Mike DeWine

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join Senators Specter, Feinstein, Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Schumer, Nelson of Florida, Menendez, Dodd, Kennedy, Lautenberg, Durbin, and Lieberman to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Police Athletic/Activities League, better known as PAL. These local youth crime prevention programs, run by police officers nationwide, provide after-school educational, athletic, and recreational opportunities for the communities they serve. The first PAL chapter was founded in the 1910s in New York. The growth since then has been tremendous, and there are now over 330 PAL chapters in 38 States, DC, the Virgin Islands, Canada, and Nigeria, serving approximately 2 million children between the ages of 5 and 18. In my own home State of Ohio, we are fortunate enough to have 28 of these outstanding organizations. Studies conducted in Eastlake, OH, and Portland, OR, have shown a substantial drop in the juvenile crime rate in those two cities upon the creation of a PAL chapter. These chapters make a point to serve those most in need. For example, 50 percent of the kids involved in the 28 Ohio chapters come from families with a median income of less than $20,000. PAL chapters provide kids with a wide range of activities. One chapter in Ohio, for instance--the Chillicothe-Ross County Police Athletic League--has offered dances, films, rap contests, and programs in archery, art, basketball, bowling, boxing, computers, cooking, CPR, fishing, fitness, lacrosse, nutrition, paint ball, running, tumbling, volleyball, and weightlifting. Other chapters around the country have offered programs like chess, flag football, junior golf, homework clubs and hydroponic gardening. In addition--through their Youth Leadership Council--PALs provide a setting for kids to learn important skills to assist them in becoming the leaders of tomorrow. But, the Police Athletic/Activities League does more than merely provide after-school activities to kids who may not otherwise have access to tutoring or athletic facilities. PAL provides them with mentors and positive role models. In addition, PAL programs help teach kids that their relationship with law enforcement need not be one that is ``us vs. them;'' instead, to quote National PAL, itself, the relationship can be one of ``cops and kids together--providing solutions through sports and education.'' The money provided by this reauthorization bill would enable PAL programs to continue their current programs and also expand--at a rate of 50 chapters per year--into areas where kids can truly benefit from the good work of the PAL. The PAL has been a success for over 90 years, and the Senate consistently has supported this outstanding organization. We passed the National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000 by unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to continue to support the PAL with this reauthorization. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join Senators Specter, Feinstein, Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Schumer, Nelson of Florida, Menendez, Dodd, Kennedy, Lautenberg, Durbin, and Lieberman to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Police Athletic/Activities League, better known as PAL. These local youth crime prevention programs, run by police officers nationwide, provide after-school educational, athletic, and recreational opportunities for the communities they serve. The first PAL chapter was founded in the 1910s in New York. The growth since then has been tremendous, and there are now over 330 PAL chapters in 38 States, DC, the Virgin Islands, Canada, and Nigeria, serving approximately 2 million children between the ages of 5 and 18. In my own home State of Ohio, we are fortunate enough to have 28 of these outstanding organizations. Studies conducted in Eastlake, OH, and Portland, OR, have shown a substantial drop in the juvenile crime rate in those two cities upon the creation of a PAL chapter. These chapters make a point to serve those most in need. For example, 50 percent of the kids involved in the 28 Ohio chapters come from families with a median income of less than $20,000. PAL chapters provide kids with a wide range of activities. One chapter in Ohio, for instance--the Chillicothe-Ross County Police Athletic League--has offered dances, films, rap contests, and programs in archery, art, basketball, bowling, boxing, computers, cooking, CPR, fishing, fitness, lacrosse, nutrition, paint ball, running, tumbling, volleyball, and weightlifting. Other chapters around the country have offered programs like chess, flag football, junior golf, homework clubs and hydroponic gardening. In addition--through their Youth Leadership Council--PALs provide a setting for kids to learn important skills to assist them in becoming the leaders of tomorrow. But, the Police Athletic/Activities League does more than merely provide after-school activities to kids who may not otherwise have access to tutoring or athletic facilities. PAL provides them with mentors and positive role models. In addition, PAL programs help teach kids that their relationship with law enforcement need not be one that is ``us vs. them;'' instead, to quote National PAL, itself, the relationship can be one of ``cops and kids together--providing solutions through sports and education.'' The money provided by this reauthorization bill would enable PAL programs to continue their current programs and also expand--at a rate of 50 chapters per year--into areas where kids can truly benefit from the good work of the PAL. The PAL has been a success for over 90 years, and the Senate consistently has supported this outstanding organization. We passed the National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act of 2000 by unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to continue to support the PAL with this reauthorization. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, in just a few minutes we will be voting on the nomination of Michael Barrett to serve as a Federal district court judge for the Southern District of Ohio. Mr. Barrett is an outstanding attorney, a man who has shown his dedication to public and community service throughout his life. I am confident he will be an excellent addition to the bench. Michael Barrett's legal career--spanning almost 30 years--has been distinguished, not only by his accomplishments as a litigator but also by his truly extraordinary record of public and civic leadership. A brief summary of his background offers ample evidence of his qualifications. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he earned both his bachelor of arts degree as well as his law degree. After graduating from law school, Mr. Barrett served the State of Ohio as an administrative hearing officer for over a year, handling issues as a new attorney that usually are reserved for lawyers with far more experience. He then moved to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, where he served first as an assistant prosecutor, and then as chief assistant prosecuting attorney of the Felony Trial Division. During this time, Mr. Barrett also served as chief of the Special County Arson Task Force, supervising the investigation and prosecution of arson cases. After 6 years in the Hamilton County prosecutor's office, Michael Barrett moved into private practice with the firm of Graydon, Head & Ritchey, where he remained for 10 years as an associate and then as a partner. He was listed several times in the Best Lawyers in America for his domestic relations practice. He then joined the Cincinnati law firm of Barrett & Weber, where he continues to practice today in the area of general litigation. Mr. Barrett has had an extremely wide-ranging career as a litigator. He has argued in both State and Federal courts, and his court appearances are almost evenly split between civil and criminal cases. In addition to his background as a prosecutor, he has developed a very successful defense practice. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and I think it is particularly noteworthy that he has argued capital murder cases as both a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. Truly, his litigation experience spans the whole width of legal practice. Mr. Barrett's expertise, however, extends well beyond litigation. For example, he was appointed and served as a special master/trustee in a class action lawsuit in which he analyzed over 900 claims, responses, and the allocation of settlement funds under that lawsuit. He also was chosen to be the receiver in a securities case, and in that role he worked with counsel to conduct the collection and liquidation of investor assets, which is an important and certainly often very complicated financial and legal task. He also has an impressive amount of experience with the important and expanding area of alternative dispute resolution. He was a board member of the Cincinnati Center for the Resolution of Disputes and was awarded the Outstanding Service Award as a mediator for the Southern District of Ohio. This unusually diverse legal background gives Michael Barrett a broad view of the legal system and a wide understanding that will help him be a very successful Federal district court judge. Mr. Barrett is also an extremely accomplished community leader who has given so much back to his community. He has served the public in a wide variety of roles--far more than I could certainly mention this afternoon. He served on the Supreme Court of Ohio Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline for 15 years. He was on the board of trustees of the University of Cincinnati, and the board of trustees of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. He was also cochair of the Police and Justice Committee of Community Action Now, a project formed by and for Cincinnati community leaders and charged with the task of achieving greater equity, opportunity, and inclusion for all Cincinnati residents. He also has been involved with a wide range of charitable and social service organizations, including Children's Services of Hamilton County, Talbert House, and Boys and Girls Hope of Cincinnati. Michael Barrett is clearly a successful and accomplished attorney and an experienced community leader. Both are important qualifications for this position. With his background and his experience, it is certainly not surprising that a substantial majority of the ABA panel who reviewed his qualifications found him to be ``well qualified,'' which is the highest possible rating; the remaining members of the panel gave him the next highest rating of ``qualified.'' This very high rating merely confirms his excellent credentials for the position.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 2 additional minutes.

