Mike DeWine

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, this afternoon I come to the Senate floor to pay tribute to Marine LCpl Christopher Lyons from Mansfield, OH. On July 28, 2005, Lance Corporal Lyons was killed when his unit encountered hostile fire in Iraq. He was only 24 years old. Lance Corporal Lyons is survived by his wife Bethany and their daughter Ella; his mother Phyllis Lyons; his father and step-mother, Paul and Debbie Lyons; his grandmothers Irmil Humphreys and Joyce Lyons; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Christopher's family and friends remember him as an exceptional young man, someone who was always full of fun. With a quick wit and an infectious smile, his own love of life always brought happiness to those around him. Caring, selfless, loving, and extremely intelligent, Christopher had the gift of bringing out the best in everyone. He was simply the type of person who stood out in a crowd. Christopher graduated in 1999 from Shelby High School, where he was enrolled in the Tech Prep Program at Pioneer Career and Technology Center. His vice-principal, Tim Tarvin, describes him as a ``big- hearted kid, who always wanted to do the right thing for people.'' Kevin Adkins, Christopher's youth pastor, remembers the impact that Christopher had on everyone who knew him. He said this: As a teenager, [Christopher] was the type of man that I have always strived to be. I'm not so sure how much I actually taught him, but just by his life, alone, he has taught me volumes. As a pastor, I was both humbled and uplifted by Chris's excellence and tenacity toward life. His example will live on in the many lives (like ours) that he has touched. I hope to raise my own two sons to be of such caliber. After completing school, Christopher became a sales representative in the advertising department at the News Journal in Mansfield, Ohio. Advertising Director Scott Miller describes him as a polite young man who always took his obligations seriously. And Tom Brennan, publisher of the News Journal, said this about him: Christopher was an outstanding young man. He was the ultimate professional. Simply put, he was polite and positive. Any employer would have found a spot for him. The staff here will surely miss him. Christopher's widow Bethany recalls her husband's ability to make everyone laugh and the way that he would tickle her to get her to smile. They were married in September 2003. Christopher's youth pastor remembers meeting Bethany for the first time. He remarked, ``I will always remember that I thought you two were the cutest couple I have ever seen. It would take a very special person to catch Chris's eye.'' Christopher was inspired to join the military by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. His unit was called to active duty in 2005, and Christopher was sent to California for training. In March of that same year, he was deployed to Iraq. Months before his deployment, Christopher and Bethany became expectant parents. For Christopher, who was so devoted to his family, it was a momentous occasion, and he was so proud of a t-shirt he wore with the word ``Daddy'' on the front of it. Christopher's daughter Ella was born while her father was serving in Iraq. Although he was overseas, Christopher was able to see his new daughter on a web camera and in the many photos that his wife and his mother sent to him. And as she grows up, Ella will have numerous emails and photos from Christopher to treasure. Christopher regularly wrote to family and friends from Iraq. Two of these letters were sent to the News Journal in Mansfield and were published in their editorial pages. The letters told about Christopher's experience in Iraq, and what it was like to lose a sergeant in his unit during combat. ``When all is said and done,'' he wrote, ``the greatest act is when one of our own gives his or her life in service [to] our country and each other.'' This, of course, is the sacrifice that Christopher, himself, made for our Nation and for the ideals of freedom and democracy that we all hold dear. Christopher believed in his mission in Iraq. And, while paying tribute to eight of his Marine brothers who had fallen in combat, he wrote the following in one of his letters: The Corps values of honesty, courage and commitment have served as our cornerstone as we press on to put down the insurgency and win the war on terror. The people [in the] villages were grateful for our presence, often showing gratitude and appreciation by offering tea, blankets, or simply a smile and wave. Seeing this reaffirms that we have a purpose working toward a greater good in this country. Honoring our fallen brothers, we will continue the fight upholding the highest standards and working to break this dark oppressive force that lingers over the Iraqi citizens. These are very impressive words, Mr. President, from a young man who was just 24-years-old. Christopher's widow remembers that Christopher realized he could be killed while in serving in Iraq. But, she also remembers that Christopher, after being deployed, ``saw how much good the United States was doing for Iraq.'' Christopher's first person accounts of Lima Company's heroism spread to the families and friends of readers eager to hear from one of their own. In Greenwich, OH, Christopher's 9 year-old cousin Devin Back wrote of Christopher's heroism in a poem entitled, ``My Hero:'' My hero is my cousin, Christopher. He is nice. He is playful. He is in Iraq. My cousin is very smart. Christopher, my cousin, is not afraid of anything. He is cool. He is happy a lot. He writes to us from Iraq. He takes a lot of risks. Christopher's aunt Gwen Gwinner remembers that he never said anything bad about anyone. And his cousin Amy Blevins remembers that he was the definition of honorable, even before he joined the Marines. Throughout his entire life, Christopher was simply the kind of person who was respectful of and considerate to everyone. Christopher's mother describes her son as her best friend, as someone who was always ``kind, gentle, caring, compassionate, and giving.'' ``People have said to me how proud I must be of him,'' she said. ``I was proud of him before he entered the military because of his integrity and his ability to let things roll off his back.'' At an early age, Phyllis taught her son the importance of honesty, hard work, and respect. Christopher used an acronym to encompass his beliefs and values. The acronym was ``WHO:'' W- for willingness--to always be willing to do what you must and what is asked of you; H- for honesty and integrity--to be honest about what and why you do what you do; and O for obedience--always obey those who have rule over you, including God first and your mother. From boot camp and Iraq, Christopher would write his mother Phyllis to say that he would keep the faith and be alright--and that he knew ``WHO'' he was. Phyllis says it is Christopher she now turns to for comfort. ``He is now my strength and guidance,'' she said. I am honored that I had the opportunity to meet Christopher's family and friends during a memorial in his honor, all of whom remember him as a special and unique person. He will never be forgotten by those who knew him. Christopher was an avid Scrabble player, and there was a message for him spelled out in Scrabble letters at his funeral. It read simply: ``B-E-L-O-V-E-D'' beloved. The spirit of LCpl Christopher Lyons will never be forgotten. He had an insight into life and a sense of humor that was truly unique. He understood the importance of service, and was a man who was dedicated to family, community, and country. My wife Fran and I continue to keep the family of LCpl Christopher Lyons in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

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

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

Mr. DeWINE

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

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

