Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, monsoons this summer provided New Mexico with a brief reprieve from drought conditions that have persisted in some areas of New Mexico since 2000. We would be remiss to let our recent good fortune influence our long-term water planning. July and August this year were the wettest July and August in the past 112 years. Clearly, we cannot assume these events will become commonplace. For this reason, we must take steps to ensure we are prepared for future droughts and increasing competition for limited water supplies. Despite summer rains, many reservoirs are still far below historical averages. According to recent reservoir data, Heron and El Vado Reservoirs on the Chama River are 71 percent and 56 percent of average, respectively; Conchas Reservoir on the Canadian River is 50 percent of average; and Elephant Butte Reservoir on the Rio Grande is 27 percent of average. Moreover, because storage in Elephant Butte Reservoir has not reached 400,000 acre feet, the Rio Grande Compact imposes restrictions on New Mexico's ability to store water in reservoirs on the Rio Grande and Chama Rivers. As such, recent rains have not contributed significantly to storage on those rivers. The water crisis we were facing prior to the summer rains led many to question how we will allocate this finite resource among numerous and competing needs. As witnessed on the Klamath River and the Rio Grande in New Mexico, water shortages often result in litigation that pits municipalities, agricultural producers, industry, Indians, and the environmental community against one another. In order to avoid such crises in New Mexico, the United States Congress has appropriated enormous sums in order to ensure that existing uses are not curtailed. However, unless new sources of water are found, future conflict over water is inevitable. Recent conditions illustrate the need for us to look for ways to supplement flows of the most severely impacted regions in order to stave off the hardships and conflict that result from lean water years. It is my sincere hope that record-breaking rains this summer will not breed complacency. The bill I introduce today would authorize the United States Bureau of Reclamation to investigate ways to increase the flows of the Rio Grande, Pecos and Canadian Rivers, the three rivers that have been most devastated by long-term drought. While little can be done to increase rainfall, it is my belief that this bill will help us begin to better understand ways to increase the flows of these rivers to help mitigate the damaging effects that drought imposes on the municipalities, agricultural producers, industries and endangered species that depend on the water these rivers provide. I thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing a companion measure in the House of Representatives. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President. I would like to bring to the attention of the Senate a problem faced by communities in eastern New Mexico illustrative of a greater problem that will ultimately be encountered by all who depend on the Ogallala Aquifer for their water. This includes communities in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota. At one time, the Aquifer contained roughly the same amount of water as Lake Huron. After 65 years of mining, we are now faced with the reality that the water contained in the Ogallala Aquifer has been significantly depleted and continues to be drawn down at an alarming rate. Many on the periphery of the Aquifer, including much of eastern New Mexico, parts of Kansas and Oklahoma have been forced to drill new wells in order to supplement existing wells that are producing water at a fraction of the volume of several decades ago. This problem is not limited to those communities overlying the Ogallala. Many other regions entirely reliant on groundwater face a similar problem. As is the case with the communities in eastern New Mexico, when the wells run dry, the only alternative for many is to ship water from long distances. In many instances, this is a very expensive proposition that exceeds the capacity of rural communities' ability to pay. In order to address the want of a sustainable water supply in eastern New Mexico, I introduce today the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Act of 2006. The bill would authorize the United States Bureau of Reclamation to provide financial assistance to the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority, at a 75 percent Federal cost-share, to construct a pipeline from Ute Reservoir to communities in eastern New Mexico. This project would provide them with a renewable source of water for years to come. Presently, it is unclear how many years the groundwater resources on which they rely will be available. The communities which make up the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority are due a great deal of credit for initiating engineering studies, project financing studies, and seeking support for the project from local, Federal and State governments. However, it would be misleading to suggest that securing appropriations for this or similar pipelines would be easy or that the funds will be available any time soon. The current budget of the United States Bureau of Reclamation simply cannot accommodate the large sums of money that this or other water supply projects would require. As Chairman of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, I am acutely aware of this fact and I have made this clear to the communities that would benefit from the pipeline authorized by the bill that I introduce today. However, I remain committed to advocate for the need to dedicate substantially more of the national budget to this and other western water issues with Congress and the Administration. In the interim, it is my hope that we can begin the long and difficult process of moving this bill through the Federal legislature. The members of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority fully appreciate the difficulties that lie ahead. The problem faced by eastern New Mexico communities will become commonplace as groundwater supplies are exhausted. Approximately half of the population of the United States depends on aquifers for their domestic water needs. In the coming years, the United States Congress will have to provide succor to similar communities who have no alternative than to seek assistance from the Federal Government. Commensurate with this need for assistance, Congress will also have to make budgetary decisions that take into account this widespread problem. We would be remiss in our duties to let these communities simply dryup. I thank Senator Bingaman, my friend and colleague for the past 23 years and ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for co-sponsoring this legislation. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, monsoons this summer provided New Mexico with a brief reprieve from drought conditions that have persisted in some areas of New Mexico since 2000. We would be remiss to let our recent good fortune influence our long-term water planning. July and August this year were the wettest July and August in the past 112 years. Clearly, we cannot assume these events will become commonplace. For this reason, we must take steps to ensure we are prepared for future droughts and increasing competition for limited water supplies. Despite summer rains, many reservoirs are still far below historical averages. According to recent reservoir data, Heron and El Vado Reservoirs on the Chama River are 71 percent and 56 percent of average, respectively; Conchas Reservoir on the Canadian River is 50 percent of average; and Elephant Butte Reservoir on the Rio Grande is 27 percent of average. Moreover, because storage in Elephant Butte Reservoir has not reached 400,000 acre feet, the Rio Grande Compact imposes restrictions on New Mexico's ability to store water in reservoirs on the Rio Grande and Chama Rivers. As such, recent rains have not contributed significantly to storage on those rivers. The water crisis we were facing prior to the summer rains led many to question how we will allocate this finite resource among numerous and competing needs. As witnessed on the Klamath River and the Rio Grande in New Mexico, water shortages often result in litigation that pits municipalities, agricultural producers, industry, Indians, and the environmental community against one another. In order to avoid such crises in New Mexico, the United States Congress has appropriated enormous sums in order to ensure that existing uses are not curtailed. However, unless new sources of water are found, future conflict over water is inevitable. Recent conditions illustrate the need for us to look for ways to supplement flows of the most severely impacted regions in order to stave off the hardships and conflict that result from lean water years. It is my sincere hope that record-breaking rains this summer will not breed complacency. The bill I introduce today would authorize the United States Bureau of Reclamation to investigate ways to increase the flows of the Rio Grande, Pecos and Canadian Rivers, the three rivers that have been most devastated by long-term drought. While little can be done to increase rainfall, it is my belief that this bill will help us begin to better understand ways to increase the flows of these rivers to help mitigate the damaging effects that drought imposes on the municipalities, agricultural producers, industries and endangered species that depend on the water these rivers provide. I thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing a companion measure in the House of Representatives. 