our servicemembers in Afghanistan. The primary explosive ingredient in IEDs used in southern Afghanistan is calcium ammonium nitrate, CAN. It is also used as a fertilizer and is produced in factories in Pakistan. I have been adamant that the Pakistani Government must significantly increase its commitment to regulating the bomb components and preventing them from being smuggled across the border into Afghanistan. In June 2010 I introduced S. Res. 570, which called for an increased effort by Pakistan to effectively monitor and regulate the manufacture, sale, transport, and use of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in order to prevent its entrance into Afghanistan. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously on June 28, 2010. During our recent visit to Pakistan, I discussed this issue with several senior government officials, as did Senator Bennet, Senator Whitehouse, and Senator Blumenthal. The Pakistani leaders expressed an interest in countering the proliferation of bomb components and presented to us an action plan for interdicting these materials. However, the proof of their commitment has yet to be seen through the implementation of this plan. In December of 2011, I introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require the Secretary of Defense to certify that Pakistan is demonstrating a continuing commitment to and making significant efforts toward the implementation of a strategy to counter IEDs. This provision, unfortunately, was removed during the conference committee. The final version of the bill requires the Secretary of Defense to produce a report on Pakistan's efforts to counter IEDs. I continue to believe combating the threat posed by IEDs is one area where our interests do in fact overlap with Pakistan. At this time of frayed relations, IEDs continue to kill Pakistanis, Afghans, and, of course, Americans on the battlefield. By working together against this common threat, we can begin to rebuild confidence in the relationship and make progress toward more vexing strategic issues that affect our countries. In September of 2010, I gave a speech on Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Former Secretary of War Elihu Root believed that the Army War College was established in 1903, ``not to promote war, but to preserve peace by intelligent and adequate preparation to repel aggression.'' That is what Secretary Root said all those years ago. As we look forward to 2014 and a long-term relationship with the people of Afghanistan, all of our support for representative political institutions, improving the security environment, and Afghan social and economic development are intelligent and adequate preparation to repel aggression. The next year and a half will be very consequential. If the United States works to strengthen representative institutions, bolsters the Afghan security forces, and maintains sustainable development assistance, all will pay dividends for our peace and security for years to come. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 2947 be discharged from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and be referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 463, S. Res. 464, and S. Res. 465.

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the resolutions be printed in the Record at the appropriate place as if read.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 646 and 647; that there be 90 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form to run concurrently on both nominations en bloc; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; that the nominations be subject to a 60-vote threshold; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session; further, that the cloture votes with respect to these nominations be vitiated.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to help recognize the 150th birthday of the United States Department of Agriculture--USDA. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry as well as the Committee on Foreign Relations, I understand the importance of agriculture to feeding our Nation and feeding the world. One hundred and fifty years ago today President Abraham Lincoln signed the legislation creating the Department of Agriculture. This was followed in short order by the Homestead Act and then the Morrill Act establishing our great land grant college system, including The Pennsylvania State University. I suspect that few Americans at the time would have imagined that President Lincoln's leadership and vision in the area of agriculture would have such a profound impact on our country and the world. Just recently, Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the Agency for International Development said that the single-most effective way to eliminate world poverty was to increase agriculture yields. That is an extraordinary statement. It means that Penn State and the other agriculture research universities have a critical role to play in eliminating hunger, assisting in global food security and political stability. The world's population just passed seven billion people and is on the way to nine billion people by 2050. This means we must double world food production by 2050 in order to meet the challenge of feeding this increased population. As noted recently by Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation: The importance of science and innovation . . . to agriculture will be significant as we face several challenges in the years ahead. . . . Further, we must accomplish this hefty goal while realizing that our Earth is fragile. To take care of our environment, we must embrace agriculture research, science, innovation and biotechnology. When it comes to medical care, communication and transportation we accept the importance of innovation. We need to do the same when it comes to the production of food. Last year, net farm income and farm exports set a record and played a key role in helping to grow the U.S. economy. In order to ensure the food security of our Nation, I believe strongly that Pennsylvania farmers will continue to be productive, competitive and successful and supply food to communities in Pennsylvania, throughout the country and the world. Pennsylvania's proud agriculture tradition helped to build the Nation and agriculture continues to drive our economy. We live in a nation that is as diverse in agricultural production as it is in the people who consume the products that farmers grow. As we reflect upon agriculture's past, and look toward agriculture's future, I hope we can continue to ensure that we have a safe, stable, secure supply of food. Agriculture is not just a nostalgic reflection of the past; it is critical to the U.S. economy and all Americans as we move forward. Therefore, I am pleased to extend birthday wishes to USDA, the land grant colleges and universities, and all those in the food value chain.