Mr. DeWINE. Members of the legal profession in Ohio who know Mr. Barrett's abilities also support his nomination. I have spoken with attorneys and judges who have worked both with and against Mr. Barrett professionally, and they describe him as a calm and even-tempered man, who is always willing to listen and always does an excellent job, no matter what the legal assignment. Even more important, however, is simply that Mike Barrett is a good person. I have known him for many years, and he consistently has shown himself to be warm, open-minded, and gracious. He is an intellectually gifted lawyer with a strong sense of the law and a firm understanding of the court's role in the legal process and in our community. As a person and as an attorney, he has all the ability, the experience, and, yes, the compassion necessary to help him be an excellent judge for the people of the South District of Ohio. Michael Barrett is an outstanding nominee. I am proud to support his nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. DeWINE. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague Senator Dodd in introducing the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2006. This important legislation would help States expand and improve their newborn screening programs, educate parents and health care providers about newborn screening, and improve follow-up care for infants with an illness detected through screening. Newborn screening is a public health activity used for early identification of infants affected by certain genetic, metabolic, hormonal and functional conditions for which there may be an effective treatment or intervention. If left untreated, these conditions can cause death, disability, mental retardation, and other serious health problems. Every year, over 4 million infants are born and screened to detect such conditions, with an estimated 3,000 babies identified in time for treatment. However, the number and quality of newborn screening tests performed varies dramatically from State to State. The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2006 aims to remedy these problems and improve newborn screening for all of America's newborns. This legislation is important because it provides resources to States to expand and improve their newborn screening programs and encourage States to test for the full roster of disorders recommended by the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. It is imperative that we test for the full roster of disorders. That is why we are introducing this legislation to provide adequate funds to get this program started. It authorizes $65 million in fiscal year 07 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 08 through fiscal year 11 for grants to educate health care professionals, laboratory personnel, and parents about newborn screening and relevant new technologies. I encourage my colleagues to join Senator Dodd and me in co- sponsoring this important bill.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague Senator Dodd in introducing the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2006. This important legislation would help States expand and improve their newborn screening programs, educate parents and health care providers about newborn screening, and improve follow-up care for infants with an illness detected through screening. Newborn screening is a public health activity used for early identification of infants affected by certain genetic, metabolic, hormonal and functional conditions for which there may be an effective treatment or intervention. If left untreated, these conditions can cause death, disability, mental retardation, and other serious health problems. Every year, over 4 million infants are born and screened to detect such conditions, with an estimated 3,000 babies identified in time for treatment. However, the number and quality of newborn screening tests performed varies dramatically from State to State. The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2006 aims to remedy these problems and improve newborn screening for all of America's newborns. This legislation is important because it provides resources to States to expand and improve their newborn screening programs and encourage States to test for the full roster of disorders recommended by the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. It is imperative that we test for the full roster of disorders. That is why we are introducing this legislation to provide adequate funds to get this program started. It authorizes $65 million in fiscal year 07 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 08 through fiscal year 11 for grants to educate health care professionals, laboratory personnel, and parents about newborn screening and relevant new technologies. I encourage my colleagues to join Senator Dodd and me in co- sponsoring this important bill.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join with Senator Dole, Senator Landrieu, Senator Allen, and Senator Durbin to submit a resolution to designate June 2006 as National Safety Month. This year, the National Safety Council has selected ``making our world a safer place'' as its theme for National Safety Month. And that is certainly a goal we want and need to achieve. Public safety in the workplace, in our homes, and in communities, and on our roads and highways is a vital challenge that we all face. According to the National Safety Council, more than 20 million Americans suffer disabling injuries and 100,000 people die from their injuries each year. In the United States, nearly 43,000 people die each year from motor vehicle crashes, making auto fatalities the number one killer of those between the ages of 4 and 34. Many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented with increased education and information on proper precautionary measures. The goal of National Safety Month is to raise public awareness about safety and injury prevention in hopes of reducing these needless deaths and injuries. June also is an appropriate month to focus our efforts on public safety since the summer season is traditionally a time of increased accidental injuries and fatalities. Throughout the month, the National Safety Council and other safety organizations will urge businesses to increase their safety standards in the workplace and provide information to individuals on injury prevention in all aspects of their lives. I look forward to working with other Members of Congress and the many safety organizations to help educate the public on the importance of injury prevention and make our world a safer place. I thank my fellow Colleagues for their support of this resolution and for their continued dedication to public safety. I also would like to thank the National Safety Council, which celebrates its 93rd anniversary in 2006, as a leading source of safety and health information, education, and training in the United States. Their work is vital and makes a difference each and every day.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for Senator LAUTENBERG's and Senator HAGEL's bill, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, which I have co-sponsored. We must ensure that our military personnel and military retirees, as well as their families, have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Over the past 10 years, military health care benefits have been greatly expanded to include Medicare eligible retirees, Reservists, and their families. Additionally, new options for health care have been added for active duty families, including an elimination of co-pays if the families use military treatment facilities instead of civilian doctors. Since 1995, health insurance costs have increased in the civilian sector, but TRICARE rates have not increased. If fees aren't increased and other avenues for funding TRICARE aren't explored, defense health care costs, alone, may rise to as much as $64 billion by 2015. As part of the fiscal year 2007 budget request, the Department of Defense proposed a significant increase to the enrollment and prescription drug prices for military retirees under age 65 and survivors. This increase would more than double enrollment fees. In almost every case, that's an unfathomable single-year increase for families who live on a very tight budget. This is particularly troublesome when the Department of Defense has many other options that it may pursue to limit the mounting costs of medicine. In addition, last year I worked to extend military health insurance to every dependent child of a deceased servicemember at no cost as if that parent were still alive and serving our Nation. The Department of Defense indicates that this important benefit could save dependents as much as $15,000 per year compared to the cost of private health insurance premiums. This cost-free extension of TRICARE Prime medical insurance to surviving minor children will alleviate one of the biggest worries on families today--and that's health care costs. However, if premiums and fees are increased drastically for the surviving spouse, worries about health care costs will still weigh heavily on these families. TRICARE Prime premium increases would undo the good we have accomplished on this front. The legislation