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I also want to commend the service of Timothy Cosgrove who is ending his term as chairman of the board of directors for the Northeast-Midwest Institute. Tim has offered exceptional service to the institute and in the process helped to improve our region's economic development and environmental quality. The Northeast-Midwest Institute provides policy analysis for the bipartisan Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition and its Great Lakes Task Force. Tim is with the Cleveland-based law firm of Squire Sanders & Dempsey. I thank Tim Cosgrove for his leadership on the Northeast- Midwest Institute's board of directors. He has provided valued service and helped to increase that organization's reputation and effectiveness.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I want to commend the service of David Hansen, who is ending his term on the Northeast-Midwest Institute's board of directors. David served as the institute's vice chair, provided stable leadership, offered a wealth of ideas, and advanced the organization's credibility. He now directs the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, based in Columbus, OH. The Northeast-Midwest Institute provides policy research for the bipartisan Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition and its Great Lakes Task Force, which I cochair with Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. I thank David Hansen for his service on the board of the Northeast-Midwest Institute. People from Ohio and the entire Northeast-Midwest region appreciate his valued counsel.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President. I am extremely proud to come to the Senate today to recognize the passage of a very important piece of legislation for our Nation's seniors. Democrats and Republicans came together over the past 2 years to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and that's simply good news for seniors across the country. I thank Chairman Enzi and our Democrat colleagues Senators Mikulski and Kennedy for joining me in this effort. This bill is an excellent example of the positive things we can accomplish when members of both parties work side by side towards a common goal. Over the past 2 years, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Retirement Security and Aging, I have worked with my colleagues--particularly Senator Mikulski--to bring together experts in the aging community at hearings, roundtables, and listening sessions. We have listened to the problems facing our seniors and to ideas about what we can do to make their lives better. I rise today with my colleagues on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee as we join in passage of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, a bill which we all believe will make the lives of seniors better. Senator Mikulski and I worked together to draft and pass the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000. I am proud to have worked with her again to improve and update these vital programs for seniors. Her hard work and experience has been invaluable. This bill comes about through the dedication and compromise of members in both the Senate and the House. I would like to take this moment to thank everyone on both sides of the aisle who worked on this bill--particularly my colleague from Ohio, Representative Tiberi. They have been dedicated to the passage of this important legislation, and I thank them for their hard work. The Older Americans Act is so important for my home state of Ohio. More than 2 million persons over the age of 60 in Ohio are eligible for services under the Older Americans Act. Let me say that again, there are over 2 million Ohio seniors who will have the opportunity to take advantage of the programs in this bill. The bill will bring more than $44 million to programs in Ohio. This vital funding will go to wonderful organizations such as Meals on Wheels, which provides important nutrition programs at senior centers and in senior's homes. This funding will also help programs preventing injury and illness to seniors, as well as programs supporting families who are caring for disabled loved ones, including the elderly and adult children with disabilities, and grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren. So many Ohioans need these services. In my state 87 percent of those in need of care by a family member are at age 50 or older. Seventy percent of those persons are women. Ohioans caring for a disabled family member spend an average of 4.2 years in this role--time impacting their job, their emotions, and their health. The Older Americans Act also provides funding and support for the 12 Area Agencies on Aging that serve older Americans living in Ohio. These 12 agencies do a wonderful job of organizing the services I just described, as well as many more. They serve all 88 counties in Ohio and work with State and local providers of services to ensure that all seniors in their areas maintain proper health and nutrition and are aware of the services available to them. Nationwide, older Americans are a vital and rapidly growing segment of our population. Over 36 million people living in the United States-- about 12 percent of the population--are over the age of 65. The Census Bureau projects that 45 years from now, people 65 and older will number nearly 90 million in the United States and will comprise 21 percent of the population. The Older Americans Act is an important service provider for these Americans, and I strongly believe that the reauthorization bill we just passed updates and strengthens the Act in so many ways. Plans to prepare for changes to the aging demographics will be incorporated into the Act. A Federal interagency council responsible for ensuring appropriate planning for baby boomer-related needs and population shifts across agencies will be created. And grants and technical assistance will be provided to local aging service providers to plan for the baby boomer population. Our bill will also increase the Federal funding levels for the National Family Caregiver Support Program over the next 5 years. This important program helps families care for loved ones who are severely ill or disabled, yet want to remain in their homes and community. Our bill expands this program so that all of those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's become eligible for support services. Our bill also clarifies that this program will serve elderly caregivers who are caring for their adult children with developmental disabilities and expands that provision to include all adult children with disabilities who are being cared for by an elderly parent. Lastly, it clarifies that grandparents caring for adopted grandchildren are covered under the National Family Caregiver Support Program and lowers the age threshold for grandparents to 55 years old. These important changes will improve the quality of life for so many who are struggling under the pressures of caring for loved ones--including more than 1,700 Ohioans annually. Other provisions of the bill encourage seniors to make voluntary contributions to help defray the costs of these programs if they want to which will allow the program to reach out to even more seniors. This will help programs such as Meals-on-Wheels to expand their activities and will enable them to more effectively take contributions from those older Americans willing and able to pay for services. Annually, more than 125,000 Ohioans are served nearly 10 million meals by these important programs. The number of seniors in our population is increasing--and as it does, we need to modify our programs to ensure that they are economically sustainable and equipped to grow. We know that most Americans wish to live independently in their own homes as they age. Our amendments will help them do so by providing funding so that the Department of Health and Human Services can award grants for the improvement of assistive technology that will allow older Americans to monitor their health while they remain in their homes. This bill also creates a new program awarding grants for the creation of innovative models for the delivery of services to those who remain in their homes. The need for this grant program was discussed at length in a hearing I held on models for aging in place--specifically, Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities or NORCs. NORCs are areas in which large concentrations of people live and stay as they age. Essentially, NORCs allow individuals to grow old while living in the communities they love. Programs like NORCs will allow Americans to remain in their homes and communities, the places where they believe they will stay happier and healthier. As I stated before, Americans want to stay in the places they love as they age. This bill will help them do just that. Further, this bill creates a new momentum towards the provision of consumer-driven choices with respect to long-term care. As we all know, too many older Americans become disabled without the ability or the insurance to pay for their care. Too often, their only choice is to live in a nursing facility away from home. This ends up being more costly and ultimately not what the person would prefer--which is to remain in their home and their community. This