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 bring to the attention of the Senate a problem faced by communities in eastern New Mexico illustrative of a greater problem that will ultimately be encountered by all who depend on the Ogallala Aquifer for their water. This includes communities in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota. At one time, the Aquifer contained roughly the same amount of water as Lake Huron. After 65 years of mining, we are now faced with the reality that the water contained in the Ogallala Aquifer has been significantly depleted and continues to be drawn down at an alarming rate. Many on the periphery of the Aquifer, including much of eastern New Mexico, parts of Kansas and Oklahoma have been forced to drill new wells in order to supplement existing wells that are producing water at a fraction of the volume of several decades ago. This problem is not limited to those communities overlying the Ogallala. Many other regions entirely reliant on groundwater face a similar problem. As is the case with the communities in eastern New Mexico, when the wells run dry, the only alternative for many is to ship water from long distances. In many instances, this is a very expensive proposition that exceeds the capacity of rural communities' ability to pay. In order to address the want of a sustainable water supply in eastern New Mexico, I introduce today the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Act of 2006. The bill would authorize the United States Bureau of Reclamation to provide financial assistance to the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority, at a 75 percent Federal cost-share, to construct a pipeline from Ute Reservoir to communities in eastern New Mexico. This project would provide them with a renewable source of water for years to come. Presently, it is unclear how many years the groundwater resources on which they rely will be available. The communities which make up the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority are due a great deal of credit for initiating engineering studies, project financing studies, and seeking support for the project from local, Federal and State governments. However, it would be misleading to suggest that securing appropriations for this or similar pipelines would be easy or that the funds will be available any time soon. The current budget of the United States Bureau of Reclamation simply cannot accommodate the large sums of money that this or other water supply projects would require. As Chairman of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, I am acutely aware of this fact and I have made this clear to the communities that would benefit from the pipeline authorized by the bill that I introduce today. However, I remain committed to advocate for the need to dedicate substantially more of the national budget to this and other western water issues with Congress and the Administration. In the interim, it is my hope that we can begin the long and difficult process of moving this bill through the Federal legislature. The members of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority fully appreciate the difficulties that lie ahead. The problem faced by eastern New Mexico communities will become commonplace as groundwater supplies are exhausted. Approximately half of the population of the United States depends on aquifers for their domestic water needs. In the coming years, the United States Congress will have to provide succor to similar communities who have no alternative than to seek assistance from the Federal Government. Commensurate with this need for assistance, Congress will also have to make budgetary decisions that take into account this widespread problem. We would be remiss in our duties to let these communities simply dryup. I thank Senator Bingaman, my friend and colleague for the past 23 years and ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for co-sponsoring this legislation. 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 my good friend Senator Dodd to submit a resolution designating the week of October 15 through the 21 as the 2006 National Character Counts Week. Our character is the foundation of who we are as people and how we are perceived by the world. Everyday our character and ethics are tested through the decisions we make and the behavior we exhibit. The National Character Counts program focuses on ``Six Pillars of Character'' which are promoted through school and community based character education programs across the country. The six pillars are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. I have supported Character Counts throughout the years because I believe this program reaches out to all youth and adults, as the Character Counts Coalition states, no matter the individual's race, creed, politics, gender, and wealth. In my home state of New Mexico, we have run many successful Character Counts programs throughout the years. While many schools initiate Character Counts programs there are also many other organizations that develop character based programming. I would like to take the time to recognize some of the successful programming we have had in New Mexico for 2006. Mesa Elementary School in Clovis, NM is the definition of a school that embraces character education programming. Everyday school begins with a Character Song and Pledge and every month they organize a Character Counts assembly to recognize and reflect upon the ``Six Pillars of Character.'' In Gallup, the Gallup High School National Honor Society is distributing Character Counts posters to all faculty and staff and volunteering for a Youth Leadership Weekend. In Las Cruces, the City of Las Cruces Recreation Section organized the K-8th basketball leagues to participate in sportsmanship games and the halftime show will spotlight Pursuing Victory with Honor. Lastly, the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility is gearing up to commence a Character Counts based series in their new character education programming. All of these organizations and schools as well as the many others not mentioned here, are to be commended for their hard work in developing these programs and spreading the message that character truly does count. During the week of October 15, I hope everyone takes the time to participate in a Character Counts event in their local area. I know in New Mexico we will be having some special celebrations. On October 16 in Carlsbad, New Mexico there will be the 10th Anniversary Character Counts Celebration including a student-designed Character Counts billboard unveiling at a celebratory dinner; October 17, the Las Cruces Public Schools will have ``Go for the Gold'' Character Counts awards; October 19, the Albuquerque Public Schools will have a Character Counts annual awards breakfast, and Chavez County will have a Character Counts Celebration Night; and on October 20, the YMCA of Central New Mexico will have a Youth Achiever Awards ceremony. I believe this program is making a difference in my home state and across the country. I want to encourage more people to become involved with the Character Counts program, but most of all I hope individuals will take the time to reflect on what the ``Six Pillars of Character'' mean to them. I hope all of my colleagues will support this effort.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to submit an important resolution designating October 8 through the 14 as National Hispanic Media Week. I am joined by Senators Bingaman, Salazar, Martinez, and Nelson of Florida in the introduction of this resolution. This is the second year in which the Senate has designated a week to honor the Hispanic media of America. An institution that can trace its origins to almost four hundred years ago, America's Hispanic journalists and publishers have worked tirelessly to promote the free and deliberative exchange of ideas. The Hispanic media has played an important role in protecting cherished freedoms and rights. They have also worked to preserve our freedom of speech and have encouraged the growth of civic engagement in our nation's Hispanic community. Since its early days, the Hispanic media has grown to serve a population exceeding 20 million people. In my home State of New Mexico, approximately 42 percent of the population is Hispanic. I know that many of these individuals turn to Hispanic media for news and other important information. As such, I am honored to be able to support a group that is important to so many people in my home State and in our great nation. This resolution calls on the American people to join with all children, families, organizations, communities, churches, cities, and states across the Nation to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I strongly urge my colleagues to join us in promptly passing this Resolution designating October 8 through October 14 as National Hispanic Media Week.