Jim Inhofe

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are to be credited for this shale revolution we are going through now. We hear this administration--knowing the American people want to use this abundance of good, clean, natural gas and oil--sounding supportive of that, but he has done everything he can to retard our efforts to continue to use, as we have since 1948, hydraulic fracturing. This is interesting because the first Director of the EPA who was chosen and confirmed during the Obama administration was Lisa Jackson. I asked her the question live on TV during one of our committee hearings--I said: Hydraulic fracturing--people are creating problems with this. Yet we have never had a problem, and it all started in my State of Oklahoma. Has there ever been a documented case of groundwater contamination with hydraulic fracturing? Her answer, I say to my good friend from North Dakota, was no. So we have the Obama administration saying there is no problem with it. Yet they are doing everything they can to federalize jurisdiction over hydraulic fracturing, with the idea that would make it much more difficult to take advantage of this revolution we are in the middle of.

Mr. INHOFE

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, we yield back the remaining time and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I believe under the regular order that I will be recognized for up to 30 minutes. I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized.

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, with all the things that are going on right now, I am particularly interested in the hearing we had yesterday on ISIS. It was a big deal. I applaud General Dempsey for his honesty in talking about how serious this war is that we are embarking on right now. The fact is that we have a mess, and ISIS has tripled in the last 3 months, up to now well over 30,000 troops, with tanks, heavy artillery. This is not--I know the President has tried to make people believe this is just another rag-tag terrorist operation like Al Qaeda or the Taliban. It is not. This is war. This is a real serious thing that we are in the middle of. I do applaud General Dempsey and also Secretary Hagel for their honesty in the committee hearing. It was difficult for them when the President talks about no troops on the ground, no troops on the ground. We know we already have troops on the ground. I think the American people have had a wake-up call. I believe they understand how serious it is. In fact, there were two polls out last week. One of them was a poll that 70 percent of the American people know how serious this is and that ISIS could affect and would affect and is affecting our homeland. That was a big thing, that 70 percent of the people in America understand that. Just yesterday the Wall Street Journal poll came out, along with ABC, and they said the same thing: 70 percent of the people know this is something that affects our homeland. When they talk about troops on the ground--I remember asking the question during the hearing yesterday. I said to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey: If the President said no troops on the ground, what if your airstrikes--if something happens to one of those planes and we have the problem that one of the pilots is bailing out. Are you saying that we do not have troops on the ground to ensure his or her safety? He said: Absolutely we will. So the point is that has been a question that people have to understand, that this is war. We have to win it. We can't take another chance. The Economy And Overregulation But that is not why I am here. I think because of the distraction of ISIS and all of these other things, a lot of people have forgotten the serious problems that are hampering our economy; that is, what this President has done through the overregulation that takes place. Since he first took office and failed to achieve his signature cap-and-trade legislation, he has been working tirelessly to try to do what he couldn't do through legislation with regulation. The regulations received most of the attention because they are the most expensive. I first started in 2003, and I remember so much in the Senate. In 2003, at that time Republicans had a majority. I was the chair of the committee that had the jurisdiction. They started off in 2003 with the first cap-and-trade legislation, and we defeated it. We defeated it ever since that time. One reason we defeated it was I was able to find out--and I didn't know this in the beginning--that people said: Global warming is real, there are all these bad things, and we are all going to die. Yet from the costs we determined--and this came not just from me but from others who were interested, but universities such as MIT came out with a study, the Wharton School of Economics came out with one, and Charles River Associates. They all had the cost of this cap-and-trade somewhere between $300 billion and $400 billion a year. Every time I hear a large figure, I look at the population in my State of Oklahoma and see what that cost means to a family. In my State of Oklahoma, $300 billion to $400 billion a year would be a permanent tax increase for the average family in Oklahoma--that files a Federal income tax--of $3,000 a year. When we get to these numbers, we look and we realize this is going to be very expensive and no one wants anything to do with greenhouse regulations when the cost is so high. I will show later on that it wouldn't accomplish anything, anyway. That is probably why the recent polls, such as the Gallup poll on global warming, have it on the bottom of the national priority list. Their last poll is a poll of 15 things to be most concerned about, and global warming and climate change registered No. 14 out of 15. The people have understood--it is as if they understand now what is going on with ISIS. They know what the truth is. The Pew Research Center showed that 53 percent of Americans either don't believe that global warming and climate change are occurring or they say if it is, it is natural causes. This has been going on. This is what has bothered me. I can remember--and I am going from memory now--but I used to use the example, back when we first started looking at this subject, as to how this is a cyclone that has been going on for recorded history. In 1895, we were in a cooling period, basically. They were referring to it as the little ice age at that time--I could be wrong. But, anyway, that endured until 1918. Then in 1918, it turned into a warming time and that went all the way up through 1945. This is what is significant. In 1945, we started another cooling period. It happened that 1945 was the year that was recorded as the year when it had the highest amount of CO2 emissions, and that precipitated not a warming period but a cooling period. Of course, that went on up to about 1975 when we went to the other side, where we have actually entered into a cooling area. Everybody knows that. God is still up there. We have always had these seasons. People would like to think somehow it is man who is doing it. They don't want any progress. They don't want people to be able to generate electricity and energy to take care of our needs. While my friends on the other side of the aisle act as though public debate has been settled on the issue, obviously it is just the opposite of that. It probably explains why it has been difficult for Tom Steyer to raise the full $100 million he promised to help Democrats win elections this fall. We remember in February that he announced he would put up $50 million of his own money--and then he did--and that he would raise another $50 million. It would be $100 million that he would put in campaigns for incumbents who would agree to try to resurrect the global warming issue--because it has died in the eyes of the American people--and try to stop the pipeline. He did this, and the trouble is he is not able to raise the other $50 million. The last count was it is only $1.7 million he has been able to raise from outside donors. Nonetheless, of course, he has his own $50 million. Regardless, we know he is spending the money he has, even though he hasn't raised other money. We can see on this chart a quote where he said--that is a picture of Tom Steyer. He is not a bad guy and all of that, he is just far left, and he has a lot of money. He said: It is true that we expect to be heavily involved in the midterm elections. . . . we are looking at a bunch of . . . races. . . . My guess is that we'll end up being involved in eight or more races. So Tom Steyer's goal is, as I said, to try to resurrect the global warming issue and try to stop the Keystone Pipeline. I think it is an appropriate time to talk about the hypocrisy on the left over political spending. We spent all of last week debating a constitutional amendment to limit political speech that is currently protected under the First Amendment. Democrats are talking about the Koch brothers, and people are not aware that this type of activity was from a man named Tom Steyer, by his own admission. Someone asked me the other day--I think we were on the floor. I was the only Republican to come down. It was kind of fun. They were having their all-night session. I made the statement: If there is anyone with insomnia at home who is not asleep yet, this is a good way to do it. I made the comment that this is something we know is going on. I stated that with all these races that are out there, they are trying to do something in order to elect people to try to go back to what they failed to be able to get. I think it is an appropriate time to get through