Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. Although I am not opposed to stem cell research and in fact enthusiastically support some types of stem cell research, I cannot support this bill. This is a very difficult vote for me to cast. I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the issue of Federal funding for stem cell research involving the destruction of embryos. Over the last several years, scientific developments in human genetics have been proceeding at a rapid pace. This kind of research has the potential to be very helpful in the understanding of human development and the treatment of human diseases. However, this type of research also raises serious ethical and public policy questions that must be confronted. What limits do we place on research with human embryos? Experimentation with embryonic stem cells is considered by some to be a revolution in medical research. Many in the medical, public and scientific communities believe that embryonic stem cell research could lead to the cure for such sicknesses as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and diabetes. However, human embryos must be destroyed in order to derive embryonic stem cells and this is where my ethical dilemma arises. It is my deeply held and personal belief that an embryo is an actual living being; it is not merely a potential living human being. The possibility of helping those who are sick may be a very powerful motivation, but I strongly believe that human embryos deserve the same respect as any other human being and it is never morally or ethically justified to kill one human being in order to help benefit another. It is for this reason that I cannot support the use of human embryonic material for research even if it has the potential to save others. I cannot accept the diminished status of the human embryo in order to justify their destruction in the course of research solely because they may theoretically provide potential benefits for another human being sometime in the future. I want to make it clear that my ethical problem is not with the research itself but rather with the destruction of embryos. I believe there is potential for advances in stem cell research that does not involve the moral dilemma of destroying an embryo in the process. It is for this reason that I support S. 30, The Hope Offered through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research, HOPE, Act. The HOPE Act will advance alternate forms of stem cell research by intensifying research on methods that do not involve the destruction of human embryos. This bill instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, and testing of stem cells, provided that such techniques do not involve the creation of human embryos for research purposes; or the destruction or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo. Research that can benefit others without the destruction of human life is in my opinion the best path forward. Scientists have shown they have the skill and ability to pursue the potential benefits of stem cell research without endangering human life in the process. I support these alternative approaches because I truly believe that they have the potential to help people while still maintaining ethical guidelines. This is the best way to allow Federal science-research on stem cells without offending the beliefs of millions of Americans.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, today I recognize the Running N Cattle Company of Kenna, NM, that is currently celebrating its centennial year of operation. The Running N Cattle Company's 100th anniversary date was in May of 2006. The Running N Cattle Company is a family owned partnership that began in 1906. William H. Cooper and his wife Elizabeth left Hopkins County in east Texas, with their five grown children, to acquire free land through the Homestead Act in New Mexico. The act promised 160 acres of land for each adult and an abundant supply of water. All seven members of the Cooper family made their claim on 160 acres, just north and east of what is now the small village of Kenna, NM. William and Elizabeth settled, making Kenna their home. Out of their five children, Joseph ``Joe'' Cooper was the only child who remained at the original homestead. In 1909 Joe moved back to East Texas to marry his high school sweetheart, Gertrude Jackson. Shortly after, they traveled by train back to the homestead at Kenna where they continued ranching and began raising a family. Joe eventually purchased the pieces of land his brothers and sisters had claimed in 1906. Although Joe ran both sheep and cattle on his land, he eventually made the decision that he wanted to concentrate all his efforts on raising cattle. Joe and Gertrude had four children; Lewis Cranford Cooper born in 1915 was their only child who decided to join his father in the ranching business. In 1937 Lewis Cooper married Lucille Martin in Clovis, NM. In 1940 they moved to the headquarters of the ranch near his parents' home. Lewis was a sharp cattle tender and bought and sold cattle from California to Kansas. Lewis enjoyed the ranching business and had a keen eye for good horses. Lewis grew up in Kenna and Elida where he stayed actively involved in his community, working to make it a pleasant place to live. Lewis and Lucille had two daughters Virginia Ann, Jenny, and Jacqulin, Jackie. Lewis and Lucille continued ranching until Lewis died, in 1971. Lucille now makes her home in Portales where she stays involved with her church, grandchildren, and two great- grandsons. Jenny Cooper, older daughter of Lewis and Lucille, married Dr. John Clemmons in 1968 at the ranch home in Kenna. John has been active in the stocker yearling business at this location since Lewis's death in 1971. John has served as the general manager since 1971, along with that title, he also embraces ownership duties. The Running N Cattle Company has been continuously owned and operated by the same family. For the past 36 years John and Jenny, along with Jackie are the fourth generation to own the partnership and continue the business. Throughout the years the family has been able to purchase additional pieces of land allowing the ranch to expand. The headquarters is kept in the same location as the original homestead between Kenna and Elida, NM. The Running N Brand appears on cattle in the counties of Roosevelt, Chavez, Lea, DeBaca, and Guadalupe. I am proud of the success of this hard-working family. This family carries on all the traditions of the ranching lifestyle, in New Mexico and in the West. They take great pride in the land in which they have worked for many years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued contributions to the State of New Mexico. I congratulate them on their success and wish them many successful years in the future.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, it is with a sad heart that I come to the floor today and honor my good friend Raymond Gerald Murphy. Jerry Murphy died last Friday at the age of 77. A burial with full military honors is planned for Santa Fe National Cemetery this week. CPT Jerry Murphy was the 39th U.S. marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Korean war. He was decorated by President Dwight Eisenhower in a White House ceremony in 1953. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Captain Murphy was also awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Jerry Murphy was a hero in every sense of the word. What really made Jerry special though was his service to others. When he returned from Korea, he dedicated his entire life to taking care of other veterans. He spent 23 years working in the Albuquerque VA Regional Office. Upon his retirement, he continued to serve veterans as a volunteer until he became too sick to do so. Earlier this year, Senator Bingaman and I introduced a bill to rename the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, as the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' I am very sad this was not completed before Jerry died, but I hope it will be completed soon. In addition to all of Jerry's military honors, he was also a family man. Jerry is survived by his wife Maryann, his sons John, Michael, and Tim, his daughter Eleanor, as well as eight grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with the Murphy family this week; I know they are proud of what Jerry accomplished in his lifetime. Jerry Murphy was a close friend, and I will miss him greatly. I always valued his friendship and advice. Godspeed, amigo. You touched many lives and helped many people. Your legacy will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate an event that occurred 25 years ago in New Mexico. Most of my colleagues know White Sands Missile Range, WSMR, NM, is a premier test, evaluation and research site, but WSMR's role in the 1982 landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia is less well known. WSMR's gypsum landing strips visible from space and the excellent weather in New Mexico have made WSMR a potential Space Shuttle launch and landing site since the beginning of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. However, WSMR has never been NASA's first choice for a landing site. But in March of 1982, the preferred landing site at Edwards Air Force Base was soaked with heavy rains. Because it was unclear when the runway surface would be dry enough to support Columbia's landing, WSMR was chosen as an alternative landing site. Commander Jack R. Lousma and pilot C. Gordon Fullerton landed the Space Shuttle Columbia on WSMR's Northrup Strip at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 1982. About 4,000 individuals witnessed the landing, and another 90,000 had the opportunity to see the Space Shuttle Columbia at WSMR before its return to Kennedy Space Center. I remember this event as a day of pride for me and my fellow New Mexicans, as our home State played such a visible role in the U.S. space mission. Today I wish to commemorate this important part of White Sands Missile Range's history and honor the men and women who were a part of the Space Shuttle Columbia's landing at WSMR. While the Space Shuttle Columbia has been the only shuttle to land at WSMR, New Mexico stands ready to serve NASA again should the need arise. In fact, as recently as December 2006 NASA officials considered landing the Space Shuttle Discovery at WSMR because of poor conditions at Kennedy Space Center and Edwards Air Force Base. WSMR prepared for that situation, and I have full confidence that they will continue to work to support NASA and other Federal entities as needed.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, over 18 months ago, the President signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The enactment of that legislation was a watershed event in structuring sound energy policy for this Nation's future. One of the linchpins of that act is its commitment to the development of ethanol and other alternative fuels that will move us toward greater energy security by displacing foreign sources of energy for our transportation fuels. Since EPACT was enacted, we have seen a surge of interest in the development of infrastructure for production and distribution of ethanol and other biofuels. I am proud that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is greatly responsible for that. EPACT is creating American energy and American jobs in America's heartland. Just as I am proud of the new world of alternative fuels created in EPACT, I am also very proud of the bill Senator Bingaman and I have introduced to build on the renewable fuels provisions of that Act--the Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act, the BEST Act--of 2007. The Energy Policy Act established the first renewable fuels standard, which required the production of 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol annually by the year 2012. Private industry responded, and today we are on course to exceeding significantly the levels set in the Energy. Since August 2005, construction has begun on more than 70 new ethanol biorefineries, creating more than 160,000 new jobs, and last year, this country produced nearly 5 billion gallons of ethanol. Building on that success, the BEST Act that Senator Bingaman and I have introduced increases the renewable fuels standard, RFS--beginning at a level of 8.5 billion gallons next year and increasing to 36 billion gallons in 2022. We get this ambitious RFS with the understanding that promotion and enhancement of advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol, will be essential to making this new goal a reality. In his recent State of the Union speech, the President laid out an ambitious but worthy goal to reduce our consumption of gasoline by 20 percent in 10 years. The President envisioned biofuels as a key component to meeting this goal. In addition to implementing the 2005 Energy Bill, the BEST Act is another step, and a very significant one, in achieving that mark. By increasing our production and consumption of biofuels in the United States, we can decrease our reliance on foreign oil, while at the same time creating American jobs in a growing biofuels industry. To complement the increase in the renewable fuels standard, our bill includes several measures to help promote the establishment of a biofuels infrastructure, including grants to States and localities to build biofuels corridors. Another enhancement to speed production and distribution of these fuels is Federal loan guarantees specifically for these projects. I am pleased that we appear to be getting on the right path to implementing a significant loan guarantee program as envisioned in the title 17 of EPACT. This provision is absolutely essential to starting up some of the domestic clean energy investments we so urgently need to ensure our energy security. The BEST Act further refines those provisions to reflect the realities of commercial project finance. Finally, the bill increases our investment in bioenergy research and development by 50 percent. This research is essential to developing methods to produce advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol, that we will need to meet our long-term goals. Several weeks ago, Senator Bingaman and I sponsored a biofuels conference in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to explore all of the issues related to this important piece of our energy policy. We heard from numerous government and private sector scientists, industry project developers, and the financial community. We explored every facet of the issues related to increased biofuels production and development. The BEST Act we have introduced is the culmination of our deliberations. I am very pleased with this effort and hopeful that it will be every bit as successful as the effort we spawned in the 2005 Energy bill.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. What was the manager's request?

Mr. DOMENICI. I heard all of that, and I know what the Senator from Minnesota is trying to do because I encouraged him to do it. Rather than let him lose by making a mistake, I wonder if we could look at the amendment of the Senator from North Dakota. I looked at it, and I didn't see a reserve fund. Can we take 1 minute and look at it? I would like to encourage Senator Coleman to accept the Senator's proposal. Can the Senator from North Dakota tell me again what he thinks he did?

