Daniel Inouye

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to express my strong support for the conference report on H. R. 5631. This bill, as the chairman has noted, includes some $436.6 billion for the Department of Defense, including $70 billion to help offset the cost of war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism for the first several months of fiscal year 2007. I want to remind my colleagues that the bill does not include funding, as noted by the chairman, for the Defense Health Program or for environmental and real property maintenance and related programs. By agreement between the Appropriations Committees in both Houses, these amounts will be carried in the Military Construction bill which has not yet passed the Senate. Accounting for this change, the bill is $9.3 billion higher than the bill which passed the Senate. Of this amount, approximately $4.7 billion is in emergency funding for the war on terror, and the balance is for regular appropriations. This bill provides for the essential requirements of the Department of Defense and is a fair compromise between the priorities of the House and the Senate. To my colleagues on the democratic side, I would say this is a good bill. It was fashioned in a bi-partisan manner and it funds our critical defense needs. Several items which were added to this bill by democratic amendments are addressed favorably in this conference report. The agreement urges the President to report his plans in the event of increased sectarian violence in Iraq. It urges the director of national intelligence to assess many elements of the potential for civil war in Iraq. It includes an additional $100 million to help eradicate poppies in Afghanistan and it addresses concerns raised in the Senate about increasing funding to find the leaders of al-Qaida. I point out to the Senate that all the members of the conference on both sides of the aisle supported this agreement. I fully support the bill that the Chairman is recommending, and I urge my colleagues to support the measure as well.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, this year marks the 60th anniversary of Philippine-United States diplomatic relations and friendship. The partnership of our two nations is bound by several battles dating back to World War II, and continues today with the war on terrorism. Those who continue to pay the ultimate sacrifices do so in the defense of freedom and the democratic way of life. During World War II, Filipinos fought side by side with Americans in defense of Bataan and Corregidor, fighting a common enemy. Today, we face a different battle--the war on terrorism--a battle being fought and won in the Philippines. At this moment in many parts of the world, little children, innocent children are crying in pain. Many of these children are being killed from mines and explosives mainly because older men do not know how to discuss peace. They know only how to discuss war, hatred, and death. A month ago, together with the senior officers of the Republic of Philippines Armed Forces, I flew to Zamboanga on the Island of Mindanao. The main element of the mission was to inspect the joint Philippine and United States Armed Forces, and to receive a report on their activities. However, the event that impressed me most was the simple ceremony celebrating the presentation of 185 electrification projects to governors, chieftains, and leaders of various villages and towns in the many islands of Mindanao. These island villages and towns never had electricity. Children had to study by candlelight. For the first time, these communities have electricity in their homes. Children can spend more time learning. Parents can use sewing machines and other power tools to make products to bring to market. And, communities can use computers to surf the Web and connect to the world. The ceremony began with Asalamalaykum, and a prayer thanking Allah, recited by the Imam of Zamboanga. He was followed by a Christian minister, who read scripture from the Bible. Thereafter, children performed their traditional Muslim dance, welcoming us with such warmth, joy, and tranquility. While Christians and Muslims in other parts of the world are killing each other, to see the scene in Zamboanga, where Muslims and Christians are sitting together, breaking bread together, was a deep inspiration. It demonstrates to me that under proper leadership, miracles can happen, and miracles do happen. In Mindanao, there is a demonstration of hope. The joint military forces of our two nations have demonstrated that while you need an iron fist to combat terrorism, you also need to extend a hand of friendship to win their hearts and minds. When you work together, when you cooperate, when you consult, when you speak of peace and hope, miracles can happen. If the rest of the world did the same thing, children would not be screaming in pain. Of all the aid that we provide the Republic of the Philippines, 60 percent is being spent in Mindanao to reinforce efforts to secure a lasting peace, and to build a better life for the people of Mindanao. More than 22,000 former Moro National Liberation Front combatants are now small-scale commercial farmers, earning incomes through farming corn, rice, and seaweed. An additional 6,500 former combatants have been trained to produce high-value crops, such as finfish and bananas. In partnership with the private sector, 6,500 households in 227 remote communities are now equipped with solar-powered, renewable energy systems. The ties that bind our two nations are based on the foundations of freedom and democracy. The work conducted today along with the economic opportunities and education provided by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and in conjunction with the United States Government continues to pave the way toward a better quality of life and stability for the children and region of Mindanao. Mr. President, I commend to my colleagues the text of an August 2006 paper entitled ``Securing Peace in Mindanao through Diplomacy, Development, and Defense,'' written by the American Embassy in Manila.