that hypocrisy. Recent news reports have surfaced and described the Democracy Alliance. That is an organization that aims to organize the policy objectives and funding streams of the leftwing liberal establishment. According to an internal memo that was leaked to the press a few weeks ago, the Democracy Alliance for the past 9 years ``has aligned donors, leaders in the progressive movement, [that is liberal] and political infrastructure in order to achieve victories at the ballot box and in policy fights including those for comprehensive health care reform, Supreme Court confirmations . . . '' This influence is estimated to be between $600 million and $700 million. The Washington Post recently had this chart. It is kind of hard to read, but in the Post it was obvious because each one of those dots is a liberal political organization. They all joined together and that is called the Democracy Alliance. Again, this was 161 plus 21--182 organizations are part of this alliance. It details all of their agendas and how they are being coordinated by the political Democratic agenda by the Democracy Alliance. We will recognize most of the names on the list. It includes the Center for American Progress, Media Matters for America, America Votes, and even Organizing for Action which, incidentally, is President Obama's political campaign arm. In April, this group convened a secret meeting in Chicago to huddle with its deep-pocketed donors to craft a strategy in messaging for this coming year's elections. It was shrouded in secrecy, and the memo prepared for attendees--all the people on this list who were coming in to meet in Chicago--warned them of interacting with political reporters. In fact, it included a pages-long list of reporters who are expected to try to crash the conference, along with the photos, so folks could be on the watch for these people. The names of the people attending and involved were not going to be disclosed to the public, nor would any details be released about the discussions that were taking place. Tom Steyer and the Democracy Alliance are acting like a cult, even as the Democratic left pushes for the institution of a new constitutional amendment. We now know that initiative was nothing more than a political sham. At the end of the day, the liberal left wants an aggressive, secretive, political machine operating on its behalf, and it looks as though they have what they need in the Democracy Alliance. The key selling point for the Democracy Alliance pitch to its contributors is the inseparable link to the deep connections with the Obama White House administration. The Democracy Alliance firmly believes it is in the driver's seat when it comes to setting policy for liberals in Washington, and it wants its donors to know it. There is nothing wrong with this. We have had differences of opinion and philosophy, and that is why we have political parties. This is more extreme than anything I have seen and more organized. One of the key goals of the Democracy Alliance is to promote ``an environment that keeps our kids safe.'' This explains why the administration continues to push an extremist agenda of environmental mandates that will crush our economy. This is where Tom Steyer has really succeeded in being part of the Democracy Alliance. He has managed to convince Democrats in the Senate to hold more than one all-night vigil on global warming, and these have come as the United States has been enduring one of its coldest years yet. Just this month so far, NOAA, of the Commerce Department, has reported 246 record cold temperatures. Wyoming already has right now 20 inches of snow in some places, and it is unseasonably cold in Washington, DC. One of these colder areas, my city of Tulsa, OK, on Saturday set a record cool high temperature. It only reached 65 degrees. It has never happened before, so it is not cooperating very well with trying to convince people the world is coming to an end because of global warming. It also explains why the President is continuing to aggressively try to implement greenhouse regulations after failing to accomplish this goal legislatively. These regulations will effectively prevent any coal-fired powerplant from being constructed and force our Nation into relying substantially on expensive renewable resources. Regulations such as these would take us in the direction of Europe, which in many instances has experienced electricity prices three times as high as they are in the United States. They have been ahead of us in trying to stop fossil fuels and in trying to stop nuclear energy. The rates their people are paying are now three times higher than ours. If anyone doubts these rules will have a negative impact on our economy, just look at Australia. Australia imposed a carbon tax on their economy a few years ago and it caused horrendous damage. It caused $9 billion in lost economic activity per year and destroyed tens of thousands of jobs. This is in Australia. This just happened. It was so bad that the government in Australia recently voted to repeal the carbon tax. Remember all the talk about the fact: Oh, Australians are leading the way and they are going to have a carbon tax, we should be following them. Now they have repealed that by an overwhelming vote and their economy is now better for it. In fact, it was announced last week that Australia experienced record job growth last month of 121,000 jobs. They said this is because they have repealed this carbon tax they had passed. They credit this success to the repeal of the carbon tax in addition to these greenhouse regulations. I think it is important for us to recall the many other regulations this Obama administration has already imposed on the American people and discuss all of the new regulations that have not yet come out, but they are working on it. Some of these regulations they are holding off until after the elections so the people would not know the cost of the regulations and how many jobs are going to be lost. The first we need to remember is Utility MACT. By the way, MACT means maximum achievable controlled technology. In other words, what technology has told us we could do to try to control these releases. Utility MACT was the first one they successfully passed. In this case, the EPA established a standard that was impossible for utilities to actually meet. This regulation is inappropriate under the Clean Air Act, and it is having a $100 billion annual impact on the economy and destroying 1.65 million jobs. They have already done it. They were able to pass it along party lines. The EPA has already finalized similar regulations for industrial boilers and cement kilns. Together, those regulations are having an impact of more than $63 billion on the economy and they have destroyed 800,000 jobs and may result in the shutdown of 18 cement plants around the country. No one has refuted these figures. In another section of the law, the EPA put a rule together, knowing it would increase the cost of gas. The rule is known as the Tier 3 rule, and it regulates the amount of sulfur that can be in gasoline when it leaves the refinery. Tier 2 standards were put in place back in the early 2000s. That resulted in a 90-percent decline in the sulfur content of gasoline by 2010. That is already behind us, and it had a positive, measurable impact on the environment. The need for a Tier 3 standard is not articulated very well. In fact, EPA did not have any unique scientific data to support the key benefits of this rule, and the EPA ignored the fact that it would actually increase greenhouse gas emissions. So they are going to increase greenhouse gas emissions with the rule they are still putting forth and be counterproductive. Talking about the Tier 3 rule, EPA stated that ``this rule will increase the cost of gasoline.'' Furthermore, the EPA recently finalized a rule called the 316(b) water rule. This rule regulates the cooling water systems used by powerplants and other major industrial facilities to prevent their operations from overheating. So they use water. The EPA and the Fish and Wildlife Service were worried about the impact these facilities were having on fish, and so they put out a rule to help. In the rulemaking, EPA again states that ``the final rule will increase electricity costs.'' Worse is the fact that EPA could not even fudge its numbers enough to present a positive cost-benefit ratio. In its final rule, the stated costs are $300 million, which is about 10 times the estimated benefits of the rule, which are only $28.6 million. This violates the President's own Executive Order 13563, which states that agencies must ``propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that its benefits justify its costs.'' That is another problem we have with this administration. They will add rules, they will add laws, and they violate these laws--just like when he turned loose the five terrorists from Gitmo. We had passed, in fact, knowing he was going to try to get rid of people in Gitmo--and he took the five who were the very worst--we had passed a law saying he can't do that until he gives the Senate Armed Services Committee 30 days' notice and gives us a chance to respond and stop him from doing it. He totally ignored it, just as he ignored these regulations. Worse yet, this rule has no human health benefits. Its only beneficiaries are fish. So EPA is putting out a rule that will increase electricity costs, including for those who live on fixed incomes, all for the sake of saving a few fish. Another rule EPA has done since President Obama began his administration is the regional haze rule. These regulations were established to improve