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I will speak on this vital subject. I rise to speak in support of the Military Commission Act of 2006. First off, we must all ask ourselves a very simple question: Do we believe the United States must have a terrorist attack prevention program? I submit that the answer is a clear and resounding yes. I believe the American people expect us to have a strong terrorist attack prevention program and that they believe if we don't, we are derelict in our duty. They know that we are at risk, that this is a war, and that there are many people out there who are waiting to do damage and harm to our people. To have anything less than a terrorist prevention program, which is the best we can put together, is shameful. I cannot support any legislation that would prevent the CIA from protecting America and its citizens. The legislation before us allows the Federal Government to continue using one of the most valuable tools we have in our war on terror--the CIA terrorist interrogation program. The global war on terror is a new type of war against a new type of enemy, and we must use every tool at our disposal to fight that war-- not just some tools, but all of them. These tools include interrogation programs that help us prevent new terrorist attacks. The CIA interrogation program is such a program. It is helping us deny terrorists the opportunity to attack America. It has allowed us to foil at least eight terrorist plots, including plans to attack west coast targets with airplanes, blow up tall buildings across our Nation, use commercial airliners to attack Heathrow Airport and bomb our U.S. Marine base in Africa. Mr. President, clearly, this program is valuable. Clearly, this program is necessary in the global war on terror. We must take legislative action that will allow the program to continue. The CIA must be allowed to continue going after those who have information about planned terrorist attacks against our Nation and our friends. The CIA must be allowed to go after those who are in combat with us. I applaud the White House, the Senate leadership, and the Armed Services Committee for working together to craft a bill that, No. 1, authorizes military tribunals and establishes the trial and evidentiary rules for such tribunals; and No. 2, clarifies the standards the CIA must comply with in conducting terrorist interrogations. We must keep the bill in its current form, fending off amendments that would put the CIA's program in jeopardy. Regarding the Byrd sunset amendment, we don't know when the global war on terror will end, so we cannot arbitrarily tie one hand behind the CIA's back by suddenly terminating the interrogation program with a sunset provision. We have already voted on the habeas corpus amendment, and I am glad we did not add habeas provisions to this bill. We cannot give terrorists the right to bring a habeas corpus petition that seeks release from prison on the grounds of unlawful imprisonment, as the Specter amendment would. Such legislation will clog our already overburdened courts. Additionally, such petitions are often frivolous and disrupt operations at Guantanamo Bay. Examples of the frivolous petitions that have been filed include an al-Qaida terrorist complaining about base security procedures, speed of mail delivery, and medical treatment; as well as a detainee asking that normal security policies be set aside so that he could be shown DVDs that are alleged to be family videos. Such petitions are not necessary. The underlying bill allows appeals of judgments rendered by military commissions to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals--a very significant court. These are appeals of judgments rendered by the military commissions. That is a totally appropriate way to do it. When I finally understood that, I could not believe that some would come to the floor and argue as they did. My colleagues have said we are abandoning habeas corpus; we have never done anything like this before. They act as if we have decided to be totally unjust and unfair when, as a matter of fact, this is about as fair a treatment as you could give terrorist suspects and still have an orderly process. I think we have done the right thing. Giving terrorist suspects access to the court known as the second highest court in America provides an adequate opportunity for review of detainees' cases. I laud the occupant of the chair for explaining this matter early on to many of us who did not understand the issue, and it has become clear to many of us that we have done the right thing in terms of the habeas corpus rule that we have adopted. It will be upheld, in my opinion, after I have read some other cases, by the courts. Mr. President, my primary standard in determining whether to support this legislation is whether the legislation will allow the CIA interrogation program to continue. The answer to that question must be yes. If the answer to that question is no, then we are foolhardy, at a minimum, and totally stupid at a maximum, if we decide that the kinds of enemies we have will not be subject to the CIA terrorist interrogation program we have now. The program must continue. The administration has informed me that this bill, in its current form, will allow the CIA terrorist interrogation program to continue. I sought that information as a critical piece of information before I started looking at all of the amendments to see where we were. Therefore, this bill must pass, and it must pass in its current form. We must remember that we are dealing with terrorists, not white- collar criminals. We are not even dealing with the types of prisoners of war there were in the Second World War, some of whom, from the German area, might have been severely abusing the rights of prisoners- of-war. But we still did not in any way have the situation we have now with reference to prisoners of war in the Second World War. We must remember that we are dealing with terrorists who know no limits, follow no rules, have no orderliness about them. They are just going to do what we let them do. We must give our best--the CIA--the tools they need to do their job to fight this war on terror against these terrorists. It is my privilege to be on the side of this bill. I believe the American people will be on the side of this bill. Some thought early that it was the wrong thing to do. Just as it happens with many bills, we got off on the wrong foot. But we are back straight, with both feet on the right path, and we must pass the bill as is. I wonder if those who want to destroy this bill or make it ineffective would really ask the American people in honesty and sincerity, do they want the CIA program to continue or are they really trying to say we should not allow the program? If my colleagues are on the side of the latter, they ought to tell us and tell the American people. Then we would understand whom they are for and there would be no question in the American people's minds. I yield the floor.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I note the arrival on the floor of the distinguished Senator from Nevada. The legislation that I will be talking about is of significant interest to the Senator from Nevada. But it will take many months on the floor of the Senate before we finish. Today my fellow Senators I am introducing legislation that I believe will place the Department of Energy's nuclear waste program back on track. As we all know, the history of the Yucca Mountain project has been rocky at best. The Yucca Mountain project has a very long pedigree, starting back to the late 1950's when the National Academy of Sciences reported to the Atomic Energy Commission suggesting that burying radioactive high-level waste in geologic formations should receive consideration. In the 1980s, when Congress decided to pursue a geologic repository, we were quite optimistic--so optimistic that we told the Department of Energy--DOE--to enter into contracts with utilities that promised that we would begin taking nuclear waste off their hands by 1998. Well, obviously that didn't happen. What did happen was that the courts found that the government is liable for its failure to meet its contractual obligation. While moving more slowly than planned, DOE's nuclear waste program has made progress toward making the goal of a permanent geologic repository for nuclear waste a reality. In 2002, the President and Congress approved the Yucca Mountain site, and instructed DOE to file a license application for the repository with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission--NRC. That decision has been made. With the siting decision made, it will now be up to the NRC to evaluate the scientific data and determine whether the repository will permanently, and safely, isolate nuclear waste. Yucca Mountain is the cornerstone of our national comprehensive spent nuclear fuel management strategy for this country. Let me be clear: We need Yucca Mountain. We must make this program work. I believe the bill introduced today will do that. This bill will remove legal barriers that will allow DOE to meet its obligation to accept and store spent nuclear fuel as soon as possible, without prejudging the outcome of the NRC's