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, this is about the standard of service that we have come to expect from the Postal Service for many generations. I realize a lot of work has gone into this consensus that has developed. We know we need to make changes to the Postal Service. But one thing we should not change or downgrade or compromise or degrade in any way is the standard of service. I think what we should do is have a 4-year moratorium on the implementation that would lead to changes because there will be a lot of changes made in the next couple of years upon enactment. What we should not do, though, is move too quickly to change the standard of service that people have had a right to rely upon. I would ask for a ``yes'' vote on this amendment. I should note for the record the cosponsors: Senators Brown of Ohio, Senator Sanders, Senator Baucus, Senator Leahy, Senator McCaskill, Senator Shaheen, Senator Merkley, and Senator Menendez. I would ask for a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise to speak on amendment No. 2042. This is really an amendment that maintains standards that we have had a right to expect and have expected for many generations; that is, the standard of service that the Postal Service has come to be known for. I call up amendment No. 2042.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today, I would like to acknowledge the great work of volunteers in Yardley, PA, especially the students at Pennsbury High School who have been selected as the 2012 Make a Difference Day winners. Make a Difference Day is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors, and this annual day of service mobilizes more than 3 million volunteers to effect change in their communities. This group of outstanding volunteers from Yardley, PA is led by Neha Gupta. Neha founded Empower Orphans, a non-profit organization that has leveraged $325,000 in donations and grants to clothe and feed Indian children, create a sewing center and set up libraries at four schools. Near to her home in Bucks County, PA, Neha, now 15, identified children in need. In the months leading up to Make a Difference Day, Neha and a group of volunteers gathered 3,000 books and bought colorful furnishings for the neighboring Feltonville Intermediate School library. On Make a Difference Day, the team cleaned up, decorated and stocked the shelves of the library. Since October's project, Neha has also started an Empower Orphans club at her high school and plans to hold a Make a Difference Day Project every year. I wish to congratulate Neha and her team and thank them for their ser-vice.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski, who is now the longest serving woman in the history of the Congress and congratulate her on reaching this important milestone. Senator Mikulski is an inspiration to us all. She had broken down not only multiple gender barriers, but legislative, economic and societal barriers as well. Throughout her career, Senator Mikulski has been a champion for those who are often forgotten. Hubert Humphrey once said the moral test of government is how it treats those in the dawn of life, the twilight of life and the shadows of life. Senator Mikulski took this message to heart. Her life has been a life of service. She spent her career as a tireless advocate, first as a social worker in Baltimore on the city council and then in the House of Representatives where she served 10 years before coming to the Senate. For the past 25 years she has continued this advocacy and has been a strong voice on the Senate floor, as well as on the HELP Committee. I have been fortunate to serve on the HELP Committee with Senator Mikulski since 2009. One of the things Senator Mikulski is best known for is providing good constituent services. This is something all Senate offices do and it often gets overlooked by the national and international issues of the day. But this speaks to one of the most important duties of a Senator. When your constituent's mother dies in a country halfway around the world and you suddenly need a passport or a visa, when a veteran is not getting the benefits he is entitled to or when an older citizen cannot afford to heat their home, they can turn to their Senator's local office for help. Senator Mikulski makes sure she and she her staff provide help to that family or veteran or older citizen. Barbara Mikulski knows, and her work demonstrates, that the job of a Senator is not only about numbers and budgets, it is about helping people, especially the vulnerable and those without a voice or a lobbyist. Again, I congratulate Barbara on her accomplishment and I look forward to working with her and continuing to fight for our children, our workers and our families with her in the years ahead.