Mr. DOMENICI. Yes.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I might say to the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania, little did I know when I agreed tonight to switch places and follow him, instead of the reverse order, that I would hear about, once again, this never-ending litigation that is once again brought to the Senate floor by the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania. What a distinguished stalwart you are, Senator. Never give up. Never say no. Never say die. Just keep on keeping on. Sure enough, even the big, giant elk fall. That is what they talk about in the forest, as they look out there among the great pines and the great big, giant elk, that sooner or later the tree will fall and the elk will fall. Frankly, I do not know of anybody better than you to say, if you are after them, you will get them, whatever it is. In this case, I listened to you, like I have listened and expressed willingness last time, with no interest, no big interest in my State to give you a Senator on your side, by saying I want to be part of trying to get this solved. I await your presentation to us, to have an opportunity to see if we can sign up now. Having said that, Senator Specter, I am going to speak for a very few minutes about this budget that is before us. I had kind of sworn I would not get involved very much in budget activities on the floor. I think you probably, as much as anyone, have noticed a real lack of--or an absence of--Domenici verbiage on budgets. Because I have done it for so many years, I decided others ought to take over and take charge, and they would have plenty without me having to stick myself in the middle of it. But I did think, if I were going to look at this year at what happened, what is the difference between the Democrats and Republicans being in control, which is essentially what everybody ought to know is the big difference. And then you ought to say: Well, what difference is there in the budget because the Democrats took over? And it is their budget, there is no doubt about it. They may claim they did not inherit what is in this budget, but the truth of the matter is, they are going to fix it, if it is going to be fixed. They are not going to do nothing, they are going to try to do something. You are going to look and see what it is they tried to do, and from that you are going to have to try to draw some conclusions. So it is a very difficult time to put a budget together. I do not stand here tonight as a superpolitical critiquer or criticizer of the Democrats who are trying to put this together. But I do think, from time to time, it is important that somebody like me who has been through this for about 25 years--I think that is about the minimal that I was involved in putting budgets together--and during much of that time I was either ranking or chairman having to put it together and learn about it. I believe we must continue to look at things and expose and express, which is what I am doing. I am not being critical, I am exposing and expressing what I see vis a vis what the leadership on the other side has claimed they have done. I believe we must continue to protect the middle class. The middle- class working families must have our help and our protection. They are the backbone of our country. It is the middle class that distinguishes America from all other democracies, and that is why we are able to remain so strong as a living democracy, is because we have such a large, powerful majority of Americans who belong to the middle class, the middle-class working families. Unfortunately, the budget we are presented this year will do very little for the hard-working middle class. The budget we are presented does little for the hard-working middle class. If enacted, the budget would allow tax breaks that we gave to the middle class to expire, causing an enormous tax burden to be placed on these families. You do not have to do much, if you have tax cuts that are running along and the tax cuts are going to expire. Then all you have to do is not extend them and sometime later on the taxpayers are going to find out that their taxes are different because, in fact, what had happened to them under the tax structure before will not happen to them come the end of the tax year. If enacted, the budget would allow the tax breaks we gave to the middle class to expire, causing an enormous tax burden to be placed on these families. Simply put, the budget increases taxes on the middle class. I realize we made a step in the right direction by adopting the Baucus amendment yesterday. That was planned by the majority that it take place in that way. He offered a tax amendment, and I was happy to vote in favor of that, which permanently extended the tax relief for the 10-percent tax brackets and extended the child tax credit, the adoption credit and dependent care credit and the marriage penalty relief. However, there is still a great deal of work left to be accomplished. While we have provided tax relief for the lowest brackets, we have not addressed the middle class, which faces a tax increase and a loss of some substantial deductions such as the education tuition deduction. The budget does not extend the capital gains tax and the dividend tax relief. If we do not extend the capital gains deduction, we will be creating a dangerous situation that may prevent the economy from progressing. This might be a very good test of whether those kinds of taxes, capital gains and dividends tax relief, have anything positive to do with the economy. Obviously, so far in this process it is obvious that the other side is not going to do anything to extend those taxes, which many think were very important to the continuation of the growth at a steady pace for part of the last 5 years. If we do not extend the capital gains reduction, we will be creating a dangerous situation that may prevent the economy from progressing in a normal manner. I am not predicting that. I learned a long time ago not to predict too much because I predicted how bad things would turn out when certain taxes were changed, and it didn't happen at all. But I do believe there is too big a change in this budget resolution that it will not have any effect upon the taxpayers of the United States and ultimately on the economy and on the growth of the economy. Business owners need certainty so they can focus on long-term planning instead of shooting from the hip on a yearly basis. If we do not extend the capital gains relief, we are putting America's business in the position I have described. One can clearly see that on a national level, the middle class stands to lose the most under this proposal. In New Mexico, the impact of repealing the current tax relief would be felt widely by the middle class. More than 93,000 New Mexico investors, including senior citizens, would pay more because of an increase in the tax rates on capital gains and dividends. I am also sorry to say that this budget resolution does not thoroughly address the alternative minimum tax. I am sure the proponent of the budget knows that. The alternative minimum is a devil of a tax. It grew from a little tiny thing with a few people affected to a monster that affects millions of people. With each year, it gets bigger in number. Instead, this budget provides a 2-year alternative minimum patch, not a cure. The 2006 alternative minimum tax applied to 3.5 million taxpayers. Absent legislative action, the AMT will affect significantly more middle-income taxpayers. By 2007, up to 23 million taxpayers could be subject to the AMT. Maybe I am just telling them what they already know and they plan to fix it. They better think about it. It is an awful big number, and it is rather ominous. There will be plenty of Americans who will note it come tax-paying time, there is no question. Today, they don't know, but in about 6 months, they will know. About a year after that, they will know again. Absent legislative action, the AMT will affect significantly more middle-income taxpayers. By 2007, up to 23 million taxpayers could be subject to the alternative minimum tax. This is another tax which the middle class will bear the brunt of. The reverberations of this inaction will be seen all over the country and will especially be evident in a State such as New Mexico. This budget does not provide any permanent type of tax relief for America's middle-class people. I believe we still have time and a great opportunity to address