the visibility of national parks, and States were instructed to develop their own plans--known as State implementation plans--in order to comply. My State of Oklahoma did this, but EPA overturned it because of a technicality associated with its economic analysis. When EPA did this, it instituted a Federal implementation plan, and in this case it cost over $1 billion to execute or nearly 10 times the amount of the State-based plan that had been developed cooperatively with our utility companies. This is the kind of uncooperative relationship we have come to expect when working with the EPA. Beyond the greenhouse gas regulations, the one receiving the most attention is the waters of the United States rule. Nearly every group from Oklahoma is talking about this rule because it would extend the powers of the Federal Government over millions of new acres of land. Just last week I was in Guymon, OK; El Reno, OK; and Boise City, OK. Boise City is the farthest west, largest city out in the panhandle. It is kind of sandwiched between Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, and Texas. They are all in western Oklahoma. This is an arid part of the country. They are in their third year of their drought right now, but the new rule would declare much of this area as a Federal waterway subject to the onerous Federal regulations. This would impact every industry-- farming, ranching, oil and gas, construction, transportation--everything. Tom Buchanan happens to be the president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. I asked him a question in a kind of townhall setting that we had not too long ago. I said: What is the biggest problem we have in agriculture in Oklahoma? He said: The biggest problem has nothing to do with the farm bill. The biggest problem we are facing right now is the overregulation by the EPA and what they are doing with endangered species, what they are doing with the containment of fuel on farms, what they are doing with the water rules they have. That is the biggest problem. I was with Terry Detrick, president of the American Farmers and Ranchers, and he agrees that the biggest problem farmers in America are having right now is the overregulation of the EPA. The EPA has said it will work with industries to make sure it works for them, but we know from experience this won't be possible. It is not going to happen. Their goal is to take over, to control and leave no room for negotiation. Another devastating regulation being developed by the EPA is the ozone NAAQS standard. NAAQS means national ambient air quality standard. It was last set at the end of the Bush administration at 75 parts per billion. The EPA has been working since President Obama took over the White House to lower this standard. In 2011 the President cancelled EPA's plans to lower the ozone standard because it was going to hurt his reelection chances. But now that he has secured that reelection, he is ready to start it up again. The EPA staff and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee-- CASAC--recently recommended that the Administrator propose to lower the NAAQS level to between 60 and 70 parts per billion. This chart shows how much of the Nation would be out of attainment if EPA lowers the standard to 60 parts per billion. In Oklahoma, all 77 counties would be out of attainment. What does that mean? I was mayor of the city of Tulsa once when it was out of attainment. We were not able to increase populations in many of our businesses. It essentially means the EPA will have to issue a regulatory permit for any business expansion plans that could increase emission levels. It would make business expansion enormously expensive and would dramatically increase the power of the EPA. All told, this rule would put nearly 94 percent of the counties' populations of the United States of America out of attainment zones and would cede our economic superiority to the likes of China and India. Zooming in to more industry-focused regulations, the EPA has been the main culprit in the President's war on fossil fuels. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have opened up dramatic new oil and natural gas resources in this country that no one thought we would ever be able to profitably extract. By the way, hydraulic fracturing was actually developed in my State of Oklahoma, in Duncan, OK, in 1949. So this is something that is going on. In spite of this, they are trying to use hydraulic fracturing to stop the successful increases we have been able to have in the wells. Lisa Jackson was the first EPA Administrator under Barack Obama. I remember asking her the question: If we were to do something with hydraulic fracturing, has there ever been a documented case in the United States that hydraulic fracturing is damaging to groundwater? She said: No, it is not. There has never been--her actual exact words--any proven case where the fracking process itself has affected water. So if we eliminate this, it is not going to save anything because it is not going to create any problems. And this doesn't come from me; it comes from the Administrator of the EPA, appointed by President Obama. Regardless, the EPA is moving full force to regulate hydraulic fracturing. At one point during the administration, there were a total of 13 different agencies working to do this. The Bureau of Land Management is one of them. It is my understanding that their regulations are being finalized, and it could cost producers as much as $100,000 per well. Keep in mind that every time they talk about what it is going to cost industry or business, that is passed on to the public. The EPA is also working to regulate methane emissions from across the oil and natural gas industry. Whether it is the upstream producers during the drilling and completion process, the midstream pipeline operators, or the downstream retail distributors, EPA is convinced that the industry is willingly allowing their valuable product to seep into the atmosphere without any concern or awareness of where it is. EPA's methane strategy is part of the President's overall climate change action plan, and the Agency recently published white papers outlining its understanding of methane leaks in the industry, and they were not very impressive. I recently wrote EPA and the White House to express my concern with these papers. I was shocked that the papers seemed to lack any comprehensive understanding of the industry's operational practices. I was also disappointed that EPA didn't consider many of the regulatory hurdles in place which actually prevent producers from installing the technology and infrastructure that would reduce methane emissions. I am hopeful that EPA will take my recommendations seriously before moving forward. So we have two problems. Right now we could be totally independent of any other country. All we have to do is do what every other country in the world does; that is, exploit our own resources. This President has made it impossible for us to get into public lands and to get this done. Then, of course, we have the problem of overregulation. In all, the administration's regulatory agenda is intended to shut down the engine of America's economy. They have already shut down coal. Now they are working on oil and natural gas. What they have done so far is just a preview. But the liberal environmentalists--Tom Steyer, Bill McKibben, Democracy Alliance--must all be frustrated by what is going on right now. Temperatures are not going up, they are going down. Nobody seems to care. No one has any desire to implement the policies they want. Polling is all showing they have lost this battle. That is exactly why they are willing to spend between $600 million and $700 million on this year's elections--to convince the American people to elect Members who will support the President's regulations, which will shut down the economy. One more thing, going back to global warming. Earlier I said that back in 2002 when we discussed the costs of it, being between $300 billion and $400 billion, as the largest tax increase in history, a permanent tax increase, I asked the question to Lisa Jackson--again, she was the Administrator of the EPA, appointed by Barack Obama--I said: If we were to pass these cap-and-trade regulations or bills or do it by regulation, would this have the result of lowering CO2 emissions? She said: No, because this isn't where the problem is. The problem is in China, it is in India, it is in Mexico, it is in other places. In fact, one could use the argument that it would actually have the effect of increasing emissions because as we chase away our base, the manufacturing base will go to countries like China and India, where they don't have any restrictions on emissions at all. I think it is important to remind the people that even though that era is almost gone and people realize that is something that was very popular at one time, now the polls show that people have caught on. But keep in mind that what the President could not do through legislation he is now doing through regulations, and regulations, as we pointed out, are the greatest problem our economy is facing today, and this is something we are going to have to change. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SGT John A. Carroll, of Ponca City, OK who died on September 6, 2006, of injuries sustained when he came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during a dismounted security patrol while serving his Nation in Ramadi, Iraq. John was born September 1, 1980 in Greene County, PA and moved to Lawrenceville when he was 8 years old. In his mid-teens he left to live with his father in Georgia where he earned his general education development degree. While traveling from State to State in search of employment, he was approached by an Army recruiter in Oklahoma promising a chance to continue his education and a large signing bonus. He was sold and enlisted in 1999. John met his wife Jessica Carroll in Florida while on leave from the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany. He was on his third tour of Iraq and was due to be discharged in October 2006. After completing his service, they planned to live in Tennessee because they loved the mountains and the scenic surroundings. A graveside service was held on September 17, 2006 at Mount View Cemetery, McMinnville, TN. Full military honors were administered by the Fort Campbell Honor Guard. John is survived by his wife Jessica; mother Dawn Petrakovits; father Roger Carroll; two brothers Micah Carroll and Ben Beardsley; two sisters Liz Carroll and Rebecca Petrakovits; and mother-in-law Nancy Hicks and father-in-law Jerry Hicks. Today we remember Army SGT John A. Carroll, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Corporal Wilfred Flores, Jr. Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army CPL Wilfred Flores, Jr., of Lawton, OK, who died on March 31, 2007, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Ramadi, Iraq. He was 11 days short of his 21st birthday. The son of retired Army Sergeants First Class Wilfred Sr. and Vicky, he was born April 10, 1986, at Fort Sill, OK. A member of the Jr. ROTC program, he graduated from Eisenhower High School in Lawton in 2004 and entered the Army Delayed Entry Program. While waiting for his enlistment time, he volunteered at Giddy Up & Go, a non-profit therapeutic horse riding program for disabled children and adults. Wilfred joined the Army as an infantryman after completing basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, GA. After training he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. He was on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A memorial service was held on April 15, 2007, at Frontier Chapel on Fort Sill, OK. Burial with full military honors followed on April 16, 2007, in the new Fort Sill National Cemetery near Elgin, OK. Wilfred is survived by his parents Wilfred Sr. and Vicky Flores; sister Theresa Siegrist; grandfather retired Air Force SSG Modesto Flores, Jr.; three nieces; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Vicky Flores said her son was very religious, very generous and believed ``God had a hand in everything. He loved his job,'' she said. ``He was there because he wanted to be there. He died doing what he loved the most.'' Today we remember Army CPL Wilfred Flores, Jr., a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Sergeant Buddy J. Hughie Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SGT Buddy J. Hughie, of Poteau, OK, who died while serving his Nation in Kamdesh, Afghanistan on February 19, 2007. Born October 23, 1981 in Carlsbad, NM, and a 2005 graduate of Poteau High School, Buddy and his unit were conducting a joint mission with the Afghan National Army and the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in the country's Nuristan province when the group came under enemy small- arms and rocket-propelled-grenade fire. After two Afghan soldiers in the group were wounded, he left his position to provide medical assistance when he was shot and killed. ``Sgt. Buddy Hughie was a great American,'' said LTC Bobby Yandell, commander of the 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry. ``Sgt. Hughie was one of those soldiers that you did not have to worry about; he always did the right thing. We mourn his loss, but celebrate the life of a great soldier.'' Buddy, who previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2002-2003, volunteered to return to the country, Yandell said. More than 600 people filled Poteau High School's Sherman Floyd Fieldhouse to honor Buddy's life. Burial was conducted on February 28, 2007, in Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, SC. ``He didn't have to be in Afghanistan, he didn't have to serve that 45 days in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He was there because he believed in what he was doing. More importantly, he backed those beliefs by action'' said BG Myles L. Deering, the commander of the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade. He is survived by his wife Alexis Hughie; son Cooper; grandparents Kenneth and Delores Hughie; his mother Julie Hicks; a sister Jennifer Claiborn; a brother Dennis Hicks; and his great-grandparents Andrew ``Buddy'' and Dimple Rogers. Today we remember Army SGT Buddy J. Hughie, a remarkable young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Sergeant Justin L. Noyes Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Marine Sgt Justin L. Noyes, of Vinita, OK, who died on July 2, 2006, of injuries sustained while attempting to disarm an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar Province, Fallujah, Iraq. Born August 8, 1982 in Tulsa, OK, Justin played football and baseball at Vinita High School where he graduated in 2002. Just 1 day before his 18th birthday and shortly after graduating from high school, Justin enlisted in the Marine Corps. He and his brother, Jeremy were first deployed to Iraq for the start of the war in 2003 and were there when Saddam Hussein's statue came tumbling down. While conducting training in North Carolina, he met his wife Sarah and they were married on May 15, 2005, in Florida in a ceremony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. In August 2005, Justin was reassigned as an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. A memorial service was held on July 17, 2006 at Cowboy Junction Church in Vinita, OK. As the hearse carrying his body made its way to the church, it passed more than 500 American Legion members lined along the road, each holding an American flag. Justin's death apparently touched the Craig County community to its core. Hundreds of residents, some saluting, some with their hands over their hearts, and all waving flags of every size, poured out of homes, offices, department stores and convenience stores to line the funeral route, which flowed through downtown Vinita. As the funeral procession traveled through neighborhoods, young boys with flags on their bicycles stopped out of respect. Full military honors were rendered for the burial at Fairview Cemetery in Vinita, OK. Justin is survived by his wife Sarah; his mother Stacey Noyes; father and stepmother Mark and Karen Noyes; brothers Jeremy Norsworthy and Chris Barnes; and sisters Hannah and Rachel Noyes. Today we remember Marine Sgt Justin L. Noyes, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Lance Corporal Trevor A. Roberts Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Marine Corps LCpl Trevor A. Roberts, of Oklahoma City, OK, who died on March 24, 2007, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Anbar province, Iraq. Trevor was born October 6, 1985 in Moore, OK. He joined the Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Oklahoma City in his senior year before graduating from Westmoore High School in 2004. After graduation he attended 1 year at Oklahoma City Community College before being one of 30 people from his unit who volunteered to go to Iraq as an artillery specialist. Nearly 1,000 people attended a memorial service at Eagle Heights Church with burial in Heritage Burial Park in Oklahoma City, OK. At the memorial service, the Rev. Rob Olmstead recalled Trevor going on numerous mission trips, including one to Bangkok to work with orphaned children the summer before he attended boot camp. Trevor felt ``God is calling me to go work for these children in the foreign mission field,'' said his father, Chuck. While in Iraq, seeing the plight of the people solidified in his mind that he wanted to be a missionary, Roberts' parents said. ``He saw some stuff he did not want to have to see,'' Chuck Roberts said. ``It hurt him. He could look at the Iraqi people and see their hurt and their pain, and he could also see their joy. He could look in their eyes and just see.'' Trevor was preceded in death by his grandfather Carl Roberts. He is survived by his parents Chuck and Twyla Roberts; brother Nathan Roberts; maternal grandmother Helen JoAn Hey and her husband Lester; grandfather Willis Ferguson; paternal grandmother Rita Roberts; uncles Andy Ferguson and his wife Angie, Barry Ferguson and his wife Amy, and Mike Roberts and his wife Sandra; aunts Susan Hall, Linda Roberts, and Patty Bratton and her husband Mark; and numerous extended family, friends, and his beloved Corp. Joey Ware, who knew Trevor more than 10 years, said his friend always looked out for those around him. ``Trevor would do anything for anybody no matter what it cost him,'' Ware recalled. Shortly before his death he wrote on his web page about his faith and the dangers he faced: ``Sometimes I'm awakened at night, and I can not go back to sleep for hours because something is heavy on my heart. For some reason, this is one such thing. How fast life can change on us. Over here, it might be a firefight or a roadside bomb that makes a normal drive a stir of chaos. Things most definitely don't always work out the way we dream and hope, but we have to keep going, for you never know what tomorrow might bring.'' Today we remember Marine Corps LCpl Trevor A. Roberts, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Specialist Joshua D. Sheppard Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Joshua D. Sheppard, of Quinton, OK, who died on December 22, 2006 of wounds sustained