we are introducing today would begin to address the need for premiums and other health care fees to keep pace with the rise in health care costs, while keeping in mind the effect such increases would have on the yearly budget for our military retirees, survivors, and their families. This proposal calls for a yearly increase in premiums that is equivalent to the cost of living increase that military retirees receive. For instance, if the cost of living increase is 2 percent, TRICARE Prime premiums will increase by 2 percent. Similarly, under this proposal, fees for TRICARE Reserve Select--which I have fought for with many of my colleagues--would increase by the same percent as the basic pay raise. I believe that these represent fair fee increases for the men, women, and families who have selflessly served our country. Unfortunately, I understand that these modest fee increases will not completely solve the rising costs of providing superior military health care. I encourage the Department of Defense to explore other options for reducing the overall cost to taxpayers of delivering this benefit. For instance, the DoD should negotiate with drug manufacturers for discounts in the TRICARE retail pharmacy network and encourage beneficiaries to use the mail-order pharmacy. There are many more options available to DoD to fund this health care system, which I strongly urge them to explore. I believe we owe a great debt of gratitude to those men, women, and families who served our country in the armed services in uniform and on the home front. It is essential that we honor our commitment and investigate all available options for funding our military health care system, rather than strap the bill on the backs of those who already have paid for their health insurance with their blood, sweat, and tears. I will continue to work with Senators Lautenberg and Hagel to ensure fair treatment of these men and women.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am cosponsoring a bill today, along with Senator Ensign and Senator Frist, to add another option for individuals and families to purchase affordable health insurance. The law currently allows individuals and families to set aside tax- free savings for lifetime healthcare needs in Health Savings Accounts that are combined with a high deductible health insurance plan. This has already made health care more affordable. This important legislation expands on the foundation of Health Savings Accounts by allowing individuals and families to use their Health Savings Accounts to pay the premiums of their health insurance plans. This is the right thing to do, individuals and families need affordable health insurance options. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Ensign, Senator Frist and me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for Senator LAUTENBERG's and Senator HAGEL's bill, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, which I have co-sponsored. We must ensure that our military personnel and military retirees, as well as their families, have access to affordable, quality health insurance. Over the past 10 years, military health care benefits have been greatly expanded to include Medicare eligible retirees, Reservists, and their families. Additionally, new options for health care have been added for active duty families, including an elimination of co-pays if the families use military treatment facilities instead of civilian doctors. Since 1995, health insurance costs have increased in the civilian sector, but TRICARE rates have not increased. If fees aren't increased and other avenues for funding TRICARE aren't explored, defense health care costs, alone, may rise to as much as $64 billion by 2015. As part of the fiscal year 2007 budget request, the Department of Defense proposed a significant increase to the enrollment and prescription drug prices for military retirees under age 65 and survivors. This increase would more than double enrollment fees. In almost every case, that's an unfathomable single-year increase for families who live on a very tight budget. This is particularly troublesome when the Department of Defense has many other options that it may pursue to limit the mounting costs of medicine. In addition, last year I worked to extend military health insurance to every dependent child of a deceased servicemember at no cost as if that parent were still alive and serving our Nation. The Department of Defense indicates that this important benefit could save dependents as much as $15,000 per year compared to the cost of private health insurance premiums. This cost-free extension of TRICARE Prime medical insurance to surviving minor children will alleviate one of the biggest worries on families today--and that's health care costs. However, if premiums and fees are increased drastically for the surviving spouse, worries about health care costs will still weigh heavily on these families. TRICARE Prime premium increases would undo the good we have accomplished on this front. The legislation we are introducing today would begin to address the need for premiums and other health care fees to keep pace with the rise in health care costs, while keeping in mind the effect such increases would have on the yearly budget for our military retirees, survivors, and their families. This proposal calls for a yearly increase in premiums that is equivalent to the cost of living increase that military retirees receive. For instance, if the cost of living increase is 2 percent, TRICARE Prime premiums will increase by 2 percent. Similarly, under this proposal, fees for TRICARE Reserve Select--which I have fought for with many of my colleagues--would increase by the same percent as the basic pay raise. I believe that these represent fair fee increases for the men, women, and families who have selflessly served our country. Unfortunately, I understand that these modest fee increases will not completely solve the rising costs of providing superior military health care. I encourage the Department of Defense to explore other options for reducing the overall cost to taxpayers of delivering this benefit. For instance, the DoD should negotiate with drug manufacturers for discounts in the TRICARE retail pharmacy network and encourage beneficiaries to use the mail-order pharmacy. There are many more options available to DoD to fund this health care system, which I strongly urge them to explore. I believe we owe a great debt of gratitude to those men, women, and families who served our country in the armed services in uniform and on the home front. It is essential that we honor our commitment and investigate all available options for funding our military health care system, rather than strap the bill on the backs of those who already have paid for their health insurance with their blood, sweat, and tears. I will continue to work with Senators Lautenberg and Hagel to ensure fair treatment of these men and women.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am proud to join as a co-sponsor of Senator Specter's Oil and Gas Industry Antitrust Act. This bill should help us curb the skyrocketing energy prices that have been an increasing burden on our Nation's consumers and businesses. It also should help us figure out how we can address these problems in the future. High fuel costs are affecting every family, whether they are driving across town or heating their homes, and we must continue our efforts to do something about it. This bill would take immediate steps to help decrease possible price manipulation by oil companies and allow government enforcement agencies to take action to prevent price-fixing by oil producing nations. I have been working on this problem for a long time. In fact, Senator Kohl and I have worked hard in our Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights to encourage FTC monitoring of gas prices and their careful investigation of oil industry behavior. I believe that those efforts have helped limit the fuel price increases; unfortunately, we still face enormous problems in this area, and we are all paying higher and higher prices for gas and heating oil. So, we need to continue our efforts and try some different approaches, and this legislation does just that. Specifically, this bill calls for the Government Accountability Office to undertake a thorough study of the past enforcement actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in prior oil industry merger investigations. This study will provide much- needed information on how effective the antitrust agencies' actions have been in preventing harm to consumers from mergers within the petroleum industry. Even more important, this bill also will call on the FTC and DOJ to use the findings from that study to examine those specific mergers and determine if they need to take further enforcement action regarding those deals. In addition, the antitrust agencies will utilize this information to take a close look at the petroleum industry and to determine whether they require special antitrust rules-- applicable specifically to the oil industry--to give the agencies the tools they need to promote competition in the oil industry. This would be a very significant step, of course, but it is something they will consider. Another important provision of this legislation creates a Joint Federal and State Task Force to investigate information sharing in the oil industry that may lead to artificially high prices for gasoline, electricity, and heating oil. The Federal Government and the various States have worked very effectively in the past to look into price spikes, supply disruptions, and a host of commercial arrangements that can harm consumers, and this bill provides a valuable framework for continuing and increasing this very effective cooperation. Moreover, this bill will put an end to certain types of activities that oil companies may use to drive up prices or create shortages for all types of fuels. Specifically, this bill makes sure that oil companies cannot manipulate prices by refusing to sell their products in particular markets or diverting oil products away from American shores to artificially create a shortage and pad their profits. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes a provision that Senator Kohl and I have pursued since 2000--a provision that would make it clear that the Antitrust Division can prosecute OPEC for its price- fixing. I believe that some of the provisions of this bill will help right away, like limiting the ability of the oil companies to refuse to sell petroleum in markets that need it and putting OPEC on notice that they can be prosecuted if they violate our laws. These provisions should help in the short-term. And, the other provisions, which require studies and review of past enforcement actions and analysis of possible changes in the antitrust laws, may help us address this problem in the long-run. This bill will make a difference and help consumers. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join in support of its passage.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am proud to join as a co-sponsor of Senator Specter's Oil and Gas Industry Antitrust Act. This bill should help us curb the skyrocketing energy prices that have been an increasing burden on our Nation's consumers and businesses. It also should help us figure out how we can address these problems in the future. High fuel costs are affecting every family, whether they are driving across town or heating their homes, and we must continue our efforts to do something about it. This bill would take immediate steps to help decrease possible price manipulation by oil companies and allow government enforcement agencies to take action to prevent price-fixing by oil producing nations. I have been working on this problem for a long time. In fact, Senator Kohl and I have worked hard in our Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights to encourage FTC monitoring of gas prices and their careful investigation of oil industry behavior. I believe that those efforts have helped limit the fuel price increases; unfortunately, we still face enormous problems in this area, and we are all paying higher and higher prices for gas and heating oil. So, we need to continue our efforts and try some different approaches, and this legislation does just that. Specifically, this bill calls for the Government Accountability Office to undertake a thorough study of the past enforcement actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in prior oil industry merger investigations. This study will provide much- needed information on how effective the antitrust agencies' actions have been in preventing harm to consumers from mergers within the petroleum industry. Even more important, this bill also will call on the FTC and DOJ to use the findings from that study to examine those specific mergers and determine if they need to take further enforcement action regarding those deals. In addition, the antitrust agencies will utilize this information to take a close look at the petroleum industry and to determine whether they require special antitrust rules-- applicable specifically to the oil industry--to give the agencies the tools they need to promote competition in the oil industry. This would be a very significant step, of course, but it is something they will consider. Another important provision of this legislation creates a Joint Federal and State Task Force to investigate information sharing in the oil industry that may lead to artificially high prices for gasoline, electricity, and heating oil. The Federal Government and the various States have worked very effectively in the past to look into price spikes, supply disruptions, and a host of commercial arrangements that can harm consumers, and this bill provides a valuable framework for continuing and increasing this very effective cooperation. Moreover, this bill will put an end to certain types of activities that oil companies may use to drive up prices or create shortages for all types of fuels. Specifically, this bill makes sure that oil companies cannot manipulate prices by refusing to sell their products in particular markets or diverting oil products away from American shores to artificially create a shortage and pad their profits. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes a provision that Senator Kohl and I have pursued since 2000--a provision that would make it clear that the Antitrust Division can prosecute OPEC for its price- fixing. I believe that some of the provisions of this bill will help right away, like limiting the ability of the oil companies to refuse to sell petroleum in markets that need it and putting OPEC on notice that they can be prosecuted if they violate our laws. These provisions should help in the short-term. And, the other provisions, which require studies and review of past enforcement actions and analysis of possible changes in the antitrust laws, may help us address this problem in the long-run. This bill will make a difference and help consumers. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join in support of its passage.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join Senators Domenici, KYL, and McCain to introduce a bill to support the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program, which encourages those with outstanding arrest warrants to turn themselves in peacefully. This program--conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Marshal Service, with the cooperation of public, private, nonprofit and faith-based partners--involves using a local church or community center as a temporary courthouse, where fugitives can turn themselves in and have their cases adjudicated. This is not an amnesty program. Those who surrender are still held accountable for the original charges. However, by moving the prosecutors, public defenders, and judges to the new location, non- violent cases can be resolved promptly on-site, in a setting where fugitives feel they can safely turn themselves in. In a pilot program implemented last August in Cleveland, over 800 people turned themselves in during a four day period, including 324 who had outstanding felony warrants. Almost all the cases were adjudicated on the day of the surrender. As means of comparison, the Fugitive Task Force conducted a more traditional sweep for three days following the implementation of the Fugitive Safe Surrender program, resulting in the capture of 65 people with outstanding warrants. Clearly, the Fugitive Safe Surrender program was a tremendous success, and I'd like to offer my personal congratulations to Pete Elliott, the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, and Dr. C. Jay Matthews, the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Cleveland, for their efforts in heading up this successful endeavor. This type of innovation and creative thinking is exactly what we need in the law enforcement community, and it has obviously paid off in Cleveland. The Fugitive Safe Surrender program has exceeded expectations and demonstrated its value to the community. The logical next step is for the U.S. Marshals to expand their initiative nationwide. They already have been working with law enforcement, community, and church groups in eight cities that have volunteered to be sites for Fugitive Safe Surrender in 2006: Albuquerque, NM; Phoenix, AZ; Washington, DC; Louisville, KY; Camden, NJ; Indianapolis, IN; Richmond, VA; and Akron, OH. They are hoping to expand to even more cities in 2007 and 2008. This expansion is worthy of federal support, and that is why I have joined Senators Domenici, Kyl, and McCAIN in sponsoring the Fugitive Safe Surrender Act of 2006, which authorizes $3 million for fiscal year 07, $5 million for fiscal year 08, and $8 million for fiscal year 09. These funds will allow the U.S. Marshals Service to coordinate with the Fugitive Safe Surrender sites around the country, also providing for the cost of establishing secure courtrooms inside of a local church or community center. This is a good bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I join Senators Domenici, KYL, and McCain to introduce a bill to support the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program, which encourages those with outstanding arrest warrants to turn themselves in peacefully. This program--conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Marshal Service, with the cooperation of public, private, nonprofit and faith-based partners--involves using a local church or community center as a temporary courthouse, where fugitives can turn themselves in and have their cases adjudicated. This is not an amnesty program. Those who surrender are still held accountable for the original charges. However, by moving the prosecutors, public defenders, and judges to the new location, non- violent cases can be resolved promptly on-site, in a setting where fugitives feel they can safely turn themselves in. In a pilot program implemented last August in Cleveland, over 800 people turned themselves in during a four day period, including 324 who had outstanding felony warrants. Almost all the cases were adjudicated on the day of the surrender. As means of comparison, the Fugitive Task Force conducted a more traditional sweep for three days following the implementation of the Fugitive Safe Surrender program, resulting in the capture of 65 people with outstanding warrants. Clearly, the Fugitive Safe Surrender program was a tremendous success, and I'd like to offer my personal congratulations to Pete Elliott, the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, and Dr. C. Jay Matthews, the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Cleveland, for their efforts in heading up this successful endeavor. This type of innovation and creative thinking is exactly what we need in the law enforcement community, and it has obviously paid off in Cleveland. The Fugitive Safe Surrender program has exceeded expectations and demonstrated its value to the community. The logical next step is for the U.S. Marshals