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate George Moses of Pittsburgh, PA, on his selection by the National Low Income Housing Coalition for the Cushing Niles Dolbeare Lifetime Service Award. Mr. Moses has dedicated his life to helping others and this award serves as recognition of a lifetime of service to those in need. Mr. Moses' life has been one of service, perseverance, and leadership. He served his country as a soldier in the United States Army from 1963 until his honorable discharge in 1965. He then returned to work in Pittsburgh, including as a laborer in the city's steel mills. In 1990, his life underwent a significant change. Following a major surgery, he was unable to climb stairs and as a result moved into an apartment in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. Mr. Moses took a leadership role, working to help his fellow residents, and together with them founding an organization called the Federal American Coalition of Tenants, which focused on educating residents to fight for fair and equal housing practices. Mr. Moses has continued his work on behalf of low-income residents to this day. His leadership and advocacy were instrumental in assisting hundreds of people who lived in Pittsburgh's Northside avoid eviction. When a HUD-Assisted rental housing development tried to evict many of its residents, Mr. Moses stepped in and helped to organize the Northside Coalition for Fair Housing. The Northside Coalition's actions were successful in helping keep many of the residents in their homes, and to this day, the Northside Coalition helps to manage the properties and provide social services to the residents. For the past 12 years, Mr. Moses has been a strong advocate for affordable housing at the national level, serving on the Board of Directors of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. For the last 6 years he has served as Chairman of that board. The Lifetime Service Award being given to him by the Coalition is a fitting tribute to the leadership and service he has devoted to it. I thank him for his service to Pennsylvania and the Nation, and offer him my warmest congratulations on this well-deserved award.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise to state my strong support for this important legislation. In particular, I am pleased that the legislation corrects an arbitrary requirement by the Federal Railroad Administration regarding rolling stock for high-speed rail. As a strong supporter of American manufacturing and high speed and intercity passenger rail service, I have closely followed the grant awards that FRA has and continues to make in this regard. Seven months ago, the FRA awarded nearly $730 million to six States to acquire new passenger diesel locomotives and bilevel passenger cars. The new rolling stock will be used on State-supported regional corridors that Amtrak operates in the Midwest, California, and Pacific Northwest. Under FRA's instructions, the States were to consider locomotives with 125 mph capability--even though none of the States have the infrastructure now or in the near term to operate service on these corridors at speed beyond 110 mph. While a 15-mph difference in train speeds may not seem like much, the cost difference between 125 mph and 110 mph could be very significant. First, new advanced 110 mph locomotives will burn less fuel and have lower operating expenses. Second, Federal safety standards would require substantially more funding for States to upgrade the infrastructure needed to accommodate 125 mph trains. With my amendment to S. 1813, States will now be able to fully and fairly evaluate capital and operating costs of different U.S. manufactured locomotives that are capable of meeting the statutory definition of high-speed rail, e.g., operating at 110 mph. A full and open process that fairly considers all locomotives that can operate at 110 mph will increase competition and ensure we maximize value for taxpayers. Mr. President, we need to bring successful high-speed rail service to America soon, with trains built with American technology by American workers. I want to thank the leadership of the Commerce Committee, particularly Chairman Rockefeller for his support in working with me and with my staff on this important issue.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, on January 17, 2012, I visited to the 11th Street Family Health Services Center of Drexel University. The Center is located in north Philadelphia, PA, and provides outpatient health care services to one of the most underserved communities in the city. As we work to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care, the 11th Street Family Health Services Center serves as a model that is both innovative and effective, and I wish to highlight its efforts today. The Center was born out of a partnership between the College of Nursing at MCP/Hahnemann University, now Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority to address the community's health concerns. It began as a Center focused on health promotion and disease prevention, but thanks to the tireless work of community leaders and Dr. Patty Gerrity, it quickly evolved into a comprehensive, nurse-managed, federally qualified health center. In 1998, the center received a Health Resources and Services Administration grant for over $3 million, which it used to build a state-of-the-art health center that was opened in 2002. That facility and the nurses that manage it now provide primary care, behavioral health, dental health and health and wellness programs to more than 2,500 adult patients annually. In fact, in 2011, the Center provided 30,000 patient visits to a section of Philadelphia that has the highest percentage of unemployed adults, the highest percentage of families living in poverty and the highest rate of diabetes in Philadelphia. Not only does the Center serve as a creative model to address chronic health issues in underserved communities, it also serves as a great educational tool. As operated by the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, the Center encourages employment in the health care field and provides nursing students with the opportunity to learn, first-hand, the skills needed to work in today's health care industry. As we move forward with the ongoing fight to ensure that quality and affordable care is accessible to all Americans, I strongly recommend that we learn from and seek to emulate innovative models like the 11th Street Family Health Services Center. It effectively serves our most vulnerable citizens, improves their general health and in doing so reduces the burden on our larger hospitals while decreasing medical costs in the long-term.