repository licensing decision. The bill I will introduce today authorizes the DOE to permanently withdraw 147,000 acres currently controlled by the Bureau of Land Management, the Air Force, and the Nevada Test Site, a license condition of the NRC. This legislation will repeal the arbitrary 70,000 metric ton statutory limit on emplacement of radioactive material at Yucca Mountain. The capacity of the mountain will be determined by scientific and technical analysis. The DOE may also begin construction of needed infrastructure for the repository and surface storage facilities as soon as they complete an environmental impact statement that evaluates these activities. This legislation will begin to consolidate the defense waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain. The bill requires DOE to file for a permit to build a surface storage facility at the Nevada Test Site at the same time it files its license application for a repository at Yucca Mountain. As soon as the department receives the permit for the surface storage facilities from the NRC, the department may begin moving defense fuel and waste to the Nevada Test Site. The spent nuclear fuel from our Navy and defense activities that kept us safe during the Cold War will be consolidated and secure at the site. Only after the NRC issues a construction permit for Yucca Mountain, may the department begin moving civilian spent fuel to the Nevada Test Site. This bill will withdraw the land for the rail route for Yucca, a vital transportation component. There is a provision that also provides that appropriations from the Nuclear Waste Fund will not count against the allocations for discretionary spending. The DOE will have access to the full funds in the Nuclear Waste Fund, monies collected from our constituents, to complete this project. This bill compliments the short, medium, and long term components of the nuclear fuel cycle that I began to talk about this past summer. The thinking of how to handle nuclear spent fuel in the late 1970s and early 1980s and the way we approached its management is changing, we need to acknowledge that change. In the short term, according to DOE's most optimistic schedule, the NRC's construction permit will not be issued until 2011. The Consolidated and Preparation ``CAP'' proposal in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill begins to enable DOE to fulfill its contractual liability for spent fuel storage before DOE can move spent fuel to Yucca Mountain by providing new authorities for DOE to accept and store civilian spent nuclear fuel within the states in which it was generated. In the mid term, this legislation lays the foundation to integrate Yucca Mountain and Global Nuclear Energy Partnership--GNEP--by providing that before spent fuel is shipped to Nevada, the Secretary of Energy determines if it can be recycled within a reasonable amount of time. Current plans for GNEP do not include recycling all 55,000 metric tons of civilian spent fuel that has already been generated. This proposal will avoid moving waste to Nevada that should be shipped instead to a GNEP facility. In the long term, this measure provides DOE with the authorities needed to execute the Yucca Mountain project, and to begin long term emplacement, while the GNEP program will reduce the volume of material to be emplaced in the mountain, eliminating the need for a second repository program. The three pieces of the fuel cycle that I have discussed today-- interim storage, GNEP and Yucca Mountain--will establish a comprehensive program that will provide confidence that our nation's nuclear waste will be managed safely both for current and future reactors. We can solve this problem and I hope we can move forward together. I send to the desk a bill which does all of the things that I have just spoken to. I am sure many Senators and their staffs will be interested. This will certainly not proceed in any hurry; it will take a while. But I intend to move it as best I can. There will be opportunities to stop the movement at every opportunity. I am just hopeful that we will carry all the way through, as we have in the past, and go to conference and take something to the President and see where we are.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator. It is a pleasure working with him. When I have legislation such as the legislation I just described, which is very difficult, and I know we are going to come to spots in the Senate, stopovers where we will have to vote because it is good for the country, I am counting in the column that if I have done my work, will this Senator vote for it, the Senator's name. I believe if we do our work and get our votes properly and line up what we propose, a Senator such as Senator Lott will not be running around asking people what is going on in his State. This matter deserves his attention, as it deserves my attention. I believe we will get that. I thank the Senator.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I note the arrival on the floor of the distinguished Senator from Nevada. The legislation that I will be talking about is of significant interest to the Senator from Nevada. But it will take many months on the floor of the Senate before we finish. Today my fellow Senators I am introducing legislation that I believe will place the Department of Energy's nuclear waste program back on track. As we all know, the history of the Yucca Mountain project has been rocky at best. The Yucca Mountain project has a very long pedigree, starting back to the late 1950's when the National Academy of Sciences reported to the Atomic Energy Commission suggesting that burying radioactive high-level waste in geologic formations should receive consideration. In the 1980s, when Congress decided to pursue a geologic repository, we were quite optimistic--so optimistic that we told the Department of Energy--DOE--to enter into contracts with utilities that promised that we would begin taking nuclear waste off their hands by 1998. Well, obviously that didn't happen. What did happen was that the courts found that the government is liable for its failure to meet its contractual obligation. While moving more slowly than planned, DOE's nuclear waste program has made progress toward making the goal of a permanent geologic repository for nuclear waste a reality. In 2002, the President and Congress approved the Yucca Mountain site, and instructed DOE to file a license application for the repository with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission--NRC. That decision has been made. With the siting decision made, it will now be up to the NRC to evaluate the scientific data and determine whether the repository will permanently, and safely, isolate nuclear waste. Yucca Mountain is the cornerstone of our national comprehensive spent nuclear fuel management strategy for this country. Let me be clear: We need Yucca Mountain. We must make this program work. I believe the bill introduced today will do that. This bill will remove legal barriers that will allow DOE to meet its obligation to accept and store spent nuclear fuel as soon as possible, without prejudging the outcome of the NRC's repository licensing decision. The bill I will introduce today authorizes the DOE to permanently withdraw 147,000 acres currently controlled by the Bureau of Land Management, the Air Force, and the Nevada Test Site, a license condition of the NRC. This legislation will repeal the arbitrary 70,000 metric ton statutory limit on emplacement of radioactive material at Yucca Mountain. The capacity of the mountain will be determined by scientific and technical analysis. The DOE may also begin construction of needed infrastructure for the repository and surface storage facilities as soon as they complete an environmental impact statement that evaluates these activities. This legislation will begin to consolidate the defense waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain. The bill requires DOE to file for a permit to build a surface storage facility at the Nevada Test Site at the same time it files its license application for a repository at Yucca Mountain. As soon as the department receives the permit for the surface storage facilities from the NRC, the department may begin moving defense fuel and waste to the Nevada Test Site. The spent nuclear fuel from our Navy and defense activities that kept us safe during the Cold War will be consolidated and secure at the site. Only after the NRC issues a construction permit for Yucca Mountain, may the department begin moving civilian spent fuel to the Nevada Test Site. This bill will withdraw the land for the rail route for Yucca, a vital transportation component. There is a provision that also provides that appropriations from the Nuclear Waste Fund will not count against the allocations for discretionary spending. The DOE will have access to the full funds in the Nuclear Waste Fund, monies collected from our constituents, to complete this project. This bill compliments the short, medium, and long term components of the nuclear fuel cycle that I began to talk about this past summer. The thinking of how to handle nuclear spent fuel in the late 1970s and early 1980s and the way we approached its management is changing, we need to acknowledge that