to expand their initiative nationwide. They already have been working with law enforcement, community, and church groups in eight cities that have volunteered to be sites for Fugitive Safe Surrender in 2006: Albuquerque, NM; Phoenix, AZ; Washington, DC; Louisville, KY; Camden, NJ; Indianapolis, IN; Richmond, VA; and Akron, OH. They are hoping to expand to even more cities in 2007 and 2008. This expansion is worthy of federal support, and that is why I have joined Senators Domenici, Kyl, and McCAIN in sponsoring the Fugitive Safe Surrender Act of 2006, which authorizes $3 million for fiscal year 07, $5 million for fiscal year 08, and $8 million for fiscal year 09. These funds will allow the U.S. Marshals Service to coordinate with the Fugitive Safe Surrender sites around the country, also providing for the cost of establishing secure courtrooms inside of a local church or community center. This is a good bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I am proud to introduce the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act with my colleague, Senator Levin. I would like to thank him for all of his hard work on this legislation and the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are a unique natural resource that need to be protected for future generations. The Great Lakes hold one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater, cover more than 94,000 square miles, and drain more than twice as much land. Over thirty of the basin's biological communities--and over 100 species--are globally rare or found only in the Great Lakes basin. The 637 State parks in the region accommodate more than 250 million visitors each year. The Great Lakes are significant to the eight States and two Canadian provinces that border them, as well as to the millions of other people around the country who fish, visit the surrounding parks, or use products that are affordably shipped to them via the lakes. Unfortunately, the Great Lakes remain in a degraded state. A 2003 GAO report said, ``Despite early success in improving conditions in the Great Lakes Basin, significant environmental challenges remain, including increased threats from invasive species and cleanup of areas contaminated with toxic substances that pose human health threats.'' Many scientists affirm that the Great Lakes are exhibiting signs of stress due to a combination of sources, including toxic contaminants, invasive species, nutrient loading, shoreline and upland land use changes, and hydrologic modifications. A 2005 report from a group of Great Lakes scientific experts states that ``historical sources of stress have combined with new ones to reach a tipping point, the point at which ecosystem-level changes occur rapidly and unexpectedly, confounding the traditional relationships between sources of stress and the expected ecosystem response.'' One cannot see the many threats to the Lakes simply by looking at them. The zebra mussel, an aquatic invasive species, causes $500 million per year in economic and environmental damage to the Great Lakes. One study found that since 1990--the year that zebra mussels really began to make an impact--Lake Michigan's yellow perch population has decreased by about 80 percent. In 2000, seven people died after pathogens entered the Walkerton, Ontario drinking water supply from the lakes. In May of 2004, more than ten billion gallons of raw sewage and storm water were dumped into the Great Lakes. In that same year, over 1,850 beaches in the Great Lakes were closed. Each summer, Lake Erie develops a 6,300 square mile dead zone. There is no appreciable natural reproduction of lake trout in the lower four lakes. More than half of the Great Lakes region's original wetlands have been lost, along with 60 percent of the forests. Wildlife habitat has been destroyed, thus diminishing opportunities necessary for fishing, hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation. For several years, I have been calling for a plan to restore the Lakes and have been urging governors, mayors, environmental community and other regional interests to agree on a vision for the Great Lakes-- not just immediately, but for the long-term future. Last year, over 1,500 people worked to draft a plan through a process called Great Lakes Regional Collaboration. The Collaboration strategy includes dozens of recommendations for action at the federal, state, local, and tribal actions that will help restore the Great Lakes. Senator Carl Levin and I--as well as our colleagues in the House--have crafted a bill to implement these recommendations. This bill would reduce the threat of non-native species invading the Great Lakes through ballast water and other pathways. The bill targets the Asian carp by authorizing the Corps of Engineers to improve the dispersal barrier project and prohibiting the importation or interstate commerce of live Asian carp. The bill addresses threats to fish and wildlife habitat by reauthorizing the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act, a current program that provides grants to states and tribes. The bill reauthorizes the State Revolving Loan Fund and provides $20 billion over five years to assist communities with the critical task of upgrading and improving their wastewater infrastructure. The bill authorizes $150 million per year for contaminated sediment cleanup at Areas of Concern under the Great Lakes Legacy program. It also provides the EPA with greater flexibility in implementing the program by allowing the Great Lakes National Program Office to disburse funds to the non-federal sponsor of a Legacy Act project. The bill establishes a new grant program within EPA, called the Great Lakes Mercury Product Stewardship Strategy Grant Program, to phase out mercury in products. The bill improves existing research programs and fills the gap where work is needed. We need baseline data to understand how the lakes are changing and where improvements are succeeding. The bill authorizes NOAA to restore and remediate waterfront areas. Projects will require a non-federal partner who will provide at least a 35% cost-share. Individual projects may not cost more than $5 million. Lastly, the bill establishes the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration process in order to coordinate and improve Great Lakes programs. Restoring the Great Lakes to a healthy ecosystem is not something that will happen overnight. This is a long-term process, but Congress needs to act now. Our bill is a major step in the right direction. We need to continue to refocus and improve our efforts in order to reverse the trend of degradation of the Great Lakes. They are a unique natural resource for Ohio, the entire region, and the country--a resource that must be protected for future generations. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this bill and in our efforts to help preserve and protect the long-term viability of our Great Lakes.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I am proud to introduce the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act with my colleague, Senator Levin. I would like to thank him for all of his hard work on this legislation and the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are a unique natural resource that need to be protected for future generations. The Great Lakes hold one-fifth of the world's surface freshwater, cover more than 94,000 square miles, and drain more than twice as much land. Over thirty of the basin's biological communities--and over 100 species--are globally rare or found only in the Great Lakes basin. The 637 State parks in the region accommodate more than 250 million visitors each year. The Great Lakes are significant to the eight States and two Canadian provinces that border them, as well as to the millions of other people around the country who fish, visit the surrounding parks, or use products that are affordably shipped to them via the lakes. Unfortunately, the Great Lakes remain in a degraded state. A 2003 GAO report said, ``Despite early success in improving conditions in the Great Lakes Basin, significant environmental challenges remain, including increased threats from invasive species and cleanup of areas contaminated with toxic substances that pose human health threats.'' Many scientists affirm that the Great Lakes are exhibiting signs of stress due to a combination of sources, including toxic contaminants, invasive species, nutrient loading, shoreline and upland land use changes, and hydrologic modifications. A 2005 report from a group of Great Lakes scientific experts states that ``historical sources of stress have combined with new ones to reach a tipping point, the point at which ecosystem-level changes occur rapidly and unexpectedly, confounding the traditional relationships between sources of stress and the expected ecosystem response.'' One cannot see the many threats to the Lakes simply by looking at them. The zebra mussel, an aquatic invasive species, causes $500 million per year in economic and environmental damage to the Great Lakes. One study found that since 1990--the year that zebra mussels really began to make an impact--Lake Michigan's yellow perch population has decreased by about 80 percent. In 2000, seven people died after pathogens entered the Walkerton, Ontario drinking water supply from the lakes. In May of 2004, more than ten billion gallons of raw sewage and storm water were dumped into the Great Lakes. In that same year, over 1,850 beaches in the Great Lakes were closed. Each summer, Lake Erie develops a 6,300 square mile dead zone. There is no appreciable natural reproduction of lake trout in the lower four lakes. More than half of the Great Lakes region's original wetlands have been lost, along with 60 percent of the forests. Wildlife habitat has been destroyed, thus diminishing opportunities necessary for fishing, hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation. For several years, I have been calling for a plan to restore the Lakes and have been urging governors, mayors, environmental