this issue right now in a bipartisan manner. I am willing to continue to work to see what we can do to help the middle class in this budget. Added to the nonexistent middle-class tax relief, this budget fails to address the 800-pound gorilla in the room--otherwise known as entitlement spending. After 2010, spending related to the aging and the baby boom generation will begin to raise the growth rate of total outlays. The annual growth rate of Social Security spending is expected to increase from about 4.5 percent in 2008 to 6.5 percent by 2017. In addition, because the cost of health care is likely to continue rising rapidly, spending on Medicare and Medicaid is projected to grow even faster, in the range of 7 or 8 percent annually. Total outlays for Medicare and Medicaid are projected to more than double by 2017, increasing by 124 percent, while nominal GDP is expected to grow by only 63 percent. The budget currently under consideration does not offer solutions, much less address entitlement spending or reform. In the area of energy policy, this budget is a mixed bag. On the positive side, I am pleased that it assumes $1.6 billion for the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program-- a $440 million increase above the fiscal year 2006 enacted level. This is a critical program within DOE where our Nation's work on next-generation fuels is put to the test. Increasing our fuel diversity and fuel efficiency is a top priority for me this year, as it was in the Energy bill of 2005. In that bipartisan bill, we passed the first- ever renewable fuel standard. This has literally brought thousands of jobs to the American people and billions of gallons of homegrown renewable fuel to the American fuel tank. I will be seeking to further these advancements through legislation with Senator Bingaman and the Energy Committee. I am also relieved and pleased that the budget includes an increase for fossil energy research and development. This is key to many small producers, geologists, and to the overall fiscal strength of my home State. It is a mistake to misinterpret this funding as an unnecessary incentive for the oil and gas industry. This research and development helps advance technologies to recover more domestic oil and gas, and that is a good thing. I am disappointed, however, that this budget rejects the President's proposal to permit oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and does not assume savings from the proposal. We all agree that we should reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Many of us agree that we should do that by conserving energy, increasing fuel efficiency, and using homegrown biofuels. Where we often disagree is that I believe, in the near term, we should also be producing more domestic oil and gas. I have proposed and passed the idea of domestic energy in the form of an offshore bill dealing with the Gulf of Mexico. I believe we should be doing more offshore. I believe this budget should include ANWR. The chairman of the Budget Committee has indicated he is concerned that our Nation depends on imports for 60 percent of our oil. It concerns me, too. But it equally concerns me that we are locking up billions of barrels of American resources while relying on foreign, volatile regions for our oil. I cannot support this budget in its current form because it will increase taxes on the middle class and does not offer any meaningful solution for entitlement spending and it offers an incomplete energy policy. I remain willing to work hard to address areas of concern and am confident that if others will come to the table and talk and negotiate, we could strengthen this budget. I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, today I join Senator Bingaman and other colleagues to offer an amendment to increase our investment in our Nation's economic competivenes. Our amendment will provide just over $1 billion for the coming fiscal year to support world-class research in the physical sciences and for educating our next generation of scientists. Just over a year ago, the National Academy of Science report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm,'' focused national attention on a challenge of enormous significance. We are not doing enough to harness, and develop, our national brainpower. Earlier this month, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the America COMPETES Act, S. 761. This act is the result of a remarkable cooperative effort, involving three Senate committees and valuable contributions from a number of Senators. We have the support of the majority leader and the minority leader, and we are going to make this happen. All of us that worked to write this legislation are deeply concerned about maintaining our Nation's ability to compete in the high-tech, global marketplace. Our bill increases our investments in science and mathematics education at all levels--kindergarten through high school, college, and graduate school. The America COMPETES Act will also build on educational programs at Department of Energy laboratories. These programs will strengthen the teaching skills of math and science teachers throughout the country. The America COMPETES Act authorizes a doubling of research dollars to key research agencies, including the Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The amendment we offer today will allow us to follow through on the promise of the America COMPETES Act. We need to devote the resources necessary to meet the goals of this important legislation. We need to take action now to support our standard of living and ensure we continue to grow and prosper. If we do not, we can expect other nations to rival our global competitiveness--and one day to surpass us.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to remind the Senate that not only are brave men and women serving their countries overseas, but they are serving here at home, too. That service can end in tragedy, even on our own soil. Such an incident occurred last Thursday, March 15, 2007, near Cotton City, NM. I am sad to report that on that day, two Border Patrol agents assigned to the Lordsburg, NM, border patrol station were killed in the line of duty in a vehicular accident. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of Agent Ramon Nevarez, Jr., and Agent David Tourscher for their loss. Agent Nevarez is survived by his wife, Bonnie, his mother Juana, his sister Viridiana, and his brother Ryan. Agent Tourscher is survived by his father Gary and his mother Jeanne. Border security is one of our first lines of defense in the United States. An important part of that security is the men and women who are willing to serve on the front lines of our borders as Border Patrol agents. Agent Nevarez and Agent Tourscher were two such brave men, and I know the Senate joins me in thanking their families for the service of those two men.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation authorizing new construction at Cannon Air Force Base, NM. I am proud to offer this bill because Cannon has a variety of military construction needs because of a June 2006 decision by the Secretary of Defense to use Cannon Air Force Base as an Air Force Special Operations base. Two of these needs are an MC-130 Flight Simulator facility and renovations to an existing Hangar to accommodate C-130 aircraft. The Department of Defense budgeted for both of these items in its fiscal year 2008 Defense budget request, and in keeping with that request my legislation authorizes $7.5 million for the MC-130 Flight Simulator facility and $1.7 million for hangar renovations. Our special operations forces are a part of some of the most important missions in the Global War on Terror, and we have more special operations warfighters deployed now than ever before. I am proud to support those soldiers, and I look forward to working on this bill and taking other actions to support our special operations forces. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation authorizing new construction at Cannon Air Force Base, NM. I am proud to offer this bill because Cannon has a variety of military construction needs because of a June 2006 decision by the Secretary of Defense to use Cannon Air Force Base as an Air Force Special Operations base. Two of these needs are an MC-130 Flight Simulator facility and renovations to an existing Hangar to accommodate C-130 aircraft. The Department of Defense budgeted for both of these items in its fiscal year 2008 Defense budget request, and in keeping with that request my legislation authorizes $7.5 million for the MC-130 Flight Simulator facility and $1.7 million for hangar renovations. Our special operations forces are a part of some of the most important missions in the Global War on Terror, and we have more special operations warfighters deployed now than ever before. I am proud to support those soldiers, and I look forward to working on this bill and taking other actions to support our special operations forces. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, on Friday, my colleague Mr. Schumer and I introduced the Diabetes Screening and Medicaid Savings Act of 2007. This bill will provide a diabetes screening benefit for adults within the Medicaid program. Only Medicaid eligible individuals who are enrolled in the program and who meet certain qualifications will be covered. If you test positive for diabetes, then there is mandated coverage of treatment, supplies, and education. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects nearly 21 million Americans, about 7 percent of the total population. The number of U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes has increased by more than 60 percent since 1991 and is projected to more than double by 2050. It ranks as the sixth leading cause of death in America. People who have diabetes are much more likely to suffer from blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and nerve damage. These complications result in significant costs to the health care system as a whole as well as to the individual suffering from this disease. Diabetes health care specialists say that many patients who are diagnosed with diabetes initially visit their doctor not for symptoms related to the diabetes but because they are already suffering from the secondary complications. If diabetes complications are the first indication that you have diabetes, you are starting your fight at an incredible disadvantage. Although the increasing burden of diabetes and its complications is frightening, much of this burden could be prevented with early detection. Methods for controlling diabetes and minimizing its impact on health and health care costs are well documented. Yet access to these services, including screening and early interventions, varies by State. The bill we are introducing today will provide a uniform benefit within the Medicaid Program. This bill recognizes that diabetes has been found to be most prevalent in low-income and certain ethnic populations. This bill makes sure that the needs of these populations, such as Native Americans and Hispanics are addressed. Complications of diabetes can be prevented and the costs of this disease to our society can be contained. Early detection and treatment is the key. I know that the chairman and ranking member of the Finance Committee have been working very hard to reform the Medicaid Program so that it will better serve those who need it most. I appreciate their efforts and hope they will consider making the changes I am recommending.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Bingaman to introduce legislation authorizing new construction at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. Kirtland Air Force Base serves many roles for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force. The Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Research Laboratories, the New Mexico Air National Guard, and a Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration national laboratory are some of the many Federal entities doing work at Kirtland. As such, Kirtland's construction needs are many. Therefore, I am proud to offer this bill to authorize replacement of a fuel unloading facility at Kirtland Air Force Base. The President's fiscal year 2008 budget requests $1.8 million for this work, and in keeping with that request my legislation authorizes $1.8 million for the work. Our Armed Forces deserve our full support. I am proud to offer my support for the personnel at Kirtland Air Force Base by introducing this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Bingaman to introduce legislation authorizing new construction at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. Kirtland Air Force Base serves many roles for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force. The Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Research Laboratories, the New Mexico Air National Guard, and a Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration national laboratory are some of the many Federal entities doing work at Kirtland. As such, Kirtland's construction needs are many. Therefore, I am proud to offer this bill to authorize replacement of a fuel unloading facility at Kirtland Air Force Base. The President's fiscal year 2008 budget requests $1.8 million for this work, and in keeping with that request my legislation authorizes $1.8 million for the work. Our Armed Forces deserve our full support. I am proud to offer my support for the personnel at Kirtland Air Force Base by introducing this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about a project of great importance to my State and our environment--one that has been discussed before on this floor when I helped unveil a vision that would rehabilitate and restore New Mexico's Bosque. I return here today to implement this vision that concerns this long neglected treasure of the Southwest. I would like to point out that this project passed through this body in the last Congress. The project that I am proposing today was contained in the 2005 Water Resources Development Act, which passed the Senate on July 19, 2006. I hope that this important project will again obtain the approval of the Senate. The Albuquerque metropolitan area is the largest concentration of people in New Mexico. It is also the home to the irreplaceable riparian forest which runs through the heart of the city and surrounding towns that is the Bosque. It is the largest continuous cottonwood forest in the Southwest, and one of the last of its kind in the world. Unfortunately, mismanagement, neglect, and the effects of upstream development have severely degraded the Bosque. The list of its woes is long: It has been overrun by non-native vegetation; graffiti and trash mar locations along its length; the drought and build up of hazardous fuel have contributed to fires. As a result, public access is problematical and crucial habitat for scores of species is threatened. Yet the Middle Rio Grande Bosque remains one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the Southwest. My goal is to restore the Bosque and create a space that is open and attractive to the public. This is a grand undertaking to be sure; but I want to ensure that this extraordinary corridor of the Southwestern desert is preserved for generations to come--not only for generations of humans, but for the diverse plant and animal species that reside in the Bosque as well. The rehabilitation of this ecosystem leads to greater protection for threatened and endangered species; it means more migratory birds, healthier habitat for fish, and greater numbers of towering cottonwood trees. This project can increase the quality of life for a city while assuring the health and stability of an entire ecosystem. Where trash is now strewn, paths and trails will run. Where jetty jacks and discarded rubble lie, cottonwoods will grow. The dead trees and underbrush that threaten devastating fire will be replaced by healthy groves of trees. School children will be able to study and maybe catch sight of a bald eagle. The chance to help build a dynamic public space like this does not come around often, and I would like to see Congress embrace that chance on this occasion. Having grown up along the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, the Bosque is something I treasure, and I lament the degradation that has occurred. Because of this, I have been involved in Bosque restoration since 1991, and I commend the efforts of groups like the Bosque Coalition for the work they have done, and will continue to do, along the river. I propose to build on their efforts with the legislation I am introducing today. I remain grateful to each of the parties who have been involved with this idea since its inception. Each one contributes a very critical component of the project. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (the ``MRGCD") owns the vital part of the Bosque which runs from the National Hispanic Cultural Center north to the Paseo Del Norte Bridge. The MRGCD has proven to be a valuable local partner that has worked with all parties to provide options on how the Bosque can be preserved, protected and enjoyed by everyone. Additionally, the Army Corps of Engineers is developing a preliminary restoration plan for the Bosque along the Albuquerque corridor. My bill authorizes $10 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2007 and such sums as are necessary for the following nine years to complete projects, activities, substantial ecosystem restoration, preservation, protection, and recreation facilities along the Middle Rio Grande. I urge my fellow members to help preserve this rare and diverse ecosystem and to aid the city of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico in building a place to treasure. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about a project of great importance to my State and our environment--one that has been discussed before on this floor when I helped unveil a vision that would rehabilitate and restore New Mexico's Bosque. I return here today to implement this vision that concerns this long neglected treasure of the Southwest. I would like to point out that this project passed through this body in the last Congress. The project that I am proposing today was contained in the 2005 Water Resources Development Act, which passed the Senate on July 19, 2006. I hope that this important project will again obtain the approval of the Senate. The Albuquerque metropolitan area is the largest concentration of people in New Mexico. It is also the home to the irreplaceable riparian forest which runs through the heart of the city and surrounding towns that is the Bosque. It is the largest continuous cottonwood forest in the Southwest, and one of the last of its kind in the world. Unfortunately, mismanagement, neglect, and the effects of upstream development have severely degraded the Bosque. The list of its woes is long: It has been overrun by non-native vegetation; graffiti and trash mar locations along its length; the drought and build up of hazardous fuel have contributed to fires. As a result, public access is problematical and crucial habitat for scores of species is threatened. Yet the Middle Rio Grande Bosque remains one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the Southwest. My goal is to restore the Bosque and create a space that is open and attractive to the public. This is a grand undertaking to be sure; but I want to ensure that this extraordinary corridor of the Southwestern desert is preserved for generations to come--not only for generations of humans, but for the diverse plant and animal species that reside in the Bosque as well. The rehabilitation of this ecosystem leads to greater protection for threatened and endangered species; it means more migratory birds, healthier habitat for fish, and greater numbers of towering cottonwood trees. This project can increase the quality of life for a city while assuring the health and stability of an entire ecosystem. Where trash is now strewn, paths and trails will run. Where jetty jacks and discarded rubble lie, cottonwoods will grow. The dead trees and underbrush that threaten devastating fire will be replaced by healthy groves of trees. School children will be able to study and maybe catch sight of a bald eagle. The chance to help build a dynamic public space like this does not come around often, and I would like to see Congress embrace that chance on this occasion. Having grown up along the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, the Bosque is something I treasure, and I lament the degradation that has occurred. Because of this, I have been involved in Bosque restoration since 1991, and I commend the efforts of groups like the Bosque Coalition for the work they have done, and will continue to do, along the river. I propose to build on their efforts with the legislation I am introducing today. I remain grateful to each of the parties who have been involved with this idea since its inception. Each one contributes a very critical component of the project. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (the ``MRGCD") owns the vital part of the Bosque which runs from the National Hispanic Cultural Center north to the Paseo Del Norte Bridge. The MRGCD has proven to be a valuable local partner that has worked with all parties to provide options on how the Bosque can be preserved, protected and enjoyed by everyone. Additionally, the Army Corps of Engineers is developing a preliminary restoration plan for the Bosque along the Albuquerque corridor. My bill authorizes $10 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2007 and such sums as are necessary for the following nine years to complete projects, activities, substantial ecosystem restoration, preservation, protection, and recreation facilities along the Middle Rio Grande. I urge my fellow members to help preserve this rare and diverse ecosystem and to aid the city of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico in building a place to treasure. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the memory of Mike Hall, who sadly passed away this last Friday. Mike was a longtime sportswriter, editor, and columnist with the Albuquerque Journal. Though he was born in Muskogee, OK, and began his career writing in California, there is no doubt Mike was a great New Mexican. Mike first came to New Mexico in 1983 to serve as sports editor at the Albuquerque Tribune, and in 1988 he joined the staff at the Albuquerque Journal. In his 24 years of reporting in New Mexico, both his readers and those he wrote about came to appreciate and respect Mike for his knowledge and his humor. He will be truly missed by New Mexicans. I would also like to offer my deepest condolences to Mike's family, his wife Sondra and children Dionne, Jason, Michael, and Kathryn and his six grandchildren. I ask that an article from the Albuquerque Journal celebrating Mike's life and career be printed in the Record. The material follows. [From the Albuquerque Journal, Feb. 24, 2007] Journal Editor/Writer Dies at 61 veteran of sports department lived in Abq. since '83; covered boxing, unm women's hoops (By Lloyd Jojola) Mike Hall, a veteran New Mexico journalist who was best known as a sports editor, writer and columnist, died early Friday. Most recently, Hall held the title of associate sports editor at the Albuquerque Journal and covered Lobo women's basketball. UNM women's basketball coach Don Flanagan said Hall established an ``excellent relationship'' between himself and the players and staff. ``Once he got the position of our beat reporter I knew that it was going to help our program immensely just because of his background, how well he was thought of,'' Flanagan said. ``I thought throughout his time his intention was always very positive With our program, and I appreciated the recognition that he brought to the program.'' Flanagan said Hall did his homework. The coach was often ``amazed'' Hall knew who the staff was recruiting without being told. Flanagan might not have always liked the stories that were printed, he said, but Hall was still highly regarded. ``I respected him as a reporter and as somebody that would give us honest and fair coverage,'' he said. Hall joined the Albuquerque Journal staff in 1988. ``Mike Hall was a real pro,'' said Journal Editor Kent Walz. ``He loved what he did, and it showed. ``In nearly 20 years here, Mike was a good colleague and a good friend. We'll, miss him.'' Hall died of pneumonia, his family said. The 61-year-old Albuquerque resident had battled lung cancer in recent years and had recovered. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 28 at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas NE. Hall launched his newspaper career in the San Francisco Bay Area as a sports reporter for the Berkeley Gazette, covering such teams as the Oakland A's and the Oakland Raiders. He then served as sports news editor at the Wichita Eagle-Beacon before leaving in 1979 to become weekend editor and assistant news editor at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., according to past news stories. Hall was named sports editor at The Albuquerque Tribune in 1983 and also served as the evening newspaper's city editor and as a columnist, before moving to the Albuquerque Journal to become sports editor. He became a Journal associate sports editor in 1996 and focused his reporting on UNM women's basketball and boxing. Local boxer Danny Romero said Hall had been writing about him since he was a very young, unknown fighter. Romero's skills in the ring helped, he said, but Hall's ``the one who made me famous.'' While stories can sometimes generate contentious relationships between reporters and their subjects, Romero said respect was never lost for Hall. ``You didn't always have to have your guard up. As an athlete, you always have to watch out with you guys,'' the fighter said, referring to newspaper reporters. ``With him, you didn't. It was always open arms. He would let you speak your mind and make you sound good.'' Born in Muskogee, Okla., in 1945, Hall was raised in Wichita, Kan., and studied journalism at Wichita State University, said Sondra Hall, his wife. Hall played a lot of sports in his younger days, including boxing as an amateur, added Kathryn Hall, his daughter. ``He was never very good at it, he always told me, but he liked it,'' she said. Hall loved the crunch of sports reporting: the road trips, the demanding game-time coverage, the interviews and simply getting the story. But ultimately, ``he liked to write,'' Kathryn Hall said. ``I always thought he just liked to write (newspaper) articles but it turned out he wrote a lot of stuff,'' she said, referring to journals the family found. ``We were reading a lot of it last night.'' ``He just wrote all the time.'' Hall's work., with his easygoing style, was recognized multiple times by his peers. Among his awards, in 1990 Hall received, along with now Tribune Editor Phill Casaus, the best sports story award from the Albuquerque Press Club for stories on the NCAA's investigation surrounding a UNM track sprinter. The following year, he picked up the top sports writing award from the New Mexico Press Association for stories on athletic spending at UNM. And in 1993, the press association again honored Hall with a first-place award for two sports columns. ``He was humorous and fun-loving,'' Kathryn Hall said, ``and very strong and courageous.'' Hall was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Rea Hall and Jewell Gray. His survivors include his wife of 30 years, Sondra; children, Dionne Mantaoni, Jason Hall, Michael Bolton and Kathryn Hall; and six grandchildren. Contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Dorgan to introduce a bill of critical importance to the security of our borders: the Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act. It was two decades ago when an American border last underwent a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul. That was when Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona and I put forth a $357 million effort to modernize the southwest border. A great deal has changed since 1986, and more importantly, since September 11, 2001. Congress has acted to improve security at airports and seaports, but we have not yet addressed our busiest ports, located on our land borders. This is where our infrastructure is its weakest, and we must act to prevent terrorists from exploiting this weakness. It is critical that we give our northern and southern borders the resources they need to address their vulnerabilities. In 2001, the General Services Administration completed a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure needs on the southwestern and northern borders of the United States. This assessment found that overhauling both borders would cost $784 million. Since the publication of that assessment, many of the needs identified remain outstanding, and new needs have arisen as facilitating commerce has become more complicated in the face of new security concerns. Congress must address these needs. We must give the Department of Homeland Security the tools it needs to secure our borders. The Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act creates a number of those tools. The bill requires the General Service Administration (GSA) to identify port of entry infrastructure and technology improvement projects that would enhance homeland security. The GSA would work with the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize and implement these projects based on need. The Secretary of Homeland Security would have to prepare a Land Border Security Plan to assess the vulnerabilities at each port of entry on the northern border and the southern border. This plan will require the cooperation of Federal, State and local entities involved at our borders to ensure that the individuals with first hand knowledge of our border needs are consulted about the plan. My bill would also modernize homeland security along the United States' borders by implementing a program to test and evaluate new technologies. Because equipment and technology alone will not solve the security problems on our border, these test sites will also house facilities so personnel who must use these technologies can train under realistic conditions. I believe that these measures are an important part of addressing this nation's homeland security needs, and I am pleased to introduce the bill with Senator Dorgan. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, am I correct, I was scheduled to speak next?

Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I want to ask, does the Senator want to speak for a short time?

Mr. DOMENICI. The Senator does not mind listening. I thank her so much. I would have yielded, if she had a short speech. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that whatever time I had be extended, if necessary, to 15 minutes.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I rise to speak about the great success of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I recall when we passed the bill, you, Madam President, and everyone else were, in the well, very happy and joyous that we passed--after 15 or 20 years without one--a major energy bill. And then, right away, the next year, people wanted another energy bill. Now, this year, they want another one. I would like to tell the Senate why the bill we have is doing so much good and how and why there is still room to try to implement it and, in doing that, to do it a lot more without a new bill. We need a bill to cover some things we did not cover, but I would like to end this, with people understanding this bill provides many things we have not done and many things that have been very successful. First, I urge policy makers in the administration and Congress to commit themselves to investing time, energy, and economic resources to fully implement this important act. We must achieve all we envisioned in passing this comprehensive energy policy. This past week marked the 18-month anniversary of the enactment of the Energy Policy Act. I rise today to speak about the gains we have made in strengthening our Nation's energy security and the even greater promise that lies ahead. On August 8, 2005, the President of the United States signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in my home State of New Mexico. This legislation is the catalyst of our Nation's nuclear renaissance and the driving force behind new investments in clean coal technology. Passage of the Energy bill also marks the genesis of a secure American electricity grid and the transformation of an agricultural enterprise into an energy industry. This act has helped strengthen our energy security, stimulate our economy, create American jobs, and diversify our Nation's fuel supply. Simply put, since the passage of the Energy bill, America is on the move. We are starting up a renewable fuels industry in America through the first ever renewable fuels standard and a production tax credit. These policies have helped create approximately 160,000 American jobs across almost all sectors of our Nation's economy. In the last 18 months, 73 new ethanol plants have broken ground, spurring us to exceed the biofuel mandate for 2006 by at least 800 million gallons. As a result of the Energy bill, 759 E85 ethanol pumps have been installed around the country. Today, there are over 6 million alternative-fuel vehicles on the road. I stand here today to tell you that even more can be done. I am pleased President Bush and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have committed to an even stronger, more robust biofuels policy. The President spoke of it. We are all interested in enforcing it and seeing it is done in the biomass area. We will work together on