bill will facilitate access to long-term care choices and opportunities. It will also enhance the ability of local providers and area agencies on aging to provide advice on the range of options they have available. Older Americans will then have the flexibility to decide for themselves which is the best place for them to age. The Senior Community Service Employment Program is a federally funded jobs program geared specifically for older Americans. In Ohio alone, it provides more than 2,000 jobs for low-income Americans age 55 and older. Our bill updates this program to ensure additional stability in those who provide these services for older low-income Americans. This stability will limit the disruption for seniors employed in the program and will also help low-income older Americans get the training they need to move on to better paying jobs. The Senior Community Service Employment Program has a dual nature, containing provisions that address both community service and job training for low income individuals. Our bill provides a Sense of the Senate supporting this dual approach. Furthermore, our bill limits the time period of participation in the program to 4 years, with an exemption for certain hard to serve individuals. This provision balances the need for a limit to the time a person spends in this employment program with the recognition that certain populations have special needs. Of great importance to me, this bill also amends the Older Americans Act to focus attention on the mental health needs of older Americans. The amendments establish grants for the mental health screening of older Americans and for increased awareness of the effects of mental health needs on the elderly population. Too often the mental health needs of older Americans are overlooked--but they can be as serious and life-threatening as any other illness. The mental health needs of our seniors must be taken more seriously. We must deal with them more aggressively. I believe that these provisions move us significantly forward in this struggle. Finally, this bill will help address the terrible problem of seniors who suffer abuse in their homes or while in nursing homes. Elder abuse is a serious problem that we know exists but is not well documented. This bill increases the profile of these issues while providing important resources for improving the data collection of incidents and outreach to those who may be suffering abuse. I believe that these new grants will move us forward tremendously in our fight against elder abuse. I know that this was an important provision for Chairman Enzi, and I am glad that we were able to include this important program for at-risk seniors. Once again, I want to thank Senator Enzi and Senator Kennedy for making this reauthorization a priority for the HELP Committee. Over the months we have negotiated this bipartisan bill, I have greatly appreciated their thoughtful and steady work to get the Older Americans Act to this point. Together, we have worked to get it done. Today's passage of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 is incredibly important to older Americans, both in Ohio and across the Nation. I would like to commend everyone involved.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, it is a well-known fact that people with disabilities face a great risk of abuse and victimization--in fact, studies indicate that disabled adults experience violence or abuse at least twice as often as those without disabilities. This shameful situation is made even worse by the fact that far too often these crimes are not reported, or if they are reported, they are not effectively prosecuted--with the result that crime victims with disabilities are left vulnerable to further victimization. This is a tragic situation and one which requires action. The good news is that we have a model to follow, a response which works. Massachusetts has set up an excellent program to enhance cooperation and coordination between law enforcement and the State officials and programs which provide services and care to the disabled, and this coordination has greatly improved the ability of the criminal justice system to prosecute these offenders and protect those with disabilities from crime. In fact, since the implementation of the program, criminal referrals in these types of cases in Massachusetts went up from 32 before the program began to 880 in 2004, the most recent year for which we have statistics. We should try to extend the success of the Massachusetts program around the country. Accordingly, today I am introducing the Crime Victims with Disabilities Act of 2006. This legislation would establish a $10 million Federal grant program to make money available to States and localities which are interested in setting up similar programs to enhance training, coordination, and cooperation within the law enforcement and disabilities services communities order to address this problem. The legislation would require a State or local government to design a cooperative plan to improve the reporting and prosecution of crimes against people with disabilities, including within the system at least one criminal justice agency and at least one agency or organization which provides services to individuals with disabilities. The legislation encourages local innovation; as long as the application meets the basic goals of protecting people with disabilities from crime and prosecuting those who attempt to victimize them, it can be designed in whatever way the applicants decide will work best in the affected community. The grants would be for a maximum of $300,000 over 2 years, with a potential for a one-time renewal. I have worked closely with the creators of the Massachusetts program and many others who work in law enforcement and who provide services to crime victims and people with disabilities, and I believe this legislation will help States and localities create programs that can address the problem of violence against people with disabilities. This is a serious problem, and I encourage my colleagues to support this effort to help address it.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, it is a well-known fact that people with disabilities face a great risk of abuse and victimization--in fact, studies indicate that disabled adults experience violence or abuse at least twice as often as those without disabilities. This shameful situation is made even worse by the fact that far too often these crimes are not reported, or if they are reported, they are not effectively prosecuted--with the result that crime victims with disabilities are left vulnerable to further victimization. This is a tragic situation and one which requires action. The good news is that we have a model to follow, a response which works. Massachusetts has set up an excellent program to enhance cooperation and coordination between law enforcement and the State officials and programs which provide services and care to the disabled, and this coordination has greatly improved the ability of the criminal justice system to prosecute these offenders and protect those with disabilities from crime. In fact, since the implementation of the program, criminal referrals in these types of cases in Massachusetts went up from 32 before the program began to 880 in 2004, the most recent year for which we have statistics. We should try to extend the success of the Massachusetts program around the country. Accordingly, today I am introducing the Crime Victims with Disabilities Act of 2006. This legislation would establish a $10 million Federal grant program to make money available to States and localities which are interested in setting up similar programs to enhance training, coordination, and cooperation within the law enforcement and disabilities services communities order to address this problem. The legislation would require a State or local government to design a cooperative plan to improve the reporting and prosecution of crimes against people with disabilities, including within the system at least one criminal justice agency and at least one agency or organization which provides services to individuals with disabilities. The legislation encourages local innovation; as long as the application meets the basic goals of protecting people with disabilities from crime and prosecuting those who attempt to victimize them, it can be designed in whatever way the applicants decide will work best in the affected community. The grants would be for a maximum of $300,000 over 2 years, with a potential for a one-time renewal. I have worked closely with the creators of the Massachusetts program and many others who work in law enforcement and who provide services to crime victims and people with disabilities, and I believe this legislation will help States and localities create programs that can address the problem of violence against people with disabilities. This is a serious problem, and I encourage my colleagues to support this effort to help address it.