change. In the short term, according to DOE's most optimistic schedule, the NRC's construction permit will not be issued until 2011. The Consolidated and Preparation ``CAP'' proposal in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill begins to enable DOE to fulfill its contractual liability for spent fuel storage before DOE can move spent fuel to Yucca Mountain by providing new authorities for DOE to accept and store civilian spent nuclear fuel within the states in which it was generated. In the mid term, this legislation lays the foundation to integrate Yucca Mountain and Global Nuclear Energy Partnership--GNEP--by providing that before spent fuel is shipped to Nevada, the Secretary of Energy determines if it can be recycled within a reasonable amount of time. Current plans for GNEP do not include recycling all 55,000 metric tons of civilian spent fuel that has already been generated. This proposal will avoid moving waste to Nevada that should be shipped instead to a GNEP facility. In the long term, this measure provides DOE with the authorities needed to execute the Yucca Mountain project, and to begin long term emplacement, while the GNEP program will reduce the volume of material to be emplaced in the mountain, eliminating the need for a second repository program. The three pieces of the fuel cycle that I have discussed today-- interim storage, GNEP and Yucca Mountain--will establish a comprehensive program that will provide confidence that our nation's nuclear waste will be managed safely both for current and future reactors. We can solve this problem and I hope we can move forward together. I send to the desk a bill which does all of the things that I have just spoken to. I am sure many Senators and their staffs will be interested. This will certainly not proceed in any hurry; it will take a while. But I intend to move it as best I can. There will be opportunities to stop the movement at every opportunity. I am just hopeful that we will carry all the way through, as we have in the past, and go to conference and take something to the President and see where we are.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator. It is a pleasure working with him. When I have legislation such as the legislation I just described, which is very difficult, and I know we are going to come to spots in the Senate, stopovers where we will have to vote because it is good for the country, I am counting in the column that if I have done my work, will this Senator vote for it, the Senator's name. I believe if we do our work and get our votes properly and line up what we propose, a Senator such as Senator Lott will not be running around asking people what is going on in his State. This matter deserves his attention, as it deserves my attention. I believe we will get that. I thank the Senator.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 30 minutes, to be equally divided into 10-minute parcels, to the Senator from New Mexico, the junior Senator from New Mexico, and the Senator from Tennessee, Senator Alexander, and that we speak in that order for 10 minutes each.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, while we in the Senate have been busy doing many things and our minds have been all over the world, literally, with the war in Iraq and all kinds of things that have come before us and to us for consideration, we have been confronted with a very exciting opportunity for America and America's future. We have been listening to and acting on a rather remarkable effort involving three Senate committees, with valuable contributions from a number of other committees and a number of Senators from many committees. All of these Senators and all of these committees have worked to write this legislation and are deeply concerned about maintaining our Nation's ability to compete in the high-tech global marketplace. Today I join a bipartisan group of Senators in speaking about legislation that will be introduced later tonight by the distinguished majority leader and the minority leader. They will introduce the legislation later this evening. Its name will be the National Competitiveness Investment Act, and its number is S. 3936. All of us worked on this legislation because we are deeply concerned about America maintaining its ability to compete in the high-tech global marketplace. One year ago, the National Academy of Sciences released a report that highlighted the urgency of the challenge. It was called ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report, which was written by a distinguished committee chaired by Norm Augustine, former chairman of Lockheed Martin. His committee included three Nobel laureates, presidents of leading universities, and chief executive officers of multinational corporations. The charge to Mr. Augustine and his committee was to develop a specific list of policy recommendations to bolster U.S. competitiveness. After an intensive 10 weeks of effort, the committee produced and recommended an impressive report with a list of 20 recommendations. The recommendations all address a central problem; that is, we are not doing enough to harness and develop our national brainpower. The report recommends significant increases in our investments in science and mathematics education at all levels-- kindergarten through high school, college and graduate school. The bill that will be introduced later tonight, as I have indicated, contains provisions to address nearly every one of the recommendations of the Augustine report. Many of these provisions were included in the Protecting America's Competitiveness Edge, or PACE, legislation, which I introduced in January along with Senators Bingaman, Alexander, Mikulski, and an additional 61 cosponsors. Through this new legislation, we are going to put the Augustine report's recommendations into action. We will authorize a doubling of research dollars to each research agency, including the Department of Energy, Office of Science, National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. As chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, I was pleased I was able to slightly exceed the President's request for a 14- percent increase in the Office of Science in fiscal year 2007, putting it on a track to double in a decade, which is the goal and objective of the Norm Augustine report. The NCIA, which it will be called, also includes provisions that will build on the educational program sponsored by the Department of Energy, by engaging the facilities and scientific workforce of the national laboratories, and these educational programs will help ensure that we are preparing today's young people for the demands of tomorrow's high-tech workplace. The NCIA is a good partner to the President's initiative. I applaud the President for his bold vision which he expressed to us in his State of the Union Address, and which we have built upon in the legislation we are talking about today. I applaud the President for his bold vision and leadership in the issue of U.S. competitiveness, which is so serious and about which many of us worry, because we know that without our remaining competitive, America has no chance in a world which is built on competitiveness. We need to take action to support our standard of living and to ensure that 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 without a doubt. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a chart I have prepared which examines and compares side by side the National Competitiveness Investment Act to the Augustine National Academies report and the administration's American Competitive Initiative to show how this bill compares with each of those.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I think it is good to summarize by saying that S. 3936 contains all but one of the provisions that are contained in the 20 suggestions made to us by the Augustine report, which has been heralded by so many to be such a vital piece of legislation which we ought to adopt and implement so as to keep our country free and competitive in a very changing world. Mr. President, I yield the floor to Senator Bingaman.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I have 2 minutes as in morning business.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I note that the distinguished Senator from Tennessee, Senator Lamar Alexander, is in the Chamber. I am sure he has already spoken this afternoon, but I was not present because I was attending another meeting. Senator, if you do not feel good this afternoon, I don't know what we are going to do in the Senate in terms of qualifying you to be happy. I don't know what else we will do to make you happier than what we are going to do tonight or during the next week or so on this competiveness measure. Senator Alexander came to the Senate, and before his first term has expired he has taken the lead, without anyone wanting to run around and try to figure out who should get the lead, on this mammoth piece of legislation. It falls automatically that Lamar Alexander deserves the credit for getting it started. It was his idea. He recruited the junior Senator from New Mexico. They asked me, as members of my committee, if they could take the proposition of what we could do to better America's position in a competitive world, if they could take that to the Academy of Sciences to get a report so we could adopt a report during this calendar year. Believe it or not, they did that. As a result, 71 Senators cosponsored the legislation. As a result, we will have introduced a bill today that almost takes care of every recommendation that committee made to the Congress. We are having it introduced officially by the leadership this evening. It will be held and passed by this Senate before we adjourn this year. Imagine that, for a Senator who has just come to the Senate. If he cannot say and put up whatever he puts up, matters of high esteem, completed by him, something that he can be proud of, that is this legislation. There will be a day when it passes that he can be happier, but he will be overjoyed today when he sits down and thinks for a moment of what is accomplished for America to get moving to develop our brain power where we could, where we can, as we can, and as we should, without any doubt. I compliment the Senator. I yield the floor.