when his patrol came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. Born July 10, 1984 and a 2003 graduate of Quinton High School, Josh enlisted in the Army in July 2003 at the age of 19. After completing basic combat training at Fort Benning, GA, and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, he was assigned to the 642nd Engineer Support Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Light Infantry, Fort Drum, NY, in December 2003. He deployed to Iraq in September 2006. An avid outdoorsman, Josh enjoyed fishing and working with wood. He was hoping to use his GI bill for an education and to learn skills that would allow him to come back to his community and work as a contractor with heavy equipment, his mother said. He wanted to become a contractor and open a saw mill. ``It was his love. He loved the outside,'' said his mother, Julie Young. ``If he got too claustrophobic sitting inside, he would go down to the woodshop.'' Funeral services and burial were conducted at Lona Valley Cemetery in Kinta, OK. ``He would have done great things,'' said his brother Reuben, an Army private. ``When we were in school, he was my best friend, and he was my best friend when he was in the service.'' He is survived by his mother Julie Young; stepfather Marty Young; and four brothers. Today we remember Army SPC Joshua D. Sheppard, a remarkable young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Corporal Jared M. Shoemaker Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Marine Corps Cpl Jared M. Shoemaker, of Tulsa, OK, who died on September 4, 2006, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Al Anbar Province, Fallujah, Iraq. The second son of Ken and Linda Shoemaker, Jared was born April 22, 1977. He graduated from Edison High School in 1995, a 3-year letterman in football, with area coaches naming him to the Oklahoma All-State team. He continued his football career, earned a degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice and met his future wife Kari at Northeastern State University. In January 2003, Jared joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After graduating from basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA, he reported to the Infantry Training Battalion at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he graduated as a machine gunner. He was then assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and later reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Broken Arrow, OK. In January 2005 he was hired by the Tulsa Police Department. In June of that year he graduated from the police academy and served as a patrol officer until he was mobilized to active duty status in December 2005. His friends recalled that he excelled as a police officer in every capacity, graduating at the top of his class academically. He also excelled in military service, earning the Albert Schwab Award for Marine of the Year in 2005. A memorial service was held on September 15, 2006 at First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, OK. Full military honors were rendered for the burial at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow, OK. Jared is survived by his wife Kari; his parents Ken and Linda Shoemaker; brother Steve Shoemaker; brother and sister-in-law Ben and Kristen Shoemaker and their daughter Ellie; grandparents Forrest and Gloria Shoemaker; Betty Ellsworth; Howard and Christa Ellsworth; uncle Stephen F. Shoemaker and family; mother-in-law Darla Harrison; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Today we remember Marine Corps Cpl Jared M. Shoemaker, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Corporal Derek A. Stanley Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army CPL Derek A. Stanley, of Tulsa, OK, who died on June 5, 2006, of noncombat injuries while serving his Nation at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khowst province, Afghanistan. Derek was born November 25, 1985, in Claremore, OK. After attending a Tulsa high school, he enrolled in Thunderbird Youth Academy in Pryor, OK, and graduated in December 2003 in the top quarter of his class with his general education development degree. After enlisting in the Army in March 2004, he received training at Fort Leonardwood, MO. Upon completing basic training, he remained at Fort Leonardwood for 19 additional weeks of Chemical Brigade training before being assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Light Infantry, Fort Drum, NY. His unit deployed to Afghanistan on March 15, 2006. About 100 friends and relatives filled Millsap Funeral Service Chapel in Fort Gibson, OK, on June 15, 2006, to remember Derek. Burial services were conducted at Fort Gibson National Cemetery where BG James E. Chambers presented a flag to Derek's mother. Derek is survived by his mother Darlyn Smith; father Faron Stanley; brother Aaron Stanley; grandparents Winnie Young, R.C. Smith, and Leona Weesner; great-grandfather Otto Smith; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Today we remember Army CPL Derek A. Stanley, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Staff Sergeant Clint J. Storey Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SSG Clint J. Storey, of Enid, OK, who died on August 4, 2006, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Ramadi, Iraq. Born February 27, 1976, Clint's life crumbled around him in 1993, quitting school as he struggled to come to terms with the death of his father. However, he found his purpose a few years later when he earned his general education development degree and enlisted in the Army in February 1998. After completing training at Ft Knox, KY, Clint reported to HHC 1/5 Infantry Battalion at Ft Hood, TX, where he served as a scout platoon driver and gunner and deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. In September 2000, he reported to HHC 2-34 Armor Battalion in Ft Riley, KS, as a Squad Leader and Section Sergeant before volunteering to serve as a recruiter in Los Angeles, CA, from September 2002 to 2005. In September 2005, Clint was assigned to 1st Calvary Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany, where he served as the Headquarters Platoon Sergeant and later as the senior scout in 2nd Platoon. From there he deployed to Biaj and later to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in January 2006. Dozens of flags lined the streets as funeral services were held at Central Christian Church in Enid, OK, on August 16, 2006. About 100 people held flags as family and friends gathered around Storey's casket at Enid Cemetery, where he was buried with full military honors. While home on leave from Iraq, Clint and his wife Melissa became pregnant with the couple's second child. Melissa was presented with the folded flag that had laid atop her husband's casket. Military officials then presented another folded flag to his mother. On August 27, 2006, close to 200 mourners gathered in the garden outside St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Palmer, MA, as a second memorial service was held in his wife's hometown. The Vietnam Veterans of America Western MA Chapter 111 organized military honors at the service, which included an honor guard, a 21-gun salute, a recording of ``Taps'' and a carefully folded American flag offered to Adela the couple's 4-year-old daughter. Clint is survived by his wife Melissa; daughter Adela; mother Carolyn Inherst; stepfather Bill Inherst; sisters Charlene Phillips, Tammy Divine and Tonja Whitehead; and numerous other family members and friends. Today we remember Army SSG Clint J. Storey, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Sergeant Clint E. Williams Madam President, it is my honor also to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SGT Clint E. Williams, of Kingston, OK, who died on September 14, 2006, of injuries sustained after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. Born August 6, 1982, in Durant, OK, Clint graduated from Kingston High School in 2001 where he was the senior class president and a member of the baseball team. He joined the Army in April 2003 and was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX. He previously deployed to Iraq from October 2003 through November 2004 and returned in November 2005. In June 2006, he was seriously wounded after a bomb exploded near him outside of Hawr Rajab south of Baghdad. Although the explosion killed a fellow soldier, Clint kept firing on enemy positions, held his ground and ran more than 300 meters to get additional fire support despite receiving wounds to his legs and hand. A fearless man, his favorite quote was ``All one really needs in life is a few good pals and together they can take on anything in life.'' Even after being injured in that battle, he volunteered for dangerous duty on raids rather than sit and wait for battle. A memorial service was held on September 23, 2006 at Jerald Barton Memorial Gymnasium in Kingston, OK. At the memorial service, his friend B.J. Bush recalled Clint as ``a good ol' boy with a knife in his front pocket and a can of snuff in the back. He was happiest with his gun and bow sighted in and his pole rigged with hook and line.'' He was laid to rest in Willis Cemetery, overlooking his beloved Lake Texoma. Clint is survived by his father Lavoyed Williams; mother Marci Sprouse; three brothers Duron Williams, Dalton Williams and Daniel Williams; sister Jessica Williams; grandmothers Jean Williams and Nancy Sprouse; grandfather Jack Sprouse; and two nephews Jarren Williams and Devin Williams. Today we remember Army SGT Clint E. Williams, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.