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to remember a fellow Ohioan, a young man who lost his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Army SSG Sean Landrus died on January 29, 2004, of wounds he suffered when a roadside bomb exploded next to his convoy in Iraq. He was 31 years old. Sean Landrus will be remembered for many things and in many ways. He was an exceptional soldier who enjoyed and took pride in military life. More than that, he was a loving son, brother, husband, and father, a man who was completely dedicated to his family. Sean was born in January of 1973 in Painesville, OH, to loving parents Ken and Betty Landrus. The youngest of six children, Sean was very close to his entire family and remained so throughout his life. Sean attended Ledgemont High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. A highly competitive athlete, Sean hated to be taken out of any game, even if he was injured. According to his mother Betty: One of the managers said that he just didn't play the same without Sean because he was the spark plug. Sean carried that dedication and competitive spirit with him throughout all that he did. After graduating in 1991, Sean attended Kent State University while working for C&K Industrial Service, an industrial cleaning company in Cleveland. Although she didn't enjoy it at the time, Betty now fondly recalls how grubby her son would be when he got home from work. Despite the dirt, she loved her ``iron teddy bear.'' On December 2, 1995, Sean married his high school sweetheart Chris, and they made their home in Thompson Township. Sean reported for boot camp just 1 month later. He was assigned to Company B, First Engineer Battalion, First Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division. Sean spent 8 years in the Army, including deployments to Bosnia and Kuwait. Sean was a devoted family man who found it difficult to leave his wife Chris, his son Kenneth, and daughters Khrista and Kennedy for his overseas tours. He was very sorry to be away from them for that period of time. His deployment to Iraq was particularly emotional. Kennedy was then just a few weeks old. At the time, Sean and his family were living in Fort Riley in Kansas. Sean was offered a desk job at the base, but he declined it in favor of going to a combat zone. In the words of his mother Betty, ``Sean just hated being behind a desk.'' In September 2003, Ken and Betty drove to Fort Riley both to meet their new granddaughter and to say good-bye to their son before he left for Iraq. Because Sean was busy making preparations for deployment, they weren't able to see him very often. But for Sean, it was important that he made sure everything for which he was responsible was in the right order. That is simply the kind of man he was. Betty and Ken woke up very early and stayed up very late to spend as much time with him as possible. Sean found it difficult to leave his family again, and as he said in his own words, ``It is my job.'' Sean's deployment to Iraq would have been his last. Before going overseas, he told his family that it would be the final time he went away. He just didn't want to leave them anymore. Unfortunately, Sean's convoy was ambushed after a roadside bomb exploded next to the truck he was in. Two days later, he passed away from his injuries. Mr. President and Members of the Senate, that day our Nation lost a great soldier. The Landrus family lost a loving brother, son, husband, and father. Perhaps most heartbreaking, Sean was never able to hear his youngest daughter's first words: ``Da Da.'' As Ohioans have done so often in the past, the members of Sean's community rallied around the Landrus family to offer their support. During Sean's final trip home to the Cleveland area, color guards from the area's veterans posts lined the processional route. Others wishing to pay their respects gathered in freezing temperatures to wave American flags, and nearly 400 people crowded into St. Patrick Catholic Church to celebrate Sean's life. County flags were flown at half-staff and a resolution honoring Sean was passed at the Thompson Township trustee meeting. His death was a loss felt by the entire community. SSG Sean Landrus was a great man. I know he will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who were privileged to have known him. My wife Fran and I continue to keep the Landrus family in our thoughts and prayers.

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

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a wonderful Ohioan who has recently been ill. Rolla Nolting McClanahan never asked for anything special, but she deserves to be recognized today for the years she has spent generously serving others. Throughout her life, Rolla has been a productive, giving member of her community who quietly contributed a great deal both to her hometown of Cincinnati, and to her home county, Hamilton County. Rolla is the kind of American who makes up the backbone of our country. Rolla is the beloved wife of Donald E. McClanahan, mother of Michele L. McClanahan, and sister of John A. Nolting. As a student, Rolla was very bright. She graduated with honors from both Withrow High School and the University of Cincinnati, where she was active in Mortar Board, Delta Delta Delta, the Cincinnatus Society, and the Union Committee. After graduation, Rolla became involved in her community as a member of Kindervelt, a volunteer organization that serves as the largest auxiliary of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deaconesses of the Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tri Deltas House Board Corporation. Since 1973, Rolla has been a Salvation Army volunteer for the Salvation Army Federation of Women's Auxiliaries, where she served in several official positions, including President of the Board and President of the Toy Shop Auxiliary. In 1987, she was a featured speaker at the Salvation Army's National Advisory Organization Conference in Dallas. In May of 1993, she was presented with the William Booth Award, bestowed by the Salvation Army for commitment and dedication. Mr. President, Rolla Nolting McClanahan is a wonderful person who has spent a great deal of her life working to improve the lives of those less fortunate. Today, I want to thank Rolla for her selflessness and commitment to others, and wish her well.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2006. Today, there is a serious loophole in our Nation's civil rights laws. If you are the victim of age or disability discrimination and you work in the private sector, you can sue your employer in Federal court for money damages. If, however, you work for one of the States, you cannot sue in Federal court for money damages under either the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, ADEA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA. This loophole is not the result of anything that we have done in Congress. In fact, when we passed the ADEA and the ADA, we clearly provided that the States, just like private entities, cannot discriminate on the basis of age or disability. And, we said that if they do, they can be sued for money damages in Federal court. In our view, the right of an individual to be free from discrimination on the basis of age or disability did not depend on where one works. Instead, this loophole was created by the Supreme Court. In several recent decisions, the Supreme Court has reinterpreted the 11th amendment to the Constitution and severely limited Congress's power to subject States to lawsuits under section 5 of the 14th amendment. In Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents, 528 U.S. 62, 2000, for instance, the Court held that Congress lacks the power to subject States to suit for money damages under the ADEA. In Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, 531 U.S. 356, 2001, the Court again held that Congress lacked the power to subject States to suit for money damages, this time under title I of the ADA. Although individuals can still sue the States for injunctive relief, the Supreme Court's restriction on suits for money damages has taken away an essential tool for the victims of discrimination. As one witness explained during hearings on the ADA, ``civil rights laws depend heavily on private enforcement.'' ``[D]amages