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank the Senator.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize the valuable contributions and achievements of the Hispanic people of our proud country. For the nearly 34 years I have represented my home State of New Mexico in the Senate, I have witnessed the growth and success of the Hispanic community in almost every facet of social life. New Mexico's Hispanic community has a long and rich history that dates back centuries. Today, it can claim a long ledger of accomplishments in fields as diverse as science and art, business and sport, medicine and public service. With respect to the fields of science and military service, I am proud to call attention to the remarkable achievements of Sidney Gutierrez. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Sidney Gutierrez is a distinguished astronaut who has complied over 488 hours in space during his time with NASA. Sidney has been recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in America, and he has also been a recipient of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Award. Prior to his stellar achievements at NASA, Sidney served his country in the U.S. Air Force after he graduated from the Air Force Academy. What is important to note about Sidney's record is that his isn't an aberration. Today, hundreds of Hispanics serve our Nation's high-tech fields--both in the private sector and for the Government as scientists and researchers at our national laboratories. Today, many Hispanic people from New Mexico continue to serve their country in the armed services. They have stood up as proud Americans and volunteered to protect their families and communities during the global war on terror. We should also take this moment to remember the sacrifices Hispanics have made to preserve the liberties and freedom that make America a beacon of hope to millions around the world. Just as soldiers from New Mexico distinguished themselves in battles at Battan, Attu, North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, today men and women in uniform of Hispanic heritage are fighting for their Nation in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Nation is stronger because of these men and women. They deserve the gratitude of the Nation for their sacrifices. Hispanic Americans have also been active in other forms of public service. The first Hispanic Congressman in the House of Representatives and the first Hispanic Senator in our Nation's history were from New Mexico. Since it became a State in 1912, New Mexico has been a trailblazer in placing Hispanics into elected office. The first Hispanic Senator in our Nation's history was a New Mexican by the name of Octaviano Larrazolo. Senator Larrazolo lived a rich life and valued public service above everything else. He was one of the early and important contributors to the constitution of the State of New Mexico and a fearless advocate for statehood. It was no surprise then that the people of New Mexico elected him to serve as their Governor. Throughout his career he was known as an advocate for better education and believed that a strong educational system was the key advancement in our fair and competitive society. The tradition of Congress celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Americans goes back almost 40 years. In 1968, Congress started by designating a week to celebrate Hispanic heritage. Over the years, we decided to extend the designation to cover a month starting on September 15. The extra time has been a necessary and appropriate change to allow us to recognize the long record of contributions Hispanic Americans have made to our communities and to our Nation. I call on the American people to join with all children, families, organizations, communities, churches, cities, and States across the Nation to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss some successful Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security programs created in my home State of New Mexico. One project, the foreign language translator, is a hands-free, voice- activated translator that allows troops to speak English phrases that are automatically broadcast in Arabic. The electronics for the translator are built by Crane Corporation of Albuquerque, NM and Laguna Industries assembles and tests the units in Cibola County, NM. I secured $1.4 million for this project in fiscal year 2005 Department of Defense funding, and its usefulness was highlighted in a June 19 Forbes article which quoted a Coast Guardsman as saying the device is the best interpreting tool available to date. Another project, the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center, or NISAC, is a joint Sandia/Los Alamos National Laboratories initiative that was created in 2000. NISAC studies critical infrastructure and models the effects of a potential terrorist attack on such infrastructure. This work has proven invaluable to our Nation. NISAC accurately predicted the effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and was cited by the White House as a positive part of the Federal Government's efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina. I have helped fund NISAC since its inception, including securing $7 million for a NISAC facility in fiscal year 2003 and providing $5 million more than the President requested for the program in fiscal year 2006. Lastly, the Expeditionary Unit Water Purification, or EUWP, Program is a desalination program developed by the Office of Naval Research and tested in Otero County, NM. I have secured more than $30 million for this project, and it has been money well spent. When the water supply at the Coast Guard's Loran Station at Port Clarence, AK was contaminated last summer, an EUWP unit was deployed to Alaska to create fresh water from brackish water for troops there. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, two EUWP units were deployed to Mississippi to provide fresh water to both victims and rescue workers. Clearly, the program is accomplishing its mission. I am proud of these success stories and am glad to have helped three such successful programs secure the Federal funding they needed to do-- important tasks for our Nation.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize and honor Rear Admiral Michael K. Loose for his exceptional achievement as Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Chief of Civil Engineers, from October 2003 to October 2006. As Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, NAVFAC, Rear Admiral Loose led 17,000 civilian and military employees, executing an annual workload of $10.6 billion supporting global contingency engineering operations, the Navy shore infrastructure, and systems command engineering and acquisition support. As the chief of civil engineers, he led Active and Reserve components of the Civil Engineer Corps community of over 2,000 officers and the enlisted Seabee community of over 20,000 sailors that jointly serve as the Navy's contingency and facilities engineering experts and comprise the Naval Construction Force of 22 battalions, 4 regiments, and other supporting units. Upon assuming command of NAVFAC, Rear Admiral Loose quickly developed an overarching strategic plan that incorporated Department of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, and Chief of Naval Operations guiding principles. Building on this foundational document, and acutely focused on the critical imperative to dramatically reduce costs to support Sea Enterprise fleet recapitalization, improve service to joint/fleet operational commands, and align and single-up accountability, Rear Admiral Loose boldly conceptualized and implemented a dramatic restructuring and transformation of all components of NAVFAC--the most comprehensive and fundamental reorganization of the command since the Navy revamped the Bureau system more than three decades ago. As a direct result of his initiative and vision, over $600 million in savings were harvested and redirected to the fleet starting in the Program Objective Memoranda for fiscal year 2006. Overall, Rear Admiral Loose increased production productivity by 13 percent while reducing the required workforce by 1,100 civilian positions. Key elements of the transformation that