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleagues from the Commerce, Energy, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees in introducing the National Innovation Investment Act. This bill represents the culmination of nearly a year's work by three Committees. We examined the Nation's civilian research and education enterprises and their contributions to innovation and economic competitiveness. By the broadest definition, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is responsible for the economic and commercial health of the country. We have expertise that touches on multiple fields of industry from telecommunications to transportation; from the safety of the home to the security of the homeland; and from marine containers to marine mammals. At the end of the day, our middle name is ``science,'' and we brought that perspective to this bipartisan effort to use technology and innovation to address emerging challenges to our national economic competitiveness. The lynchpin of continued innovation that will lead to economic competitiveness will be educating and inspiring young people to be educated and employed in science- and technology-related disciplines. This bill uses educational programs to inspire students from kindergarten through graduate school to pursue math and science. It also ensures that the Nation's enterprise research is well-funded and focused on the needs of the Nation. This bill includes a 5-year authorization that would double funding for the National Science Foundation, NSF, and significantly increase funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST. The Congress has increased funding for NSF before. This time, with the help of my colleagues and the administration, I hope we can actually provide those dollars to NSF, NIST, and the other priority agencies outlined in the bill. I am pleased that the Commerce Committee and this group were able to include several provisions related to ocean and atmospheric research and education. The ocean truly is the last frontier on Earth and ocean research and technology may have broad implications for improving health and understanding our environment. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recognized this potential in their final report and dedicated three chapters to recommendations on ways to improve ocean education, basic research, and technological innovation. Recognizing the allure that the oceans hold for many young people, the Commission viewed ocean education as a tool that could be used to increase general science and math literacy in the U.S., and we have incorporated that notion into this bill. The United States can and must remain strong and competitive in the face of emerging challenges from the rest of the world. This bill is not the final answer, but it is a starting point. We will begin by strengthening science research and improving education to generate the ideas that U.S. companies can transform into the next breakthrough product. I would be remiss if I did not mention that this bill contains input from the leadership, the Chairs and ranking members of three major committees, Senators Dominici, Bingaman, Stevens, Enzi, Kennedy, and myself, as well as Senators Ensign, Lieberman, Alexander, Mikulski, Hutchison, and Bill Nelson. However, the Senate, at large, also must be involved in the process of considering and improving the bill. From the beginning, we have been assured that the bill would be considered in an open process. I support the bill and look forward to its thorough consideration by the Senate.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleagues from the Commerce, Energy, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees in introducing the National Innovation Investment Act. This bill represents the culmination of nearly a year's work by three Committees. We examined the Nation's civilian research and education enterprises and their contributions to innovation and economic competitiveness. By the broadest definition, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is responsible for the economic and commercial health of the country. We have expertise that touches on multiple fields of industry from telecommunications to transportation; from the safety of the home to the security of the homeland; and from marine containers to marine mammals. At the end of the day, our middle name is ``science,'' and we brought that perspective to this bipartisan effort to use technology and innovation to address emerging challenges to our national economic competitiveness. The lynchpin of continued innovation that will lead to economic competitiveness will be educating and inspiring young people to be educated and employed in science- and technology-related disciplines. This bill uses educational programs to inspire students from kindergarten through graduate school to pursue math and science. It also ensures that the Nation's enterprise research is well-funded and focused on the needs of the Nation. This bill includes a 5-year authorization that would double funding for the National Science Foundation, NSF, and significantly increase funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST. The Congress has increased funding for NSF before. This time, with the help of my colleagues and the administration, I hope we can actually provide those dollars to NSF, NIST, and the other priority agencies outlined in the bill. I am pleased that the Commerce Committee and this group were able to include several provisions related to ocean and atmospheric research and education. The ocean truly is the last frontier on Earth and ocean research and technology may have broad implications for improving health and understanding our environment. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recognized this potential in their final report and dedicated three chapters to recommendations on ways to improve ocean education, basic research, and technological innovation. Recognizing the allure that the oceans hold for many young people, the Commission viewed ocean education as a tool that could be used to increase general science and math literacy in the U.S., and we have incorporated that notion into this bill. The United States can and must remain strong and competitive in the face of emerging challenges from the rest of the world. This bill is not the final answer, but it is a starting point. We will begin by strengthening science research and improving education to generate the ideas that U.S. companies can transform into the next breakthrough product. I would be remiss if I did not mention that this bill contains input from the leadership, the Chairs and ranking members of three major committees, Senators Dominici, Bingaman, Stevens, Enzi, Kennedy, and myself, as well as Senators Ensign, Lieberman, Alexander, Mikulski, Hutchison, and Bill Nelson. However, the Senate, at large, also must be involved in the process of considering and improving the bill. From the beginning, we have been assured that the bill would be considered in an open process. I support the bill and look forward to its thorough consideration by the Senate.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, this is a bipartisan measure. I am proud to support this bill. I believe all that has to be said has been said. But I would like to thank those on our side who have been helpful: Dabney Hegg and her baby, Sam Whitehorn, Lila Helms, Gael Sullivan, Stephen Gardner, James Assey, and Margaret Cummisky. Without their help, we would still be here.