community and other regional interests to agree on a vision for the Great Lakes-- not just immediately, but for the long-term future. Last year, over 1,500 people worked to draft a plan through a process called Great Lakes Regional Collaboration. The Collaboration strategy includes dozens of recommendations for action at the federal, state, local, and tribal actions that will help restore the Great Lakes. Senator Carl Levin and I--as well as our colleagues in the House--have crafted a bill to implement these recommendations. This bill would reduce the threat of non-native species invading the Great Lakes through ballast water and other pathways. The bill targets the Asian carp by authorizing the Corps of Engineers to improve the dispersal barrier project and prohibiting the importation or interstate commerce of live Asian carp. The bill addresses threats to fish and wildlife habitat by reauthorizing the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act, a current program that provides grants to states and tribes. The bill reauthorizes the State Revolving Loan Fund and provides $20 billion over five years to assist communities with the critical task of upgrading and improving their wastewater infrastructure. The bill authorizes $150 million per year for contaminated sediment cleanup at Areas of Concern under the Great Lakes Legacy program. It also provides the EPA with greater flexibility in implementing the program by allowing the Great Lakes National Program Office to disburse funds to the non-federal sponsor of a Legacy Act project. The bill establishes a new grant program within EPA, called the Great Lakes Mercury Product Stewardship Strategy Grant Program, to phase out mercury in products. The bill improves existing research programs and fills the gap where work is needed. We need baseline data to understand how the lakes are changing and where improvements are succeeding. The bill authorizes NOAA to restore and remediate waterfront areas. Projects will require a non-federal partner who will provide at least a 35% cost-share. Individual projects may not cost more than $5 million. Lastly, the bill establishes the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration process in order to coordinate and improve Great Lakes programs. Restoring the Great Lakes to a healthy ecosystem is not something that will happen overnight. This is a long-term process, but Congress needs to act now. Our bill is a major step in the right direction. We need to continue to refocus and improve our efforts in order to reverse the trend of degradation of the Great Lakes. They are a unique natural resource for Ohio, the entire region, and the country--a resource that must be protected for future generations. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this bill and in our efforts to help preserve and protect the long-term viability of our Great Lakes.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in strong support of the nomination of Judge Jack Zouhary, whom the President has nominated to be United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. Judge Zouhary currently is serving on the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. His service there has been outstanding and is an excellent indication of the type of judge he will be on the Federal bench. I'd like to share with my Senate colleagues just a few of the numerous admirable qualities that make Judge Zouhary such an outstanding nominee. Both as a professional and as a person, he is exactly the sort of individual we want to be serving on the Federal bench. Judge Zouhary grew up in Toledo. He is a first-generation American, whose parents immigrated from Lebanon to the United States and instilled in their son a respect for the values of education, religion, and community service. After graduating as the valedictorian of his high school, he attended Dartmouth College, where he received his undergraduate degree before returning to his hometown to earn his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. Judge Zouhary then embarked on what would become a long and accomplished legal career--a career with 30 years of legal experience that has given him the background and understanding of our legal system to successfully take on the role of a Federal judge. He began his legal career with the law firm of Robison, Curphey & O'Connell, where he worked as an associate and then as a partner. During his 23 years there, he had a varied practice, representing individuals and businesses on a range of legal issues, with an emphasis on civil trial practice and corporate matters. In 2000, Judge Zouhary became the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for S.E. Johnson Companies, Inc., a large highway contractor and asphalt producer. In 2004, Judge Zouhary accepted a position as ``Of Counsel'' with the law firm of Fuller & Henry. He remained with Fuller & Henry until 2005, when Ohio Governor Bob Taft appointed him to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. In Ohio, the Common Pleas Court is the highest state trial bench and hears all major civil and criminal cases. During his time as an attorney in private practice, Judge Zouhary distinguished himself as an excellent litigator and was honored by being selected as a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers is by invitation only and is limited to the best of the trial bar. Judge Zouhary has long been committed to the ideals of civility and professionalism in the legal field. Friends and colleagues often describe him as ``a gentleman.'' I agree with that assessment. He is well regarded for his honesty, his integrity, and his intelligence, and those who have known and worked with him through the years speak warmly of his even-temper and cordial demeanor. Not surprisingly, given his interest in preserving a less combative approach to the law, Judge Zouhary frequently has presented lectures focusing on legal ethics and civility in the practice of law for Continuing Legal Education Seminars. His commitment to serving the community as a professional also is exemplified by his membership in the Toledo Rotary Club, as well as his participation in a broad array of other charitable activities, ranging from pro bono work for a local church to service at a community soup kitchen. Although he has been a Common Pleas judge for only a relatively short time, Judge Zouhary already has distinguished himself on the bench. He has worked diligently to clear a very large backlog of cases from his crowded docket and has made a good deal of headway in that effort. Most important, attorneys who have appeared before him--criminal and civil, prosecution and defense--speak in glowing terms of his talent, fairness, and excellent judicial temperament. With Judge Zouhary's impressive record as a legal professional and community leader, it should come as no surprise that the American Bar Association was unanimous in giving him its highest rating of ``well- qualified.'' Judge Zouhary is in every way an outstanding nominee, who will serve the people of Ohio and of this country well. I strongly support the nomination of Judge Jack Zouhary as a Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of Ohio.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, based in Akron, OH, upon the 80th anniversary of the operation of its Goodyear Blimps. Since 1925, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has operated its blimps throughout the country, providing aerial coverage of sporting events and other major public gatherings. Over time, the Goodyear Blimp has become one of the most readily recognizable corporate symbols in the United States and throughout the world. I wish Goodyear the best, as it celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Blimp, and ask that the following proclamation honoring this occasion be printed in the Record. The material follows: A Proclamation Honoring the Goodyear Blimp on Its 80th Anniversary Whereas, the Goodyear Blimps have been operating in the skies of America since 1925; and Whereas, from 1941 to 1944, Goodyear built airships for the United States military to help protect America and its troops by escorting convoys safely across the Atlantic during World War II; and Whereas, for 45 years, the Goodyear Blimps have provided aerial television coverage of America's most-watched sports, entertainment and news events, including Super Bowls, World Series, Final Four Tournaments, college football bowl games, and political conventions; and Whereas, the Goodyear Blimps have responded to requests from the American Red Cross and other emergency response agencies and used their aerial electronic signs to help victims of hurricanes and earthquakes by communicating with victims to let them know where to find help, food, water, and medical aid; and Whereas, the Goodyear Blimps annually support non-profit and public service groups through promotional programs and rides donated to the charities, which are then auctioned off helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars every year; and Whereas, the Goodyear Blimps are celebrating their 80th Anniversary as the world famous icon for America and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Now, therefore, I, Mike DeWine, United States Senator from the Great State of Ohio, join with the residents of Ohio and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in honoring the Goodyear Blimp on its 80th Anniversary. On this, the Sixteenth of March, Two Thousand and Six.