Mr. INHOFE

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

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I was not scheduled to speak at this time, but there is something going on today that is pretty exciting and I wish to share with everyone. There is a new group that has been formed that is called the IDC, In Defense of Christians. I just came from addressing this group's summit, and it is pretty amazing. There are over 1,000 people in the Visitor Center's big auditorium. It is the largest crowd that has ever been down there, and it has been quickly formed because of the persecution that has taken place throughout the world and primarily in the ISIS area. Unfortunately I don't have charts that are big enough to project this issue well, but at least the President is there and can see them. This is the area where ISIS is working. They are not just in Syria and Iraq. They are in Jordan and other areas. It is a very large area. They are not confined to any particular area. One of the problems that is being addressed--we know about what they are doing. We know they are probably the strongest force and greatest threat against the United States we have ever faced. I was very proud of the Secretary of Defense, Secretary Hagel. He was very outspoken when he talked about the threat we are facing. He characterized it as a great threat. Why is it a great threat? It is a great threat because they have already declared war on America, and that is why I stood here yesterday to get support in the Senate for authority to use military force--that is AUMF--and we are going to make every effort to get that done. Tonight the President is going to speak about this issue. Hopefully he will come out stronger than he has in the past and say something meaningful about how he, as the President of the United States, is going to win this war. I am not expecting it, but I am hoping for it. There is no doubt that once we pass this resolution, he will have the authority to do it. This group is concerned with that matter, but the reason they are together is because they are concerned with the Christian and religious persecution that is going on. I have a lot of background in this area. Way back--before a lot of you guys were born--in 1979, I was mayor of the city of Tulsa, OK, and I remember a man named Boris Penson. Boris Penson was sent to a Siberian gulag prison for 9 years. He was there because of the fact that he would not relinquish his Jewish faith. He was persecuted because of his faith, and we were able to get him out. That was a long time ago. I had another experience in 1988 in Damascus. There was Christian persecution going on at that time. We were able to get them to change the geography a little bit so the people there could openly pray to their lord and savior Jesus Christ. That was unheard of in Syria. It was not like it is today. Today they are killing them. Back then they were putting them in prison. I think it is important for people to understand that ISIS is the most well-organized, well-funded terrorist group in history. More than 1 million people have fled their homes in Iraq after being given the ultimatum by ISIS to convert to Islam or be put to death. Since they invaded Iraq, hundreds and thousands of men and women have been enslaved and have been beheaded as a result of the ultimatum to Christians. I will read it to my colleagues because I don't want to be misquoted. They issued the ultimatum to Christians living in the region I just showed: ``Convert to Islam or face death by the sword.'' That is what is going on today. As I told this group a few minutes ago, now and then we have a happy ending. I have been active--and a lot of people know this--in Africa now for 20 years. I have actually made 135 African country visits. I have seen all kinds of things take place in terms of religious intolerance, persecution. But I remember very well being in the new country called South Sudan. South Sudan is to the south of Sudan. Sudan is up there near Khartoum. We are all familiar with that and the problems taking place there, and we know how intolerant they are there. It happened there was a lady there named Mariam Ibrahim. I am going to show my colleagues a picture. We have never seen a prettier lady in her life. That is in her wedding dress. She is beautiful. She is Sudanese. She had been a Muslim. However, she renounced that and she now is a Christian. So they went to this beautiful young lady who had one baby and she was 8 months pregnant with her next baby, and they said, We are going to put you on trial. You have to renounce Christianity. She said, I can't do it. They said, Well, you have to do it. So she was found guilty of not renouncing her Christianity. She was sentenced to 100 lashes, which would kill her, and then they would hang her up by her neck for public display as an example of what happens. Several of us were involved in this. We had a lot of cooperation from some of the surrounding African countries, including Uganda, President Museveni came through; President Kagame from Rwanda; President Kabila from Congo, and our State Department and others, and we were able to get them to have an appeal. As of today, she is now out of prison. She is back. She has two children, and she and her husband and children are living in the United States. If it hadn't been for seeing what Mariam Ibrahim was facing and knowing that was going on and seeing the beautiful picture of her and a few of us finding out about it, she would be right now still hanging up for display. This is what is happening. A lot of people out there are saying, Well, ISIS is a very serious thing, but this isn't our problem. Yes, it is. I can remember 3 months ago I made the statement that ISIS is a threat to our homeland and people didn't believe that was the case. There is a poll that came out yesterday that I thought I had with me and I don't. But the ABC poll shows that 71 percent of the American people believe ISIS is a direct threat to the homeland of the United States of America. That is 71 percent of the people. They also believe--the same 71 percent of the people--that our President does not have the strategy to win this war. So tonight we are hoping to hear something that is out of character for him. We are hoping it will be something strong that will allow us to win the war. Let me wind up by welcoming those over 1,000 people who are downstairs right now in the Visitor Center who are from the Defense of Christians Summit that is taking place as we speak. We have a lot of people out there. They are doing the Lord's work and they will be richly blessed for it. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life and sacrifice of Army PFC Jerimiah J. Veitch, of Dibble, OK who died with four other servicemembers on June 21, 2007, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO. Born in Moore, OK, Jerimiah moved to San Jose, CA and then back to Dibble, OK with his mother Valorie Sanchez and stepfather Tony Sanchez before high school. According to his sister Amanda Testerman, he gave his all at Dibble High School where he graduated in 2005 so that he could play football and use the weight room. A memorial service was held at Union Hill Baptist Church with interment in Dibble Cemetery in Dibble, OK. At the funeral, LTC Steven Michael said that Jerimiah was only 5 foot 4 inches, but was ``strong as an ox, tenacious.'' One year he took second place in a State weightlifting competition, lifting more than 1,000 pounds in three lifts in the 132-pound weight class. More than 400 pounds of the total he lifted with a single deadlift. After returning home from the Army he planned to go to Dibble, buy some land and build a house. He wanted to go to work for his stepfather in the roofing business. ``He is more of a son than anyone could ask for,'' his father said. ``He was my partner. He was the heart of our family.'' Jerimiah is survived by his mother Valorie Sanchez; stepfather Tony Sanchez; his sister Amanda Testerman; and two brothers Caleb and Jacob Veitch. I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Jerimiah's family. He lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his life for our freedom. Sergeant Ryan M. Wood

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life and sacrifice of Army SGT Ryan M. Wood, of Oklahoma City, OK who died with two other servicemembers on June 21, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. Born June 11, 1984 in Oklahoma City, OK, Ryan graduated from Putnam City North High School in 2002 and signed up for the Army after the September 11 terrorist attacks. ``The war gave Ryan a mission,'' said his sister, Candice Bunce. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. ``He accomplished his mission and left this world with dignity and honor.'' Ryan was an accomplished artist who had received an acceptance letter from the University of Central Oklahoma to study art and political science. On his second tour to Iraq, he had the names of two other soldiers who died in combat tattooed on his chest. His stepfather Scott Vincent said he hoped Wood's death will remind others that American soldiers are dying for their country in Iraq. ``The majority of them are proud to be there,'' he said. ``They don't want to be forgotten. They want to have the tools to do their job.'' Funeral services were held at the Church of the Servant in northwest Oklahoma City, OK. Speaking at the funeral, Ryan's uncle Army Maj. John Litchfield said his nephew had a noble spirit that his men could sense. He spent 607 days in combat, his uncle said. ``Even as a teenager, that noble spirit would not allow you to sit by and accept the injustices of the world,'' he said. ``Ryan felt Iraq was a job we had to finish. It wasn't something we could walk away from,'' Scott Vincent said. ``He was dedicated to being there, and he was extremely well-loved by all his men.'' Ryan is survived by his mother Renee Wood-Vincent; father Bonner Wood; stepfather Scott Vincent; sister Candice Bunce; and numerous other relatives and friends. Today we remember Army SGT Ryan M. Wood, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my honor to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Derek A. Calhoun, of Oklahoma City, OK who died on June 23, 2007, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while serving his Nation in Taji, Iraq. Derek was born on September 8, 1983 in Oklahoma City, OK and attended Moore High School. After completing high school, he enrolled at Wright Business School where he received his associate degree. In 2005, he enlisted and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. Derek had been in Iraq for 8 months and was on his first tour of duty when he was killed. He was injured several months earlier when a car bomb exploded outside a building he was in. He had shrapnel in his wrist, abdomen and shoulder and spent the several months in the hospital having two surgeries. Because of his injuries, Derek was unable to use his right hand and was going through physical therapy to get his hands back to normal. A funeral service was held on July 3, 2007 at South Lindsey Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK with internment in Moore City Cemetery with full military honors. Derek is survived by his parents Alan and Lou Calhoun of Oklahoma City; one sister Lanesha Morris of Oklahoma City; grandparents Jean and JoAnn Calhoun of Choctaw, OK; three nieces Sierra, Cheyenne and Autumn Morris; and one nephew Takoda Morris. Derek is preceded in death by his grandparents Brooks and Eula Choate. Today we remember Army SPC Derek A. Calhoun, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Specialist Ryan S. Dallam