are essential to provide private citizens a meaningful opportunity to vindicate their rights. Attempts to weaken the remedies available under the ADA are attacks on the ADA itself, and their success would make the ADA an empty promise of equality.'' Unfortunately, by restricting the ability of individuals to sue for money damages, the Garrett and Kimel decisions have severely limited the ``promise of equality'' guaranteed by the ADA and the ADEA. Lawsuits for money damages are the primary means for private individuals to obtain redress for discrimination. They promote deterrence and provide an important way for the Federal Government to enforce antidiscrimination laws. By eliminating the ability of State employees to sue their employers for such damages, the Supreme Court's decisions in Kimel and Garrett have made enforcement of these civil rights laws more difficult. In addition, the Garrett and Kimel decisions have created a legal regime that gives State employees fewer rights than other employees covered by the ADA and the ADEA. At present, employees of local governments and employees in the private sector are entitled to sue in Federal court for money damages for violations of the ADA or the ADEA. For the more than 2,500,000 individuals who work for the States, however, such relief is no longer available. Finally, the Garrett and Kimel decisions themselves are hardly a model of clarity. In fact, several scholars have said that they find them to be inconsistent with prior case law, at odds with the clear language of the Constitution, disrespectful of Congress's role in our system of government, and insensitive to the plight of those who are the victims of discrimination. In my opinion, Chairman Specter of the Judiciary Committee put it well when he referred to these cases as ``inexplicable decisions.'' During the confirmation hearing for Chief Justice Roberts, Chairman Specter said that the test that emerges from these Supreme Court decisions ``has no grounding in the Constitution, no grounding in the Federalist Papers, no grounding in the history of the country, [and] comes out of thin air[.]'' I happen to agree with him. In my view, Garrett and Kimel were wrongly decided. And, they should be overturned. My bill will do just that. The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2006 would provide that any State that receives Federal financial assistance must allow plaintiffs the ability to sue the State for money damages in Federal court if that State violates the terms of the ADEA or the ADA. Of course, those plaintiffs must meet all the other requirements to bring such a suit. My bill does not otherwise change the substance of the ADA or ADEA, and it does not guarantee an outcome. It merely gives the victims of discrimination access to federal courts so that they may seek the relief to which they are otherwise entitled. In other words, it will give the victims of age and disability discrimination the same rights that we intended to give them when we first passed the ADEA and the ADA. This is a simple bill with a simple purpose: it closes a loophole created by the Supreme Court; it re-establishes the original intent of the ADA and the ADEA; and it restores to the victims of discrimination the rights to which they have long been entitled. I am proud to introduce the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2006, and I ask my colleagues to support it. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2006. Today, there is a serious loophole in our Nation's civil rights laws. If you are the victim of age or disability discrimination and you work in the private sector, you can sue your employer in Federal court for money damages. If, however, you work for one of the States, you cannot sue in Federal court for money damages under either the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, ADEA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA. This loophole is not the result of anything that we have done in Congress. In fact, when we passed the ADEA and the ADA, we clearly provided that the States, just like private entities, cannot discriminate on the basis of age or disability. And, we said that if they do, they can be sued for money damages in Federal court. In our view, the right of an individual to be free from discrimination on the basis of age or disability did not depend on where one works. Instead, this loophole was created by the Supreme Court. In several recent decisions, the Supreme Court has reinterpreted the 11th amendment to the Constitution and severely limited Congress's power to subject States to lawsuits under section 5 of the 14th amendment. In Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents, 528 U.S. 62, 2000, for instance, the Court held that Congress lacks the power to subject States to suit for money damages under the ADEA. In Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, 531 U.S. 356, 2001, the Court again held that Congress lacked the power to subject States to suit for money damages, this time under title I of the ADA. Although individuals can still sue the States for injunctive relief, the Supreme Court's restriction on suits for money damages has taken away an essential tool for the victims of discrimination. As one witness explained during hearings on the ADA, ``civil rights laws depend heavily on private enforcement.'' ``[D]amages are essential to provide private citizens a meaningful opportunity to vindicate their rights. Attempts to weaken the remedies available under the ADA are attacks on the ADA itself, and their success would make the ADA an empty promise of equality.'' Unfortunately, by restricting the ability of individuals to sue for money damages, the Garrett and Kimel decisions have severely limited the ``promise of equality'' guaranteed by the ADA and the ADEA. Lawsuits for money damages are the primary means for private individuals to obtain redress for discrimination. They promote deterrence and provide an important way for the Federal Government to enforce antidiscrimination laws. By eliminating the ability of State employees to sue their employers for such damages, the Supreme Court's decisions in Kimel and Garrett have made enforcement of these civil rights laws more difficult. In addition, the Garrett and Kimel decisions have created a legal regime that gives State employees fewer rights than other employees covered by the ADA and the ADEA. At present, employees of local governments and employees in the private sector are entitled to sue in Federal court for money damages for violations of the ADA or the ADEA. For the more than 2,500,000 individuals who work for the States, however, such relief is no longer available. Finally, the Garrett and Kimel decisions themselves are hardly a model of clarity. In fact, several scholars have said that they find them to be inconsistent with prior case law, at odds with the clear language of the Constitution, disrespectful of Congress's role in our system of government, and insensitive to the plight of those who are the victims of discrimination. In my opinion, Chairman Specter of the Judiciary Committee put it well when he referred to these cases as ``inexplicable decisions.'' During the confirmation hearing for Chief Justice Roberts, Chairman Specter said that the test that emerges from these Supreme Court decisions ``has no grounding in the Constitution, no grounding in the Federalist Papers, no grounding in the history of the country, [and] comes out of thin air[.]'' I happen to agree with him. In my view, Garrett and Kimel were wrongly decided. And, they should be overturned. My bill will do just that. The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2006 would provide that any State that receives Federal financial assistance must allow plaintiffs the ability to sue the State for money damages in Federal court if that State violates the terms of the ADEA or the ADA. Of course, those plaintiffs must meet all the other requirements to bring such a suit. My bill does not otherwise change the substance of the ADA or ADEA, and it does not guarantee an outcome. It merely gives the victims of discrimination access to federal courts so that they may seek the relief to which they are otherwise entitled. In other words, it will give the victims of age and disability discrimination the same rights that we intended to give them when we first passed the ADEA and the ADA. This is a simple bill with a simple purpose: it closes a loophole created by the Supreme Court; it re-establishes the original intent of the ADA and the ADEA; and it restores to the victims of discrimination the rights to which they have long been entitled. I am proud to introduce the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 2006, and I ask my colleagues to support it. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. I want to echo the comments of my colleagues. As the chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Retirement Security and Aging, I have been working on pension reform legislation for the last year and a half. I believe it is essential that the Senate pass legislation this week that will strengthen defined benefit and multiemployer plans and that will encourage retirement savings by making the retirement provisions of EGTTRA permanent. And while I view this bill as an improvement over the bill the Senate passed last fall, with the elimination of the provision that used credit rating to determine at- risk funding status, I believe that this bill's airline relief provisions are greatly inferior to those of the Senate-passed bill. As my colleagues who spoke before me made clear, this is unacceptable and will need to be fixed when we return from the August recess.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I wish to discuss a critical issue that I have addressed in this Chamber numerous times in the last several years, and that is the situation in Darfur. It is truly a shame that in July of 2006, the horrendous conditions and continued violence look very similar to that which first caught our attention in 2003. Despite the recent peace agreement that was reached in early May between the Government of National Unity and one faction of the largest rebel group, the violence on the ground has continued unabated. This has led to a tenuous humanitarian situation. According to the United Nations Children's Fund Darfur Nutrition Update for June 2006, malnutrition rates and admissions to therapeutic feeding centers are rising across Darfur. Under difficult conditions, our Government has done a tremendous job in providing assistance to the people of Darfur, including contributing over 80 percent of the food delivered in Darfur by the World Food Program. Unfortunately, our Government's efforts are not enough. Other donors must increase their contributions and fulfill the pledges they made. To make these matters worse, the Government of Sudan blatantly refuses a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Darfur, leaving the African Union to try and enforce peace, which it has been unable to do thus far. For these reasons, I am encouraging President Bush to appoint a Presidential envoy for Sudan as soon as possible. The fiscal year 2006 emergency supplemental includes a provision offered by Senator Biden and myself to create a Presidential special envoy and an office in the State Department to support it. This envoy is charged with working to resolve the conflict in Darfur, facilitating implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the north and south Sudan, and resolving other internal and regional conflicts. The timing of this appointment could not be more critical. Deputy Secretary of State Bob Zoellick is departing and other key administration officials that have been working on Sudan are rotating to new positions. I want to personally thank Secretary Zoellick for his commitment to peace in Sudan. His tireless efforts were at the forefront of this administration's clear commitment to this troubled country. I urge the President to appoint a trusted leader who is committed to bringing about peace in Sudan once and for all. The thought of making similar statements about Darfur in 2009 is unacceptable.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which provides law enforcement officers with several important tools to protect our children. In the past three decades, we have all seen and heard about the many tragic cases of children being assaulted and killed by sex offenders. These are absolutely horrifying events, and as legislators, we have an obligation to do all we can to prevent such crimes in the future. We need to improve and enhance sex offender registration and tracking laws and increase penalties for those who violate them, which this act will accomplish. There are several prongs to this act, which is what will make it successful. The core of this bill establishes a national sex offender registry. Although each State has a registry, there are no uniform standards. There is no easy way to access information from different jurisdictions. This act creates a uniform Federal standard which divides offenders into tiers, depending upon the offense for which they were convicted. It establishes registration guidelines for each tier, including how long a person would need to be registered and how often he or she must come in for a personal verification of the registration information. The act also creates community notification requirements and will make it a felony for sex offenders to fail to register and update their information on a regular basis. The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Web site will allow the public to search for information on sex offenders by ZIP Code and geographic radius. All of these changes will help make our tracking laws more effective and will allow parents and members of the local community to be vigilant about the potential dangers of sex offenders in their neighborhoods. But before we can put a predator can appear on the registry, he needs to be caught and prosecuted. The Adam Walsh Act includes urgently needed resources to assist law enforcement in these endeavors. This act establishes 10 new task forces dealing with Internet crimes against children, 45 new computer forensic examiners to deal exclusively with child sexual exploitation, and 200 new Federal prosecutors--all designated to combat child sexual exploitation. This act also tries to protect children from being victimized in the first place. It provides grant money for educating parents and children about those who use the Internet to prey upon children. It funds Big Brothers and Big Sisters and includes my bill for the reauthorization of the Police Athletic Leagues. These two programs provide kids with supervision and role models and mentors who can help protect them from predators. In addition, it mandates that potential foster and adoptive parents go through a thorough criminal background check before a child can be placed with them. Also incorporated in this bill are aspects of the Internet Safety Act which I proudly cosponsored. These include establishing new criminal penalties to keep up with the constantly increasing level of depravity among pedophiles--for example, the child exploitation enterprises provision to prosecute the ``molestation on demand'' child pornographic industry that has sprung up in recent years. Sexual predators of children are among the worst kind of offenders, and it is only right that there are sentencing enhancements for registered sex offenders who reoffend. This is a good piece of legislation. I am pleased so many of my colleagues support it, and I look forward to its pending passage.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this very important piece of legislation, the Voting Rights Reauthorization Act of 2006. As we all know, Congress first passed the Voting Rights Act back in 1965, when many jurisdictions had numerous laws and regulations aimed at denying the right to vote to many of our citizens--in direct violation of the 15th amendment to the Constitution. The Voting Rights Act made it clear that our society would no longer tolerate such abuses. It also made clear that all citizens should have the opportunity to exercise this critical right freely and easily, without harassment, intimidation, or other barriers to voting. Its passage was one of the proudest moments of the civil rights movement. The Voting Rights Act has been an extraordinary success, and we can see its results in towns, counties, and States across the country, as well as in the House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. Minority voters have had their voices heard and their votes counted, and have helped elect a wide range of officials who reflect the diversity of our great Nation. Unfortunately, despite the great advances we have made as a country, we still have more work to do. Both the House and the Senate have investigated this issue thoroughly, and after numerous hearings and thousands of pages of evidence being accepted into the record, it is clear that we need to reauthorize the expiring provisions of the act. More time and effort is needed to completely fulfill the promise of the Voting Rights Act and to assure every citizen that his or her 15th amendment rights are fully available, and this bill will allow us the time we need. The House of Representatives has already passed the Voting Rights Renewal Act, and I am glad we are going to move it forward today. We can then quickly put this critical legislation in front of the President, who supports the bill and is waiting to sign it into law. I am hopeful that at the end of this 25-year reauthorization, we will all be able to agree that no further legislative action is necessary--that we have accomplished the critical goal of assuring every American citizen the equal right to vote.