this important energy issue. Chairman Bingaman of the Energy Committee and I, as ranking member, will build on our Energy bill success. Because of the Energy Policy Act, we are making significant breakthroughs in coal--America's most abundant and affordable energy resource. Because of the clean coal provisions in the legislation, there are 159 new coal-based facilities in various planning stages. Over the next 5 years, the United States will add an estimated 60,000 coal miners to the American workforce. The Energy bill will accelerate the development of a new generation of clean coal technologies. Because of title XIII of the Energy bill, the administration has appropriately and recently announced that it would award $1 billion in tax credits for clean coal projects such as IGCC projects for electricity generation, gasification projects, and other projects using innovative technologies. With $650 million in tax credits to come next year, we are providing incentives for the American people to make better choices about the kind of energy we will use. And because of the Energy bill, those choices will be clean energy choices. Today, 50 percent of our Nation's electricity comes from coal, and the EIA estimates that by 2025, 54 percent of electricity consumed will be generated from coal. In China, they are building a coal-fired powerplant every 10 days. Let it be our mission to invest both the human and capital resources to the goal of zero-emission, coal-based power generation. Having made the statement about China, let me hope that we will find a way to negotiate with China so that they, too, will begin to be concerned about what they are generating and begin some mutual programs of restraint. Wouldn't that be good news for the world? Let us dedicate ourselves to choosing a free-market, incentive approach rather than a punitive, regulatory approach to solving this global problem. On nuclear energy, what did we do? In advancing nuclear power, Congress affirmed sound science and technology and rejected irrational fear. By doing this, we strengthened the nuclear renaissance in America. We provided Federal risk insurance for the first six nuclear reactors, production tax credits, and loan guarantees, and we renewed the Price-Anderson Act. All these initiatives and more provided evidence of our renewed support for clean nuclear power. Until the passage of the Energy bill 18 months ago, the world was passing us by on nuclear power. The renaissance was fading. Then Congress acted. Since that time, as many as 32 new nuclear reactors are in the planning stages. These nuclear plants would provide enough electricity to power 29 million homes. If these plants come into fruition, they will displace 270 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Consider this: When all of those plants are operating for 5 years, it is estimated that they will have displaced the same amount of carbon emissions that the 230 million cars on the road in America today produce each year. This is what is at stake as we implement the various provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. We must do more to solve our growing nuclear waste problem, and we must do more to show Americans what the rest of the world already knows: nuclear power is the largest source of clean, carbon-free energy in the world. Advancing nuclear power is essential for our economic strength and environmental well-being. While we do it, we will not be able to stop using other kinds of energy. So the coal people need not worry. They will be used, too, because this great land needs both and more. With the passage of the Energy Policy Act, we helped to stabilize long-term prices of natural gas by providing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with the tools necessary to ensure the safe operation and reliability of our Nation's liquid natural gas assets. Since the passage of the Energy bill in August of 2005, FERC has approved seven new LNG terminals or terminal expansions. Working with private sector operators, FERC has brought on line the capacity equivalent of 1.34 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, with the potential to increase that to 13.3 billion cubic feet per day. We must continue to look for ways domestically to find additional supplies of natural gas, as we did last year with the passage of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. In passing the Energy Policy Act, we substantially advanced renewable sources of energy in America. By the end of 2007, 2 million American homes will be powered by wind as we bring on line 6,000 megawatts of new wind power this year, part of the $4.5 billion in wind power investments spurred by the Energy bill. As a result of the wind power brought on line, we will displace 11 billion pounds of carbon dioxide annually. And there is so much more that we did. We promoted a modernized electricity grid, invested in solar energy, tax provisions that helped add almost 340,000 hybrid vehicles, and the list goes on. I continue to look for more to be done. In this Congress, we all will focus our efforts on convincing colleagues and the American people that the solutions to our energy and environmental challenges lie in the genius of the American people. I will not support energy policies that burden the people with higher energy costs and undue regulations. I oppose the creation of additional unmanageable bureaucracy with its potential for punitive and burdensome regulations that harm the American worker. We will meet the challenge of providing clean, affordable, and abundant energy supplies in this Nation by facilitating and unlocking the ingenuity of the American people with more capital investment, more loans guaranteed for people with new ideas to build new things. That is what we did in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and that is what we will continue to do, hopefully. I yield the floor.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleagues Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi to introduce the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007. I want to thank my colleagues for all of their hard work on this issue and I am glad we are able to introduce this paramount legislation. Simply put, our legislation will provide parity between mental health coverage and medical and surgical coverage. No longer will people be treated differently only because they suffer from a mental illness. This means 113 million people in group health plans will benefit from our bill. We are here today after years of hard work. We have worked with the mental health community, the business community, and insurance groups to carefully construct a fair bill. A sampling of the groups include the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Retail Federation, and Aetna Insurance. This bill will no longer apply a more restrictive standard to mental health coverage and another more lenient standard be applied to medical and surgical coverage. What we are doing is a matter of simple fairness. Statistics demonstrate that there is a significant need for this change in policy. Currently, 26 percent of American adults or nearly 58 million people suffer from a diagnosable mental illness each year. Six percent of those adults suffer from a serious mental illness. Additionally, more than 30,000 people commit suicide each year in the United States. We need to reduce these numbers, and I believe expanding access to mental health services will allow us to do so. This bill will provide mental health parity for about 113 million Americans who work for employers with 50 or more employees and ensure health plans do not place more restrictive conditions on mental health coverage than on medical and surgical coverage. Additionally, the legislation includes parity for financial requirements such as deductibles, copayments, and annual lifetime limits. Also, this bill includes parity for treatment limitations regarding the number of covered hospital days and visits. This bill does not Mandate the coverage of mental health nor does it prohibit a health plan from managing mental health benefits in order to ensure only medically necessary treatments are covered. Again, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of this legislation. I believe we are making a difference today and I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this bill forward. I ask for unanimous consent that the text of the bill to be printed in the Record.