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 175th anniversary of Cheyney University. Founded on February 25, 1837, as the Institute for Colored Youth, Cheyney University is the oldest of the Nation's historically black colleges and universities. Born in an era that legally and commonly defined African Americans as property, the Institute for Colored Youth sought to provide a pathway for educational enrichment to a community wherein few opportunities existed. Established through the donation of Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who settled in Philadelphia in 1764, the Institute for Colored Youth sought to prepare African Americans to educate their communities as teachers. Recognizing that African Americans lacked both means and access to higher education, the Institute for Colored Youth provided classes in classical education to young students at no cost in the first years of its creation. Over time, the vision of the Institute for Colored Youth grew into what we now know as Cheyney University. Today, Cheyney University offers a diverse array of academic programming, including bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in more than 30 fields, master of science and master of education, master of arts in teaching, and master of public administration. The ongoing evolution of Cheyney University is evidenced in continuous efforts to identify new methods and opportunities to prepare their students to succeed. As we celebrate African-American achievement and extraordinary accomplishments this month, we must also pay tribute to the institutions that are the foundations of these successes. Cheyney University's legacy of academic achievement spans throughout the Civil War, Reconstruction, the era of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights movement and continues today. Cheyney University, having grown from the darker chapters of American history, has served as a true instrument of change in the quest for equal access to opportunities. It is both an honor and a privilege to commemorate Cheyney University and its tremendous impact throughout Pennsylvania and across the Country.

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I wish to recognize St. Paul Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Scranton, PA, as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. Saint Paul's church and school have been a place of worship and education for my family for generations. St. Paul's Parish, of the Green Ridge Section of Scranton, was created by Bishop Reverend William O'Hara in 1887 as the sprawl from the center city of Scranton commenced with growth in the anthracite coal industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The first mass, on March 1, 1887, was attended by 300 people. A more permanent church, which included classroom space and an auditorium, was built just 3 years later in 1890. In 1892, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary began teaching at the school and continue to do so today. A convent was built for the sisters in 1898. After 38 years, the building that housed the church and school became insufficient, and in 1928, St. Paul School was built and is still in operation. As Green Ridge's population continued to grow, the parish built St. Clare School in 1952, St. Clare Church in 1955, and St. Clare Convent in 1958. Finally, St. Paul's current church was built in 1952 and was renovated in 1999 2000. Under the current leadership of Monsignor William Feldcamp, St. Paul's Parish remains vibrant with over 4,500 members. I wish the entire St. Paul community my best as Bishop Joseph C. Bambera celebrates the 125th anniversary mass on Sunday, March 4, 2012.

Mr. CASEY

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

Mr. CASEY

Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to honor William H. Gray, III. As I have every year since my election to the Senate, starting back in January 2007, I have come to the floor at this time of the year in commemoration of Black History Month. This year we are privileged to honor a man whose outstanding accomplishments are of vital importance to African Americans as well as to all of America. For his entire life Bill Gray has been a minister and a shepherd for his congregation, his constituents, historically Black colleges and universities, and to all Americans in need of a stronger voice. I have known Bill Gray for a quarter of a century, and I know his life's work is a testament to a single principle, one that has infused all of his work at the Bright Hill Baptist Church in Philadelphia, as a Member and leader in Congress, and with the United Negro College Fund. Bill believes in the principle of a ``whole ministry,'' that the church must tend to all the needs of its entire congregation. Bill grew up learning that the ministry was not just something one did on Sunday morning but, rather, the action one took in the streets on issues ranging from housing to economic justice to excellence in education. Bill has called his position as pastor of the Bright Hope Baptist Church the most important job he has ever had, one that cultivated the skills and priorities that have shaped his life's work. Today, I am proud to share some of the achievements that have resulted from Bill Gray's dedication to a ``whole ministry.'' Bill grew up in a family of educators and ministers who taught him the value of both professions to empower others. He was born in the State of Louisiana to parents who were both educators. His father was president of two historically Black colleges: Florida Normal and Industrial College and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical School. His mother was both a high school teacher and served as dean of Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. When