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today, I join my colleague from Michigan, Senator Levin, in introducing the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006. This measure was first enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1998 to coordinate the management, protection, and restoration of fish and wildlife resources within the Great Lakes Basin. Many groups support this program because it is a good management tool and facilitates better communication between their agencies. The Great Lakes harbor a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Over 140 fish species and over 500 species of migratory bird can be found in the basin. As in many coastal areas, there is a heavy concentration of people and industry bordering the Great Lakes. Further, the Great Lakes are threatened by the continuing introduction of invasive species, which negatively impact the native food chain and habitat. The fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes are facing grave dangers, and the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006 would provide needed resources and authority to alleviate some of these concerns. For instance, the bill would reauthorize the grant program, increasing the available amount to $12 million and would add wildlife projects to the types of projects that may receive grants. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service would award grants based on the recommendations from the existing grant proposal review committee, with the addition of wildlife experts. The bill also would authorize up to $6 million each year for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to undertake projects that have a regional benefit to fish and wildlife. Under this new authority, the Service would undertake projects based on the recommendations of states and tribes. Additionally, the bill would require the Fish & Wildlife Service to submit a report to Congress in 2011 that describes the fish and wildlife grants that have been awarded and the results of those grants. The Service would report annually to the states and tribes regarding the grants that have been awarded, priorities proposed for funding in the budget, and actions taken in support of Great Lakes regional collaboration. This bill reflects the collaboration of non-governmental groups, as well as tribal, State, and Federal agencies with jurisdiction over the management of fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes. All of those groups have the goal of protecting and restoring Great Lakes fish and wildlife, and this bill will continue in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today, I join my colleague from Michigan, Senator Levin, in introducing the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006. This measure was first enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1998 to coordinate the management, protection, and restoration of fish and wildlife resources within the Great Lakes Basin. Many groups support this program because it is a good management tool and facilitates better communication between their agencies. The Great Lakes harbor a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Over 140 fish species and over 500 species of migratory bird can be found in the basin. As in many coastal areas, there is a heavy concentration of people and industry bordering the Great Lakes. Further, the Great Lakes are threatened by the continuing introduction of invasive species, which negatively impact the native food chain and habitat. The fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes are facing grave dangers, and the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006 would provide needed resources and authority to alleviate some of these concerns. For instance, the bill would reauthorize the grant program, increasing the available amount to $12 million and would add wildlife projects to the types of projects that may receive grants. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service would award grants based on the recommendations from the existing grant proposal review committee, with the addition of wildlife experts. The bill also would authorize up to $6 million each year for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to undertake projects that have a regional benefit to fish and wildlife. Under this new authority, the Service would undertake projects based on the recommendations of states and tribes. Additionally, the bill would require the Fish & Wildlife Service to submit a report to Congress in 2011 that describes the fish and wildlife grants that have been awarded and the results of those grants. The Service would report annually to the states and tribes regarding the grants that have been awarded, priorities proposed for funding in the budget, and actions taken in support of Great Lakes regional collaboration. This bill reflects the collaboration of non-governmental groups, as well as tribal, State, and Federal agencies with jurisdiction over the management of fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes. All of those groups have the goal of protecting and restoring Great Lakes fish and wildlife, and this bill will continue in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in strong support of the nomination of Judge Jack Zouhary, whom the President has nominated to be U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. Judge Zouhary currently is serving on the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. His service there has been outstanding and is an excellent indication of the type of judge he will be on the Federal bench. I would like to share with my Senate colleagues just a few of the numerous admirable qualities that make Judge Zouhary such an outstanding nominee. Both as a professional and as a person, he is exactly the sort of individual we want to be serving on the Federal bench. Judge Zouhary grew up in Toledo. He is a first-generation American, whose parents immigrated from Lebanon to the United States and instilled in their son a respect for the values of education, religion, and community service. After graduating as the valedictorian of his high school, he attended Dartmouth College, where he received his undergraduate degree before returning to his hometown to earn his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. Judge Zouhary then embarked on what would become a long and accomplished legal career--a career with 30 years of legal experience that has given him the background and understanding of our legal system to successfully take on the role of a Federal judge. He began his legal career with the law firm of Robison, Curphey & O'Connell, where he worked as an Associate and then as a Partner. During his 23 years there, he had a varied practice, representing individuals and businesses on a range of legal issues, with an emphasis on civil trial practice and corporate matters. In 2000, Judge Zouhary became the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for S.E. Johnson Companies, Inc., a large highway contractor and asphalt producer. In 2004, Judge Zouhary accepted a position as ``Of Counsel'' with the law firm of Fuller & Henry. He remained with Fuller & Henry until 2005, when Ohio Governor Bob Taft appointed him to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. In Ohio, the Common Pleas Court is the highest State trial bench and hears all major civil and criminal cases. During his time as an attorney in private practice, Judge Zouhary distinguished himself as an excellent litigator and was honored by being selected as a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers is by invitation only and is limited to the best of the trial bar. Judge Zouhary has long been committed to the ideals of civility and professionalism in the legal field. Friends and colleagues often describe him as ``a gentleman.'' I agree with that assessment. He is well regarded for his honesty, his integrity, and his intelligence, and those who have known and worked with him through the years speak warmly of his even-temper and cordial demeanor. Not surprisingly, given his interest in preserving a less combative approach to the law, Judge Zouhary frequently has presented lectures focusing on legal ethics and civility in the practice of law for Continuing Legal Education Seminars. His commitment to serving the community as a professional also is exemplified by his membership in the Toledo Rotary Club, as well as his participation in a broad array of other charitable activities, ranging from pro bono work for a local church to service at a community soup kitchen. Judge Zouhary has certainly distinguished himself on the bench. He has worked diligently to clear a very large backlog of cases from his crowded docket and has made a good deal of headway in that effort. Most important, attorneys who have appeared before him--criminal and civil, prosecution and defense--speak in glowing terms of his talent, fairness, and excellent judicial temperament. With Judge Zouhary's impressive record as a legal professional and community leader, it should come as no surprise that the American Bar Association was unanimous in giving him its highest rating of ``well- qualified.'' Judge Zouhary is in every way an outstanding nominee, who will serve the people of Ohio and of this country well. Mr. President, I strongly support the nomination of Judge Jack Zouhary as a Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. I thank the Chair and yield the Floor.