enabled these efficiencies included dramatically consolidating and fully aligning NAVFAC field commands with Navy regional commanders. This structural realignment combined Navy public works centers focused on maintenance, transportation, and utilities services with engineering field divisions focused on planning, environmental, design, and construction services to establish a single, aligned, and vastly streamlined organization--a Regional Facilities Engineering Command. He also developed and executed strategic partnership agreements with Commander, Navy Installations Command and Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps--Installations--and Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, to enable lowest facility life-cycle business analysis and management by leveraging the transformed NAVFAC organization. With the establishment of the single, aligned Facilities Engineering Command in each Navy region, Rear Admiral Loose operationalized NAVFAC, creating a command culture of accountability, technical competency, and responsiveness to fleet mission demands and surge requirements. Rear Admiral Loose also aggressively supported the newly established Naval Expeditionary Combat Command/Naval Expeditionary Combat Enterprise as Systems Command Commander and first chief operating officer. He developed a $400 million program to replace overage and expended equipment, weapons, personal protective gear, and materials supporting the Naval Construction Force extended operations in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Rear Admiral Loose guided the largest mobilization since Vietnam of Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps Officers, enabling outstanding mission support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Clearly, Rear Admiral Loose's comprehensive knowledge of the Navy, keen judgment, and unwavering commitment to the sailor, the Navy family, and the fleet have made him an asset to the Navy. I am proud that he is my fellow New Mexican and my fellow American, and I am pleased to recognize and thank Rear Admiral Loose for his tenure as Commander, NAVFAC and Chief of Civil Engineers. Today I honor Rear Admiral Loose for his service to our country, his inspirational moral courage, his exceptional strategic vision, and his relentlessly bold leadership. He and his wife Carol have made many sacrifices during his career in the Navy, and I call upon my colleagues and join his family, friends, and associates to wish them ``fair winds and following seas'' as they embark on yet another great Navy adventure and continue their dedicated and outstanding service to this grateful Nation.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, above-average rainfall in New Mexico this summer has led many to turn a blind eye to the grim water situation faced by our State only 2 months ago. New Mexico was fast approaching a disaster due to drought. Many of our municipalities' wells were running dry and reservoirs were at dangerously low levels. Providence intervened; narrowly averting a crisis resulting from water scarcity. The development of the centrifugal pump was an event of great significance in the history of the West. Windmill driven pumps provided enough water for a family and several livestock. The centrifugal pump, on the other hand, was capable of pumping 800 gallons of water a minute, making possible the habitation of what was previously barren desert. To a large extent, this invention provided the water for growing towns and agricultural industry. However, it also resulted in a great dependence on groundwater. As such, we need to fully understand the nature and extent of our groundwater resources. This bill will provide us with the information necessary to ensure that the water on which we have come to rely is available for years to come. During times of drought, when surface water is scarce, we must be able to reliably turn to groundwater reserves. Approximately 90 percent of New Mexicans depend on groundwater for drinking water and 77 percent of New Mexicans obtain water exclusively from groundwater sources. While groundwater supplies throughout the State are coming under increasing competition, not enough is known about these resources in order to make sound decisions regarding their use. Nearly 40 percent of the State's population resides in the Middle Rio Grande Basin. Once thought to contain vast quantities of water, we are now faced with the reality the Middle Rio Grande Basin contains far less water than originally thought. Between 1995 and 2001, the United States Geological Survey undertook a study of the basin which added greatly to our knowledge regarding the primary source of water for our largest population center. Had we proceeded with our water planning without the information provided by this study, I have little doubt that we would ultimately find ourselves in a dire situation. However, there is much more to be learned about this basin. Roughly 65 percent of the State's population lives along the Rio Grande. Also located along the river are the four largest cities in New Mexico: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Las Cruces. While the completion of the San Juan-Chama Diversion by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will allow the county of Bernalillo and city of Albuquerque to take advantage of their allocation of San Juan-Chama water, the remainder of the cities and counties located along the Rio Grande will continue to receive the majority of their water from aquifers beneath the Rio Grande. Aside from the Middle Rio Grande Basin, we have limited knowledge of the amount of water contained in the aquifers below the Rio Grande, the rate at which they recharge, aquifer contamination, and the interaction between surface flows and ground water. Elsewhere in the State, even less is understood regarding groundwater resources. While there is limited unallocated surface water in the State, there are significant quantities of untapped underground water in the Tularosa and Salt Basins. The Tularosa Basin is approximately 60 miles wide and 200 miles long. Making the conservative estimate that 10 percent of the water contained in that aquifer is available for use through desalination, it would provide 100 years of water for a city the size of Albuquerque. With the development of desalination technology, I anticipate that even a greater amount of the brackish water contained in the Tularosa Basin will be available for human use. Another untapped water supply is the Salt Basin located in southern New Mexico. The basin lies in a geologically complex area and our understanding of the total resource is incomplete. However, initial estimates predict sustainable withdrawals on the order of 100,000 acre- feet per year of potable water from the New Mexico portion of the aquifer. This is enough water to support a city the size of our largest municipal area. Additional brackish resources in that basin are highly likely. Because the basin is located near expanding metropolitan areas near the U.S.-Mexico Border, it is a resource of critical importance. The bill I introduce today would direct the United States Geological Survey, in collaboration with the State of New Mexico, to undertake a groundwater resources study in the State of New Mexico. A comprehensive study of the State's water resources is critical to effective water planning. Absent such a study, I fear that there is a significant likelihood that we may be depleting aquifers at an unsustainable rate. I thank Senator Bingaman for being an original co-sponsor of this legislation. I also thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives and I look forward to working with them to ensure the bill's passage. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, above-average rainfall in New Mexico this summer has led many to turn a blind eye to the grim water situation faced by our State only 2 months ago. New Mexico was fast approaching a disaster due to drought. Many of our municipalities' wells were running dry and reservoirs were at dangerously low levels. Providence intervened; narrowly averting a crisis resulting from water scarcity. The development of the centrifugal pump was an event of great significance in the history of the West. Windmill driven pumps provided enough water for a family and several livestock. The centrifugal pump, on the other hand, was capable of pumping 800 gallons of water a minute, making possible the habitation of what was previously barren desert. To a large extent, this invention provided the water for growing towns and agricultural industry. However, it also resulted in a great dependence on groundwater. As such, we need to fully understand the nature and extent of our groundwater resources. This bill will provide us with the information necessary to ensure that the water on which we have come to rely is available for years to come. During times of drought, when surface water is scarce, we must be able to reliably turn to groundwater reserves. Approximately 90 percent of New Mexicans depend on groundwater for drinking water and 77 percent of New Mexicans obtain water exclusively from groundwater sources. While groundwater supplies throughout the State are coming under increasing competition, not enough is