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, this evening I rise to pay tribute to a courageous marine, LCpl Dustin Derga, of Pickerington, OH. Dustin was killed in Iraq while fighting insurgents on May 8, 2005, Mother's Day. After taking an interest in the military as a child, Dustin served 5\1/ 2\ years as a marine, and Operation Iraqi Freedom was to be his final deployment. Sadly, 24-year-old Dustin died just 1 month short of his scheduled homecoming. He is survived by his mother Stephanie, his father and stepmother, Robert and Marla, sister Kristin, and girlfriend Kristin Earhart. A 1999 graduate of Pickerington High School, Dustin went on to attend Columbus State Community College, where he pursued a degree in EMS and fire science. He also served his community by working as a firefighter. Robert Derga shared these words about his son: Dustin was a great pitcher and could play just about any position. He loved to play catcher, which was unusual. I remember all the weekends we would go out to the ball diamonds and watch him play ball. We really enjoyed that. He loved working with his hands. He just loved doing things and getting his elbows dirty. Friends describe Dustin as fun-loving and said he was always trying to make others laugh. His father recalled that: Dustin had a wonderful, fun personality. When you first met him, he seemed quiet and somewhat reserved--at least he let you think that. But once he got to know you, he would reveal that he is a practical joker at heart and the life of the party. He always had a great smile on his face. All the guys in Dustin's unit said he was always making them laugh. Laura Giller of Pickerington said this about Dustin: Dustin was my friend, and I always enjoyed seeing his face wherever I went. I worked with him, and whenever he was there, it made the day that much better. He always told the silliest jokes. I will never forget the friendship that Dustin gave me. Thank God for men like him. Erik Mellquist, another hometown friend of Dustin's, wrote the following on an Internet tribute site: Dustin was a great guy. I remember laughing constantly during cub scouts and little league baseball whenever Dustin was around. Thank you for sharing him with the rest of us. Friends also emphasized Dustin's loyalty to the Marines. Fellow reservist Jeff Schmitz of Pickerington commented: I saw Dustin around the Reserve Center on drill weekends. He was a great Marine and an even better human being. He will be greatly missed. Retired marine Mike Hamilton added: Dustin was a friend and fellow firefighter here in Baltimore, OH. I used to kid him about being too small to be a marine. He would set me straight, and then we would discuss the differences between the new Marine Corps he was in and the old one I was in. We both loved the Corps. Dustin's loyalty to his military service was also apparent to his family and to those with whom he served. Robert said that his son ``had a passion for the Corps and was proud to be a Marine. Dustin really respected his brothers in the unit and he tried to have a good time with his comrades, even under the worst of conditions.'' Dustin's girlfriend Kristin wrote: Dustin was a great man. I wish everyone would have been given the opportunity to know him. He was my world, my heart, and my soul. His smile would make your heart melt. He was so honored to be a part of the U.S. Marine Corps and defend every last one of us. A friend named Martin shared the following memories of Dustin, and also his good friend, Nick Erdy, a fellow marine who died 3 days after Dustin. This is what his friend, Martin, said: Derga and Erdy were some of the first guys I got to know when I joined the unit. They were all about having fun and enjoying life. Even in Iraq, they seemed to make the worst situations turn into great ones. Their character is what made our platoon what it was. We were full of jokes, laughter, and memorable experiences. The first platoon will never be the same without them and the others that we lost. They were great guys, and they will be remembered in our hearts forever. They will never be forgotten. Upon returning from Iraq, Dustin planned to finish college and use his savings to buy a new truck. In one of his last notes home he wrote: I miss everyone a lot and can't wait to get home and go on maybe three vacations. I look forward to one vacation in particular. He and his girlfriend Kristen had been planning on taking a vacation with his friend Nick Erdy and his fiance Ashley Boots. Ashley said they just wanted to go somewhere fun to relax. These plans, of course, came to a tragic end when both men died within 3 days of each other in Iraq. After their deaths, Kristen wrote: I just wish we could have had the chance to continue our lives the way we planned, but at least you are with Erdy. And don't worry, Ashley and I will never forget you two. Nor will the rest of us forget the brave sacrifices made by these fine young men. My wife Fran and I continue to keep the family of Dustin Derga in our thoughts and in our prayers. Edward Seitz Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute this evening to a brave Ohioan who lost his life while protecting the U.S. State Department personnel in Iraq. Edward Seitz was the first U.S. diplomat to be killed in Iraq since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March 2003. He died on October 24, 2004, after a mortar shell struck him in the Green Zone in Camp Victory. He was 41 years old. Ed grew up in Garfield Heights and in Brecksville, OH. He graduated from Holy Name High School in 1981 where he was on the wrestling team and then went on to Baldwin-Wallace College. Edward leaves behind his wife Joyce, his parents Elroy and Alba, a brother William, and a sister-in-law Colleen. Colleen described her brother-in-law as ``a large man with a John Wayne kind of figure whose trademark outfit included a vest, button down shirt, boots, and felt hat.'' He was sent to Baghdad for a 1-year assignment with the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which is the State Department's security unit. William said that his brother's work was his life. I continue to quote: He did what he could to protect this country and to keep terrorism from your front door. He was 100 percent into the government and 100 percent into doing what he wanted to do to defeat terrorism. That's what he did and how he did it. That's what he gave his life for. That's what made him Eddy. That's what made him my brother. Colleen echoed her husband's sentiments by saying: Ed was just an amazing man. There was just nothing that he wouldn't do for someone. Every time he'd get on the phone, he'd say: What can I do for you? What do you need? What can I help with? That's just the way he was, and that's just what he was trying to do there. I would like to read portions of the remarks that Joe D. Morton, the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service, gave at Ed's funeral because I find it particularly telling of Ed's life and values, and descriptive of his life and values: In 16-plus years of service with the Department of State and the Diplomatic Security Service, Ed's strength and character and his dedication to family and to this organization were his hallmarks. His work was nothing short of magnificent. He accepted every challenge willingly and always performed with an unmatched level of excellence. Ed took on some of the most important missions throughout his career. Ed protected Secretaries of State and other foreign dignitaries so that they could conduct their business safely and securely in the hope of bringing peace and stability to troubled regions of the world. Not only was Ed an exceptional agent, but he was an exceptional person as well. In an organization where so many interactions and personal contacts are short-lived by reassignments and the transient nature of the profession, the depths of personal friendships and length of time of the friendships Ed developed are quite remarkable. Ed's classmates from his basic agent training days unanimously remember Ed's caring and unselfish