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a fellow Ohioan--an honorable young man who lost his life while protecting the freedom of others. Marine CPL Andre L. Williams died on July 28, 2005, when his convoy came under attack with small arms fire from enemy forces in Western Iraq. He was 23 years old. Mr. President, Corporal Williams was a brave Marine from the Columbus-based Reserves' Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment unit. Born on August 9, 1981, in Galloway, OH, Andre--fondly referred to as ``Dray'' by his friends and family--lit up the lives of his family and friends with his shining smile. As his older sister Robyn Williams recalled, ``His smile was angelic. There's no other way to describe it.'' Andre was friendly, level-headed, and sensitive to those around him. He was always willing to help resolve disputes between the people he cared about. According to his friend Harry Cuccio, ``It didn't matter what kind of mood you were in, if he was smiling you were smiling.'' Many people described Andre as having infectious optimism. His mother, Mary, recalled that her son ``loved to make other people laugh and make them feel good.'' She also said that ``if there was anything he could do to make someone's life better, that's what he would do.'' Mr. President, Andre Williams was an ambitious and determined young man, with a talent for drawing and a love for OSU football and the Cincinnati Bengals. Graduating from Westland High School in 1999, he hoped to attend college after his service in Iraq, and one day open his own successful night club. Andre's brave spirit and unwavering patriotism compelled him to join the Marines after the September 11 terrorist attacks. He felt a strong duty to protect his country and his family--especially his young daughter, Lea Lea, and young son Dominique Juan. Andre was loved by his family and by many close friends, evidenced by the over 300 people who attended his funeral service. It was standing room only. As Andre's father, Robert, remarked, ``Seeing how many people he touched [was] unbelievable.'' At the emotional ceremony, Andre's mother said that Andre was [her] hero before he ever joined the Marines, and now, he's the world's hero. Andre's parents have two other sons in the military--Army SGT Robert Leslie and Air Force Technician SGT Robert Williams. Both were able to come to their brother's funeral. Two of Andre's other brothers, Kevin and Joshua, chose to wear Andre's dog tags instead of neckties. One of Andre's best friends with whom he served in Iraq was Sergeant Justin F. Hoffman, who was among 10 Ohio Marines killed just 3 days before Andre's funeral. Justin had hoped to fly home and pay his respects to his close friend, but 5 days after Andre's death, Justin also lost his life. Robert Hoffman, Justin's father, attended Andre's funeral in his son's absence--a promise he made to Justin, just in case he wasn't able to return home for the services. Another good friend, Ron Cunningham, expressed his appreciation for Andre's friendship. This is what he had to say: I would like to give thanks for Dray being such a good friend to me and to so many other people. He was a great person, and I am glad that he was a part of my life. He was very close to me, my family, and to my cousin who served with him in Iraq. You're a true hero my friend. It hurts that you're gone, but I know you're in a good place and don't worry, I'll see you again. Teresa Norris, mother of one of Andre's best friends, Gary Norris, and his proclaimed ``second mother,'' offered thanks for Andre's heroic actions and reminisced about the special times they used to spend together. She has this to say: Dray, you are a true Hero, and will always be my Hero. How I will miss that beautiful smile, and our long talks. You will never be forgotten, honey. I am honored to have been a part of your life, and will keep you a part of mine forever. We love you and always will. Mr. President, I would like to conclude my remarks with a poem that was posted on an Internet website in tribute to Andre. It is written by Tinisha Tolber of Galloway, OH: Though fallen, you are not forgotten. Remembered . . . In every American flag across the Nation. In every tear that your battle brothers cry. And, although freedom is supposed to be free, you have paid the ultimate price for the people like me. The government rewards you with a flag and a Purple Heart, but we pray for your families that have been torn apart. Rest in peace, Dray, knowing you are remembered always. Mr. President, Andre leaves behind a loving family to cherish his memory: parents Mary and Robert; siblings Josh, Kevin, Rob, Robert, Brian, Robyn, and Roshonda; ex-wife Kirsten and children, Lea Lea and Dominique Juan. My wife Fran and I continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas B. Erdy Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a valiant, young, Williamsburg, OH, Marine named LCpl Nicholas B. Erdy, who was killed in Iraq on May 11, 2005. He was 21 years old. A 2002 graduate of McNicholas High School, Nicholas--Nick to family and friends--was dearly loved by all who knew him. They say that Nick was special--that he was courageous, that he never complained, and that he had a knack for making his friends and family laugh. He also just loved being a Marine. Nick's father, Bill, says that his son used to help him with his landscaping business, with talk of possibly working there full-time when he was older. But, after high school graduation, it was clear exactly what Nick wanted to do. He wanted to become a Marine. A movie buff who loved his ``muscle'' car, Nick had always wanted to be in the military. He built forts as a child and read books on weapons and war strategies. His high school football coach, John Rodenberg, said that ``Nick was a great kid, really focused on everything he was doing. . . . He [always] had a plan. He knew he wanted to go into the armed forces. He was focused on serving his country.'' Indeed, Nick was unfalteringly devoted to the Marines and to our country. Even his favorite holiday, not surprisingly, was the Fourth of July. Nick joined the Marines after graduation in 2002 and was in Iraq by March 2005. He was killed on May 11, 2005, when his armored vehicle hit a land mine. After Nick's death, family friend and former football coach, Patrick McCracken, reminisced about Nick, whom he first met when Nick was, as he put it, a ``spindly-legged, somewhat awkward'' seventh-grade football player with the Titans football team. During one game, the Titans were losing 46-to-0 at halftime when Coach McCracken decided to put Nick in the game and see if he could turn things around. He said Nick was calm, in control, and flawless. ``I'd stare straight into his eyes . . . expecting perfection out of a seventh-grade, eighth-grade kid--and I got it.'' On an Internet tribute website for Nick, Coach McCracken wrote a heartfelt letter to him shortly after Nick was killed. This is what he wrote: Dear Nick: We have started football. I think of you every day. . . . You make me so proud. I need to find some quarterback who knows all my crazy signals like you did. I think we may have a couple. These new Titans are great kids, just like you. You are always in my heart. I promise to help take care of your mom, dad, Erin, Ashley, and other family members when they need it. I wish I was half the Marine you and the other guys are. We owe so much to you guys. We will stay strong for you. What is a Titan? He is a Marine--he is Nick Erdy. I love you, Semper Fi. Mr. President, when Nick's body was brought home, the funeral procession--stretching two dozen vehicles long--passed under an arch formed by two ladder trucks from the Miami Township and Goshen fire departments. As the hearse rolled by, hundreds of people clapped and waved American flags. Elizabeth Hoskins, of Milford, was holding a homemade sign that read simply, ``Nick's Our Hero.'' Andrew Clements watched the funeral procession, as well. Though he never met Nick, he was touched by him and had this to say: I never had the privilege of meeting Nick, but over the past few days I feel like I have. He's simply a hero to everyone. I stood outside McNicholas High School while Nick's funeral was happening. The faces on the people said it all. Nick Erdy will never be forgotten. Father Pat Crone of St. Xavier Catholic Church described well Nick's selfless nature and how his life made a difference to so many in so many ways. This is what he said: Nick is a blessing. We can celebrate this life, because it so important--because Nick was doing things so important. Freedom is important. A young man, who could have stayed back here with all the blessings of this country, decided to go and spread those blessings to those less gifted and lucky than us. A resolution by the Ohio House of Representatives aptly tells us about Nick's life by stating: It is certain the world is a better place, his having been in it. Without question, the world is a better place for Nicholas Erdy having been in it. Nick was the model of what we all hope our children will become. He was a young man with a sparking personality, a wonderful sense of humor, a compassion for others, and a dedication to his country. A friend named Martin wrote the following in tribute to Nick and Dustin Derga, a fellow Ohio marine and friend of both, who was killed in Iraq three days before Nick: Derga and Erdy were 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. 1st platoon will never be the same without them and the others we lost. They were great guys, and they will be remembered in our hearts forever. Nick was very proud of what they were doing overseas. However, his zeal for the military was tempered by his desire to be home to start a family with his fiancee and high-school sweetheart Ashley Boots. On December 29, 2004, a week before his unit left Columbus for training in California, Nick proposed to Ashley. They made plans to wed this past November, sometime after Nick's expected return. Another plan following Nick's return was to go to Disney World with Ashley, fellow Marine Dustin Derga, and Dustin's girlfriend Kristin. In anticipation of the vacation, they had flipped through brochures and even watched a promotional Disney DVD. Back home in Ohio, their girlfriends couldn't wait for the trip. Ashley said that they just wanted to go someplace fun and relax. Tragically, these plans were never realized. Dustin's girlfriend Kristin wrote the following to Nick: Hey buddy . . . I miss you. . . . I wish that I could be greeting you on Thursday so you, Ash, Dustin, and I could go to Disney. . . . It would have been so great . . . but you did your job. . . . You got your friends home safely and laid to rest as a hero. . . . You are a hero Nicholas Erdy--and we love and miss you every day. . . . You just better make sure Dustin is being good up there! Yes, Mr. President, Nick Erdy and Dustin Derga are certainly both American heroes. My wife Fran and I continue to keep Nick's parents Jane and Bill, his sister Erin, his fiancee Ashley, and the rest of his family in our thoughts and in our prayers.