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Ryan S. Dallam, of Norman, OK who died with two other servicemembers on April 6, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. Ryan was born September 22, 1982 in Norman and lived in Midwest City, OK for a time after his parents divorced. When his mother Laura went to teach on an American Indian reservation in AZ, he accompanied her and graduated from Show Low High School in 2002. He later attended Oklahoma City Community College. His father Scott Dallam retired in 2003 after 23 years in the Army. A third generation soldier, Ryan joined the military during the early spring of 2005 and reported to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic training. As a member of the Headquarters Company, 1st/18th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Schweinfurt, Germany, Ryan deployed to Iraq in September 2007 and he was scheduled to come home on leave the next week. His family was enjoying making plans to spend time with him when the chaplain arrived at their home with the unwelcome news. A memorial service was held at First Christian Church in Norman on April 12, 2007 with interment at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Fort Sill, OK. ``He really liked what he was doing,'' Scott Dallam said. ``That makes us feel pretty good. He really enjoyed it and the camaraderie of being in the military and being around other soldiers.'' Ryan is survived by his mother Laura Dallam; father Scott Dallam; stepmother Leslie Dallam; and a younger brother and sister. Today we remember Army SPC Ryan S. Dallam, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Corporal Jaron D. Holliday

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it is my privilege also to honor the life and sacrifice of Army CPL Jaron D. Holliday, of Tulsa, OK who died with two other servicemembers on August 4, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Hawr Rajab, Iraq. Jaron always wanted to be in the Armed Forces and began researching which branch he wanted to go into when he was 11, his mother, Kelly Holliday, said. ``That was always his desire--to go into the military and serve,'' his mother said. ``When 9/11 happened, he was 15, and he said, `If I were old enough to serve, I would.' '' The oldest of eight siblings--seven boys and one girl--Jaron was home- schooled and graduated through the Christian Home Education Fellowship of Oklahoma in 2004. He joined the Army in 2005 when he was 19 and was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, AK. Funeral services were held August 16, 2010 at Tulsa Bible Church with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK. Jaron is survived by his parents John and Kelley Holliday and seven siblings. ``He was a people-watcher,'' his mother said. ``He loved people. He was the kind of person who, if he saw someone sitting by themselves looking depressed or upset, he made it his mission to make them smile before he left, and usually accomplished that goal.'' ``We didn't want to waste time going to an amusement park or sitting in a movie theater because you can't look at each other and talk to each other in those places. We decided to make memories by just being together,'' said his mother. Today we remember Army CPL Jaron D. Holliday, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Specialist Thomas R. Leemhuis

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I also wish to remember Army SPC Thomas R. Leemhuis who died along with four other servicemembers on June 21, 2007 of wounds sustained when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq. Tom was born in Lawton, OK on August 2, 1983 and attended Binger-Oney High School in Caddo County, OK before moving to nearby Anadarko after he graduated in 2002. In 2005 he was inspired to join the Army after the death of his uncle Melvin Jody Stevens, a Vietnam veteran. Upon completing basic training he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. About 500 friends, relatives and fellow soldiers attended a memorial service at Binger-Oney High School Auditorium with internment at Williams Family Cemetery in Binger. At the service, Tom was remembered as a fun-loving young man who enjoyed cracking jokes and playing video games. ``His No. 1 football team was the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and he loved to wear his Nebraska hat around the University of Oklahoma,'' said his mother. ``He loved to push it to the limit.'' Tom had first thought of becoming a teacher and basketball coach when he got out of the military, but then decided to become a police officer because he hated drugs. He had decided to return to Binger after he completed his commitment with the Army because he wanted to make a difference there. He was extremely proud of the military and being a Native American. Tom is survived by his mother Patty Leemhuis; father Paul Whitehorn of Birmingham, AL; a brother Paul Whitehorn Jr. of Binger, OK; and three sisters, Stephanie Leemhuis of Dublin, CA; Renee Whitehorn of Anadarko, OK; and Dream Cox of Birmingham, AL. Today we remember Army SPC Thomas R. Leemhuis, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Staff Sergeant William D. Scates

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I would also like to honor the life and sacrifice of Army SSG William D. Scates, of Oklahoma City, OK who died with three other servicemembers on August 11, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Arab Jabour, Iraq. Born March 8, 1976 in Oklahoma City, Dan was a graduate of Western Heights High School and had a lifelong passion to join the military. ``When he was a little boy, he was always drawing pictures of soldiers. That's all he ever wanted to be,'' said his mother. He had been in the Oklahoma Army National Guard before joining the Active Duty Army where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, GA. A memorial service was held September 1, 2007 in Oklahoma City with interment in Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, TX. His mother Moreana Whitson said her son wanted to be buried there because it was in El Paso where he met his wife Raquel, while in training. Dan is survived by his wife Raquel; daughters Jade 9, and 7-month-old Kendra; his mother Moreana Whitson; his stepfather Randy Whitson; and two sisters Courtney Champagne of Idaho and Shannon Scates of Oklahoma City. He was preceded in death by his father William Leon Scates, who died when Dan was a child. At the memorial service, the Rev. Michael Jackson noted that Dan ``as a child protected kids in the neighborhood from the bullies'' and said he was doing the same thing in Iraq. The minister read a poem that Dan's mother had written some time ago about her son, who was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. ``A long time ago, when you were just a little bitty fellar,'' she wrote, ``little did I know the hero in you. We are not here today to mourn,'' Jackson said. ``We are here to celebrate a hero who is going home to receive his greatest award . . . his greatest honor.'' ``I believe he was a hero before he was born,'' Jackson said. ``Then he lived up to that calling, not just as an adult, but through his whole life.'' I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Dan's family. He lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his life for our freedom. Private First Class Jerimiah J. Veitch

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SPC William E. Allmon, of Ardmore, OK who died on April 12, 2008, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. William was a combat engineer who joined the Army in June 2000 and was on his second deployment to Iraq. He previously deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2005 to January 2006. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. ``If you didn't know him, you missed out on a lot,'' wrote SGT Richard White in a letter read tearfully by his wife during a funeral service. ``You are not only my best friend, you are my brother.'' A funeral service was held on April 22, 2008 at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church in Silver Creek, GA. William is survived by his wife Jennifer, their son Damien and stepson Jason ``Luke'' Johnson, his mother Donna Fortune, and his father William Allmon. He loved his family and his children. ``We're going to miss his smile and his antics--he was a kid at heart. When we went to Chuck E. Cheese, he'd get as much out of it as the kids,'' said the soldier's father, William Allmon. Today we remember Army SPC William E. Allmon, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Staff Sergeant Kevin R. Brown

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life and sacrifice of Army SSG Kevin R. Brown, of Harrah, OK who died on September 25, 2007, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. A cavalry scout, Brown joined the military in September 1988, a year after graduating from Harrah High School. He was inspired to join the military by his father Richard Haynes Brown, a senior master sergeant who retired at Tinker Air Force Base, OK after 22 years of service. In April 2006 he was assigned 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, TX and deployed for his second tour to Iraq in October 2006. A funeral service was held at the Brown family plot in Rineyville, KY, near Fort Knox, TN. Kevin is survived by his parents Glenda and Richard Haynes Brown, his wife Lena of Killeen, TX, the couple's daughters Maria, 13, and Charlene, 14, a sister Brandy Ross of Moore, OK, and two stepchildren Jeremy and Pamela. I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Kevin's family. He lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who twice volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his life for our freedom. Private First Class Cody M. Carver