dedication to his colleagues and the organization. Ed would always be looking out for the welfare and safety of his fellow agents. Ed's first words to a person were, What can I do to help? He was always attending to the needs of his colleagues. No request was beyond the realm of possibility. Once, in the midst of a particularly grueling trip, Ed literally gave another agent the shirt he was wearing so that agent could attend a senior level meeting. It is all these memories that stay with us forever. Shortly after receiving word of Ed's death, the consulate in Shenyang held a memorial service in Ed's honor. The outpouring of emotions from those who worked with Ed and from those whose lives were touched by Ed, even after several years had passed, are a tremendous tribute to Ed's character and personality. His dedication to his profession is only outmatched by his devotion to his family. Several years ago, when Ed and another agent were meeting in Ed's hotel room, the agent noticed a wedding photo in the room. When asked about it, Ed replied that it was a wedding photo of his parents and he took it with him wherever he traveled. Ed's life was complete when he met his wife Joyce in Yemen. Their friends unanimously note that Joyce was Ed's perfect match. Ed was never happier than when he was with Joyce. Again, those were the words of Joe Morton, the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service. I feel they perfectly capture what Ed stood for and what he fought for. I would like to close by reading a poem written by one of Ed's cousins entitled ``The Third Tour.'' This is the poem: The tower fell in Baghdad today. Unlike the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, this tower is not made of concrete and glass. This structure was formed with the steel of conviction. Each element, riveted with the strength of brotherhood. Larger than life was Eddy, a tower built not of man, but created by God. A tower of a man to stand between terror and calm. A friend and relative to be proud of. We all felt safer, somehow, knowing you were there. We prayed for you and an end to the conflict. A clink of the glass to celebrate a tower of a man. Mr. President, this tower of a man, Edward Seitz, will indeed be dearly missed by his family and friends here at home, as well as those individuals whose lives he touched overseas. My wife Fran and I will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, my wife Fran and I recently attended a very moving memorial dedication ceremony in Sunbury, OH, to honor and to remember the brave Ohio men and women who have died fighting for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. These courageous service members--with the many faces of Ohio--came from the smallest villages in our state and from the largest cities. Some came from our farms. Some were born here in Ohio and in America. Others came to this state and this country from many, many miles away. Some were 18 or 19 years old. Some were in their 40s. Some were Privates and Lance Corporals, while one was a Lieutenant Colonel. Some joined the military as a result of the September 11 attacks, while others planned on a career in the military from their youngest days, marching around as small children in their fathers' uniforms. Some had seen a lot out of life, while for others--most of them, really--their lives had just begun. All of them, though, shared something in common. All of them changed lives in countless ways, leaving enormous impacts on their families and their friends and their loved ones. Their absence leaves a gapping whole in the lives of those left behind. And while that makes it very hard, we also know that the world is a better place because these brave men and women were a part of it. It is a better place because they lived. We are all so very fortunate to have had them in our lives for the all too brief time that we did. And for that, we are eternally grateful. We, as citizens, will never be able to repay these Ohioans for their service. We know that when we lose a service member, there is a tear in the fabric that holds us all, as Americans, together, and there really is no way to repair that. President Theodore Roosevelt perhaps put it best when he said, ``Their blood and their toil, their endurance and patriotism, have made us and all who come after us forever their debtors.'' We are, indeed, in their debt. I did not personally know any of these men and women we honored in Sunbury at that memorial. I did not personally know any of these men and women who died in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and men and women who I have come to the floor tonight to honor or who I have come to the floor on other nights to honor. But I have spoken with many of their families. I have talked to many of their friends and comrades, and have read a great deal about each one of them. They were all unique--each with their own special story to tell. One Marine worked as a police officer before going to Iraq. He would bring disco balls into his police cruiser to make his partner laugh and sometimes brought smiley faces into jail to entertain the inmates. Another Marine was in the high school marching band. During one football game, he forgot his sousaphone and decided to march with the only available instrument in the band room--a banjo. One soldier's parents remember their son following them around the house at a young age, with his arms out, saying, ``Big hug, big hug.'' Another young man was a delegate to Buckeye Boys' State--a prestigious honor for high school students. Several enjoyed riding their dirt bikes and fixing up cars. Some played sports. Some were in drama club. Others liked to play games, such as Scrabble. Many married their high school sweethearts. All of them made of our lives just a little bit brighter. They made us smile. They filled their loved ones' lives with great joy and happiness. The recently dedicated memorial in Sunbury, OH, stands as a moving tribute and a lasting testament to these men and women and to their courage, honor, and sacrifice. They have stood tall in the fight against tyranny, aggression, and terrorism. As John F. Kennedy once said, ``A Nation reveals itself not only by the men [and women] it produces, but also by the men [and women] it honors [and] remembers.'' And that--that is exactly what this memorial is all about. It is about honoring and remembering each of these truly unique, wonderful souls. Our Nation is proud of these Ohio men and women. They lived their lives well--with great purpose and commitment and love of family and country. And for that, we will never forget them.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask that the following proclamation be printed in the Record. The proclamation follows: A Proclamation Honoring the Distinguished Career of Mario Kavcic Whereas; Mr. Mario Kavcic began his radio career forty years ago in Cleveland Heights for a Slovenian interest radio program, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic conducted his first on-air interview in his native Slovenian with then Ohio State Representative and current United States Senator George Voinovich, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic moved to Cleveland to work with other ethnic language broadcast companies, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic's great success and popularity earned him a prestigious evening time slot for his program, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic created a program devoted to international affairs that aired on Saturday nights for ten consecutive years, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic moved his program to Nationality Broadcast Network--which reaches communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia--after National Ethnic Programming went through a format change, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic interviewed President Richard Nixon, President Gerald Ford, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Cleveland Mayors Michael White and Jane Campbell, to inform his listeners about current issues, and Whereas; Mr. Kavcic was awarded the prestigious Governor Award by former Ohio Governor John Gilligan, and Now, therefore, I, Mike DeWine, United States Senator from the Great State of Ohio, would like to commend Mr. Mario Kavcic for his longtime and tireless efforts serving the Slovenian population in Cleveland and throughout Ohio. Mr. Kavcic's outstanding work to preserve and promote the rich heritage and culture of the Slovenian community is a shining example of the positive role the press can play in our society. On this, the 18th Day of July, 2006.