Bill was 8 years old, his grandfather passed away and the family moved from Louisiana back to Philadelphia, PA. There in Philadelphia, Bill's father assumed his own father's position as pastor of the Bright Hope Baptist Church in north Philadelphia, and Bill cemented his roots in that community. He has spoken of the powerful impact of those years, moving from a region where Jim Crow laws reigned to a large northern city where his family had strong ties to other clergy and community leaders. Because of de facto segregation in housing at the time, north Philadelphia was a neighborhood with African Americans from all walks of life, including many role models for the young Bill Gray. Hobson Reynolds across the street was the leader of the Elks. Cecil B. Moore, a future member of the city council and head of the NAACP of Philadelphia, lived two doors down from Bill's family at the time. Other neighbors included the renowned architect Frederick Messiah and Sadie Alexander, the first woman of any race to obtain a Ph.D. in economics in the United States of America. Of course, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a frequent visitor to Bill Gray's home at that time, as were Dr. King's parents who were close family friends of Bill Gray's family. Both the elder and younger Kings as well as other ministers influenced Bill's understanding of the ``whole ministry'' and encouraged his education and career as a minister. Bill graduated from Simon Gratz High School and went on to Franklin and Marshall College. When Bill considered leaving Franklin and Marshall before graduation to join civil rights protests in the South, Dr. King encouraged him to stay in school and to hone the skills necessary to continue the struggle later in life. This idea of education as a key to African-American advancement would guide Bill for the rest of his life. Bill graduated from Franklin and Marshall, and in 1966 he obtained a master's degree in divinity at Drew Theological Seminary and in 1970 a master's degree in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. While at Drew, Bill's talents were recognized by the prestigious Union Baptist Church in Montclair, NJ, and he was later chosen to be a pastor there as well. The King family presided over the installation ceremony. In his first parish, Bill Gray worked to serve the ``whole community,'' advocating aggressively for the needs of his congregation and the community's most vulnerable members. As the city of Montclair undertook urban renewal, he helped to form a development corporation to ensure that relocation resulted in safe, decent housing for his parishioners and their neighbors. This issue of housing hit Bill Gray personally when he tried to rent an apartment while studying at Princeton and was told the unit was unavailable. He sensed immediately that it was because of his race, and he found a friend who was White who volunteered to go look at the apartment, at which point the landlord said it was open. Bill filed a lawsuit and for the first time sought damages for the psychological impact of discrimination. While the monetary award was small, his victory in the suit set a precedent that those who discriminated based on race could be held liable for monetary damages. In 1971 Bill married Andrea Dash, with whom he has raised three sons, William IV, Justin, and Andrew. In 1972 Bill's father died unexpectedly and tragically, and the congregation of Bright Hope Baptist Church called on Bill to return home as the new pastor. Bill was reluctant to go back as the preacher's son, but two church elections finally convinced him to return. He became the third generation of his family to serve as pastor of Bright Hope. Under his leadership, the congregation quickly grew to over 4,000 souls. Bill also taught as a professor at Jersey City State College from 1968 to 1969, St. Peter's College in Jersey City from 1970 to 1974, Montclair State College from 1970 to 1972, and Rutgers University in 1971. He also continued his important advocacy on fair access to housing, and he cofounded the Philadelphia mortgage plan to help low- income individuals obtain homes. This dedication to helping his community and concern about their welfare led him back to the political world. In 1976 Bill ran an underdog campaign to challenge Congressman Robert N.C. Nix, a long-time congressional incumbent. Despite a close defeat in 1976, Bill launched another campaign in 1978 and successfully earned nomination and election to Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives provided another pulpit from which Bill could pursue his ``whole ministry,'' and he did not squander the opportunity. He said: If you can pastor a black Baptist Church, maneuvering in Congress is easy. It's nothing compared to the choir, the usher board, the deacon board. You run a volunteer organization and you run it on persuasion. Despite his lack of previous formal political experience, after winning the 1978 primary election Bill started working to persuade other Members of Congress from his party to support him in committee elections. Through dogged determination, thoughtful strategy, and a clear explanation of his goals, Bill earned himself the freshman seat on the policy and steering committee which sets committee assignments for the party and influences policy. This established him as a rising star and a friend to many other incoming Members of Congress whom he helped land desirable committee spots. Bill obtained seats on the following committees: the District of Columbia Committee, the Budget Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and later a seat on the Appropriations Committee, the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, and the House Administration Committee. Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus elected Bill Gray as its secretary, and in his second term he served as the vice chairman of the caucus. In Congress, he acquired a reputation as a thoughtful, honest, and effective leader in a diverse party, often building surprising alliances as he maintained his commitment to budgets that provided for the neediest Americans. Bill rose quickly through the ranks of leadership during his 12 years in Congress. In 1985 he assumed the chairmanship of the Budget Committee just 6 years after the time he was elected. Just a few years later, in 1988, he was elected to chair his party's House caucus, and then in 1999 he became the House majority whip, the third ranking leadership in the House of Representatives. While serving in Congress, Bill remained an active minister, tightly connected with his district in Philadelphia through his actions on the issues for which he fought. I just happened to be a constituent of Bill's in 1982 and 1983 when I was serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in north Philadelphia, and I know at that time he returned to Bright Hope Baptist Church twice a month to preach, and in Congress he supported the programs upon which his constituents and his congregation relied. In a time of concern about fiscal discipline, Bill believed that compassionate spending was also critical and said: A balanced budget is good for the country, poor and the affluent alike. I seek a budget that doesn't sacrifice programs for the poor and minorities, one that is fair and equitable. He produced budgets in line with his priorities, challenging opponents to produce spending cuts that did not hit the most vulnerable. On the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bill championed aid for Africa and sponsored a bill to provide aid to African villages as well as appropriations to ensure minority-owned business participation in African aid programs. Bill took a strong and early stand against the Ethiopian Government and its role in making the famine worse. He was also a prominent critic of the South African apartheid regime. In 1991 Bill Gray made a bold transition to minister in a new way on a topic of paramount importance to him, his family, and others. Of course, that topic was higher education. He said at the time, and I am quoting: Woodrow Wilson used to say, ``My constituency is the next generation,'' and, you know, that's why I left Congress, because my constituency, really, is the next generation. He accepted the position as president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, the so-called UNCF, a philanthropic organization that helps more than 60,000 minority students each year to obtain a higher education. The United Negro College Fund not only manages 400 scholarship and internship programs which benefit 10,000 students but also provides operating funds for 38 historically Black colleges and universities. Tuition at these colleges averages 30 percent less than tuition at similar universities. Bill Gray has said he wanted to support historically Black colleges and universities during a period when Black students were choosing to attend a wider range of colleges. During Bill's 12 years as president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, his success in supporting these institutions was unprecedented--and that is an understatement. Bill sought innovative ways to attract new investment and increase existing funding. By the time he left the United Negro College Fund 12 years later, Bill and his team had raised more than $1.54 billion. To put this in context, UNCF had raised a total of $3.3 billion in its 67- year history. He found new ways to solicit donations, increase the amount of in- kind contributions, and solicited from previously untapped foundations and individuals. In 1999, Bill Gray secured a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to advance minority students' access to higher education in the science, math, engineering, and education fields. This grant created the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program and marked the largest philanthropic donation in the history of higher education in the United States of America. Bill's success at the United Negro College Fund put higher education within reach and ensured brighter futures for thousands of students across America. We know, and those who know him know, that Bill Gray has never rested and he is never satisfied with one job at a time. While leading the United Negro College Fund, he was asked by President Clinton in 1994 to lead the efforts to restore democracy in Haiti. His work there earned him the Medal of Honor from the President of Haiti. After leaving the Fund in the year 2004, Bill started Gray Global Strategies, Inc., and has served as director on multiple corporate boards including Dell, JPMorgan Chase, and Pfizer. He has also served as vice chairman for the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care and has served on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. He is currently the chairman of Gray Global Strategies, a worldwide business consulting and government affairs strategies firm. Bill Gray has said that he has ``always been taught by my folk, parents, grandparents, that service is a sort of the rent you pay for the space you occupy. And so, what I've tried to do is direct my life towards service based on faith and commitment and social justice.'' Well said by a great leader, Bill Gray. In the Senate today we express our gratitude for the excellent work of Rev. Bill Gray, Congressman Bill Gray, and you could add a few other titles as well. We express that gratitude for the excellent work of his ``whole ministry,'' a commitment that has touched literally millions of men, women, and children across the world. His vision and achievements have reached far beyond the walls of his church and the Capitol where we stand today. We honor him on behalf of the people of the Bright Hope Baptist Church, the U.S. Congress, historically Black colleges and universities, and many more people around the world. We commend Bill Gray today. I congratulate him. We look forward to seeing him with us today. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CASEY

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