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Army SPC Michael E. Phillips who died on February 24, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq. Michael left for basic training on June 24, 2006. Upon finishing advanced infantry training, he was assigned to Bravo Company 1 of the 502nd Strike Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. On October 13, 2007, he and his teammates deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just 4 months into his deployment an improvised explosive device tore through the door of the vehicle he was driving. Despite the severity of his injuries he continued to smile and reassure those taking care of him. Even in the most grim and serious times, Michael still fought and lifted up those around him. He is survived by his parents Steven and Angelia Phillips, his brothers David and Anthony, and his sister Barbara--all of Ardmore, OK. Michael excelled at drawing and had been offered admission to the San Francisco Art Institute, his mother said. But serving his country meant more than going to college, she said. ``He came home one day and said he wanted to join the Army, and we got in the car and went down to the recruiting station,'' Anglia Phillips said. ``He said terrorism was like a virus. It had to be stopped. It had to be contained.'' Her son was reenlisting to join for 2 more years because ``he didn't want to leave his squad, his guys,'' she said. Today we remember Army SPC Michael E. Phillips, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Corporal Bryan J. Scripsick

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I also wish to remember Marine Corps Cpl Bryan J. Scripsick who, along with three other Marines, succumbed to injuries sustained after a suicide bomber attacked their position in Anbar province north of Baghdad, Iraq on September 6, 2007. Bryan was born August 21, 1985. Although the family home is in Wayne, OK, he graduated in 2004 from Pauls Valley High School, where he played safety and wide receiver on the football team. Rather than pursuing his dream of playing college football, Bryan chose to join the Marine Corps right after his 19th birthday in August 2004. He was assigned to 3rd Assault amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA and was on his second tour to Iraq. More than 100 people filled the First United Methodist Church for a memorial service held on September 13, 2007. Burial took place at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley, OK. At the cemetery, members of the Marine honor guard carried the casket to the gravesite where the flag was folded above the casket and presented to Bryan's parents and his brother. He was then honored with three volleys from a rifle party and the playing of taps. Bryan is survived by his parents Jon and Jan Scripsick, and his brother Brett Scripsick of Pauls Valley, OK. Today we remember Marine Corps Cpl Bryan J. Scripsick, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom.

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I also wish to remember Army PFC Cody M. Carver who died on October 30, 2007 of wounds sustained when enemy forces engaged his unit with small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq. Born June 23, 1988, Cody joined the Army in November 2006. Upon completing basic training he returned to Oklahoma to serve as a hometown recruiter. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, GA where he was deployed to Iraq on September 28, 2007. Cody's father, Darrell Lee Carver, was wounded during the Vietnam war. That, along with the September 11, 2001 attacks was his motivation for joining the Army, his mother said. ``He had talked about joining the Army since the ninth grade. I guess it was about the same time 9/11 happened. That bothered him so bad, he just wanted to go and make it right,'' she said. A memorial service was held on November 10, 2007 at Coweta High School, with burial at the Vernon Cemetery in Coweta, OK. His mother remembers him as very much a single man with a huge sense of humor. ``I asked him at Valentine's Day if there was anyone he wanted me to send flowers to,'' said his mother. ``He said, `Mom, that would be too many flowers. You couldn't afford it.' '' Cody is survived by his parents Darrel and Pam Carver of Haskell, OK, brothers Lee and Jake Carver of Haskell, OK, and his grandparents Charles Orsburn and Barbara Phillippe of Wagoner, OK, and Ronald and Edna Carver of Coweta, OK. Today we remember Army PFC Cody M. Carver, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Sergeant First Class David R. Hurst

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life and sacrifice of Army SFC David R. Hurst, of Fort Sill, OK who died on June 8, 2008, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Baghdad, Iraq. Born October 21, 1976, David was a 1994 graduate of Ridgewood Prep School in Metairie, LA. He enlisted in the Army in March 1995 and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, GA before being honorably discharged in June 1998. Returning to active duty in August 1999, he served as a basic training drill sergeant at Fort Sill, OK, from November 2005 to October 2007 and was then reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, LA. A funeral service was held on June 17, 2008 at Schoen Funeral home with internment at Lake Lawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in New Orleans, LA. David is preceded in death by his mother Harrette Kock and survived by his father Max Wayne Hurst, his stepmother Lillian T. Hurst, his brothers Chris and Mark Hurst, and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to David's family. He lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who twice volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his life for our freedom. Sergeant First Class Jeffry D. Kettle

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, it is my honor to also honor the life and sacrifice of Army SFC Jeffry D. Kettle who died on August 12, 2007 of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb while serving his Nation in Nangarhar province near Kuzkalakhel, Afghanistan. Born August 26, 1975 and listing Madill, OK as his home of record, Jeff was a product of Texas City, TX. Military service ran in his family with his grandfather, uncles, brother, and father also completing service time. ``Jeff was the ultimate warrior,'' said Ronald Kettle, noting his son joined the Army in 1993 right after graduating from high school. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group based at Fort Bragg, NC and was on his fourth deployment. A memorial service was held August 31, 2007, at Calvary Baptist Church in Texas City, TX. Jeff was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on August 22, 2007. His flag-draped coffin was carried to the grave site by a six-man casket team of soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Regiment. In the brief ceremony, relatives including his parents and his wife recited the Lord's Prayer. His father said his son, 31, wished to be at Arlington because ``he wanted to be buried among heroes.'' Jeff is survived by his parents Ron and Cindy Kettle, his wife Brandi Kettle, two sons Jeffrey and Logan, grandmother Anne Moore, and two brothers Ryan and Clay Kettle. I extend our deepest gratitude and condolences to Jeff's family. He lived a life of love for his family, friends, and our country. He will be remembered for his commitment to and belief in the greatness of our Nation. I am honored to pay tribute to this true American hero who volunteered to go into the fight and made the ultimate sacrifice of his life for our freedom. Captain Torre R. Mallard

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to remember another remarkable young man, Army CPT Torre R. Mallard. Assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, TX. Torre died March 10, 2008 of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device while serving his Nation in Balad Ruz, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The son of a retired army master sergeant, Torre was born August 20, 1980 in Anniston, AL, and lived throughout the United States and Europe, eventually graduating from Salmen High School in Slidell, LA, in 1998. While attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Torre was actively involved in the boxing and football programs. During the spring semester of his sophomore year at the academy he served a 4- month term as a company commander, one of the highest positions in the Cadet Chain of Command at the academy. In June 2002 he earned a commission in the Army and graduated with a degree in computer science. A memorial service was held on March 12, 2008 in Anniston, with burial in the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, NY. Torre is survived by his wife Bonita, two young sons Torre Jr. and Joshua, and his parents Mose and Robin Mallard. Today we remember Army CPT Torre R. Mallard, a young man who loved his family and country, and gave his life as a sacrifice for freedom. Specialist Michael E. Phillips

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I wish to recognize Oklahoma resident Col. Stephanie A. Holcombe of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, or JIEDDO, who will retire from the U.S. Air Force on January 1, 2015, after 25 years of distinguished service. Col. Holcombe significantly impacted the global fight against improvised explosive devices during her final tour of duty as JIEDDO's chief of public affairs. She directly contributed to creating a global awareness about the IED threat; and helped inform and educate people about JIEDDO's work to reduce the effectiveness of IEDs and eliminate the enemy networks that seek to use these devices to harm our troops. Col. Holcombe is a distinguished graduate of Oklahoma State University's Reserve Officers' Training Corps in Stillwater, OK, class of 1989, with a degree in photo journalism. She also achieved two master's degrees from the University of Florida and the National War College. During her 25-year long career as a public affairs officer, she held assignments with Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Material Command, Air Force Special Operations Command and on the Headquarters Air Staff. In 2004, she deployed to Baghdad where she worked with the U.S. Embassy and conducted operations for Multi- National Forces--Iraq. Col. Holcombe earned numerous awards and decorations including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal, among others. She also received Air Force wide accolades for her excellence in journalism, twice earning the Thomas Jefferson Award. I am proud to share in the celebration of Col. Stephanie A. Holcombe's military career. I wish her all the best in her retirement.

Mr. INHOFE

Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be able to speak as in morning business for 15 minutes.