known about these resources in order to make sound decisions regarding their use. Nearly 40 percent of the State's population resides in the Middle Rio Grande Basin. Once thought to contain vast quantities of water, we are now faced with the reality the Middle Rio Grande Basin contains far less water than originally thought. Between 1995 and 2001, the United States Geological Survey undertook a study of the basin which added greatly to our knowledge regarding the primary source of water for our largest population center. Had we proceeded with our water planning without the information provided by this study, I have little doubt that we would ultimately find ourselves in a dire situation. However, there is much more to be learned about this basin. Roughly 65 percent of the State's population lives along the Rio Grande. Also located along the river are the four largest cities in New Mexico: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Las Cruces. While the completion of the San Juan-Chama Diversion by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will allow the county of Bernalillo and city of Albuquerque to take advantage of their allocation of San Juan-Chama water, the remainder of the cities and counties located along the Rio Grande will continue to receive the majority of their water from aquifers beneath the Rio Grande. Aside from the Middle Rio Grande Basin, we have limited knowledge of the amount of water contained in the aquifers below the Rio Grande, the rate at which they recharge, aquifer contamination, and the interaction between surface flows and ground water. Elsewhere in the State, even less is understood regarding groundwater resources. While there is limited unallocated surface water in the State, there are significant quantities of untapped underground water in the Tularosa and Salt Basins. The Tularosa Basin is approximately 60 miles wide and 200 miles long. Making the conservative estimate that 10 percent of the water contained in that aquifer is available for use through desalination, it would provide 100 years of water for a city the size of Albuquerque. With the development of desalination technology, I anticipate that even a greater amount of the brackish water contained in the Tularosa Basin will be available for human use. Another untapped water supply is the Salt Basin located in southern New Mexico. The basin lies in a geologically complex area and our understanding of the total resource is incomplete. However, initial estimates predict sustainable withdrawals on the order of 100,000 acre- feet per year of potable water from the New Mexico portion of the aquifer. This is enough water to support a city the size of our largest municipal area. Additional brackish resources in that basin are highly likely. Because the basin is located near expanding metropolitan areas near the U.S.-Mexico Border, it is a resource of critical importance. The bill I introduce today would direct the United States Geological Survey, in collaboration with the State of New Mexico, to undertake a groundwater resources study in the State of New Mexico. A comprehensive study of the State's water resources is critical to effective water planning. Absent such a study, I fear that there is a significant likelihood that we may be depleting aquifers at an unsustainable rate. I thank Senator Bingaman for being an original co-sponsor of this legislation. I also thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives and I look forward to working with them to ensure the bill's passage. 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 announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will take place on Thursday, September 21, 2006, at 10 a.m. in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. The purpose of this hearing is to consider the nomination of: Mary Amelia Bomar, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the National Park Service, vice Frances P. Mainella, resigned. For further information, please contact Judy Pensabene or Kara Gleason of the Committee staff at: (202) 224-5305.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the innocent Americans who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I ask that we commemorate the emergency responders who provided relief in the aftermath of the attacks. I finally ask that we salute our brave men and women in uniform who have volunteered to serve their country in this time of need. I offer my condolences to the family of Al Marchand from Alamogordo, NM, a flight attendant on United Airlines flight 175 and one of the first casualties on this horrific day. Since that day, many New Mexicans have volunteered to serve their country by entering the ranks of our Armed Forces. Some lost their lives in this war to protect our way of life. I will ask that the attached Associated Press article containing the names of these proud soldiers be printed into the Congressional Record. I also will pay tribute to LTC Marshall A. Gutierrez and LCpl Shane P. Harris, the two most recent casualties from New Mexico in the ongoing global war on terror. Five years have passed since al-Qaida terrorists struck our homeland. The images and shock of that day are still with me. To this day, I am saddened by our losses, but I am also heartened by all the heroic acts of our citizens in what was the most shocking attack on our homeland. In the months following the attacks, our brave soldiers toppled the regime in Afghanistan that provided a base of operations for the terrorists who carried out the 2001 attacks. We helped that country establish a democratic government and are working with allies in NATO to bring peace and stability to a country that has spent much of its recent history in the strife of civil war. One of the important lessons political and military leaders learned from the 2001 terrorist attacks was that America cannot stand by idly as threats to its security develop far from our shores. This required our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to work with friends and allies around the world and with each other to gather actionable intelligence that would help us disrupt terrorist plots at home and abroad. To help consolidate our domestic defense system, the Congress created the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security was organized to prevent attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and to minimize the damage and assist in the recovery from terrorists attacks in America. The Congress also followed the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, the 9/11 Commission. and passed historic legislation that reformed the agencies that make up our intelligence community. While these reforms were important and necessary, the disruption of a recent plot to hijack planes flying from London to the United States shows us that our enemies are still bent on bringing terror into our cities. Many of my fellow citizens from the State of New Mexico have contributed to strengthening our defenses in the global war on terror. An urban rescue team traveled from New Mexico to Virginia to help recover survivors from the ruins at the Pentagon. Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories helped identify the strains of anthrax that were found in Government office buildings shortly after the terrorist attacks. They helped develop a biological threat detection system that was deployed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the 2004 Summer Olympics, and in locations around our Nation's Capital. The national labs have also been at the forefront in developing tools to detect and dispose of materials that can be used as a ``dirty bomb'' or other weapon of mass destruction. Finally, the National Infrastructure and Analysis Center-- NISAC--is being used to develop response strategies for government officials and first responders for large and complex crises. Over the past 5 years, we have learned a good deal more about how the attack was planned and executed, and we have spent countless man hours and resources to make our Nation safer. We can be proud of the fact that we have worked to implement most of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. We are more prepared as a Nation for these types of dangers than we were prior to September 11, 2001. But this is a struggle that will not end with the same clarity and decisiveness of battles past. So as we continue to adjust to the new sense of normal, I hope all Americans take time to reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, honor those who have fallen, and rededicate themselves for the struggle ahead. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the article to which I referred be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the hearing scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Tuesday, September 12th at 10 a.m. has been relocated to room SD-106. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony relating to the effects of the BP pipeline failure in the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field on U.S. oil supply and to examine what steps may be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an event. Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150. For further information, please contact Dick Bouts or Sara Zecher.