Mr. INOUYE. The Senator is correct that his amendment will be the position of the Senate. I can assure the Senator I will work to protect the Senate position in conference. Mr. DeMINT I thank my colleagues for working with me on this amendment and look forward to the port security bill's passage.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, the managers on this side unanimously approve this measure and seek its support.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, the managers on this side are very pleased to support this bipartisan amendment and urge its immediate adoption.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I yield to the Senator from Colorado. Amendment No. 4935

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Amber Mace and Heather Ludemann, legislative fellows with the Commerce Committee, be accorded the privilege of the floor during consideration of H.R. 4954, the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act or the SAFE Port Act.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I thank Senator Murray for her efforts to reconcile what we believe to be the most glaring vulnerability of this bill--how to pay for it. As I noted in my opening statement, authorizing security programs for our ports and supply chain is the first step. We also must provide the actual funding to implement these new initiatives. While we have rushed to debate this security bill this week as the country remembers those who lost their lives 5 years ago, the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee is in conference struggling to find the necessary funds to pay for existing programs. The security enhancements we are debating this week provide our constituents no benefit if we do not give the agencies we have tasked with these new responsibilities the necessary funds to do their job. Despite a vulnerable maritime system and a very real threat to the physical and economic security of all Americans, the President has provided little support to help secure our Nation's ports from terrorist attacks. Even though the Congress has enacted two port security laws, the White House has included limited port security funding in their annual budget requests, proving their support for port security has been all talk and no action. In 2003, when the President's budget failed to provide a fraction of the funding necessary for port security programs, Democrats offered an amendment to the Budget Resolution to provide $1 billion per year for 2 years to help ports meet the new security mandates. The amendment closely followed the Coast Guard's estimates on the immediate, first year costs for ports to meet the mandates. The amendment received unanimous approval in the Senate. During the conference committee's consideration of the budget resolution, the Republican leadership eliminated the provision. Recognizing this inadequacy and lost opportunity to deliver funds to the ports quickly, the Democrats offered an amendment to add $1 billion to the 2003 supplemental again to help ports meet the new security mandates. Despite unanimous approval in the Senate 3 weeks earlier, when it came time to put the real dollars behind the budget commitment, the amendment was opposed by the administration and defeated on the Senate floor on a party-line vote. Unfortunately, this year we saw history repeat itself. A Democratic amendment offered by Senator Byrd to increase funds for port security programs by $648 million was offered and agreed to by unanimous consent during committee consideration of the fiscal year 2006 supplemental appropriations bill. Yet again when it came time to put real dollars behind their commitment to port security programs to make them a reality, the additional funds were opposed by the administration and were eliminated in conference. If history is any guide, the additional funding provided by the Senate in the fiscal year 2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill is likely to be eliminated again during this ongoing conference. It has become evident that only by identifying a revenue source other than appropriated funds to pay for the new initiatives authorized in this Port Security Improvement Act can we truly overcome this cycle of all talk and no action. And that is exactly what the Murray amendment does. The Murray amendment raises $2.5 billion by extending customs fees. It goes a long way toward covering the costs for the $3.2 billion authorized in this legislation. This is a tremendous step in the right direction to pay for more than 78 percent of the authorized levels in the underlying bill. I hope my colleagues will join with me in supporting this amendment. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask the Senator from Washington I be added as a cosponsor of her amendment.

Mr. INOUYE

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

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from Alaska, our chairman.

Mr. INOUYE. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues, Senator Stevens, Senator DeMint, and Senator Ben Nelson, in working to build consensus on the pending amendment, which will improve our Nation's ability to transmit critical emergency information to the public in times of crisis. As we consider this amendment, however, I believe it is important for us to clarify that provisions in this act do not affect or in any way limit or impair the Federal Communications Commission's existing authority under the Communications Act to promote public safety. As my colleagues well know, one of the most fundamental and significant statutory mandates of the FCC is the promotion of safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communication. As a result, while section 103(f) of the amendment makes clear that no new regulatory authority is granted to the FCC, other than to regulate compliance with its provisions and as specified in subsection 103(d) and (e), I would ask my colleague, Senator DeMint, to confirm my understanding that the amendment will have no impact on the FCC's existing regulatory authority under the Communications Act to promote public safety through the use of communications technologies.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, we are ready to proceed, but other Members are not here. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I wish to associate myself with the remarks of Mr. Stevens.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, the record should show that there are significant amounts of money allocated in this bill to several agencies. But to go beyond that and discuss in greater detail would be, as the chairman indicated, a violation of the rules of classification. I will cease at this point.

Mr. INOUYE. Yes, thank you.

Mr. INOUYE. I concur with the Senator from Alaska in regards to the committee's intended purpose of funds provided for Army reset programs.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Port Security Improvement Act of 2006. It reflects a bipartisan compromise between the three committees that have jurisdiction over the security of our Nation's ports, international intermodal supply chain and the administration of the Department of Homeland Security. This bill strikes the right balance between security and facilitating the trade that is so important to our economy. Our national economy depends on port security, yet amazingly, the administration has not made it the priority that it needs to be. It has consistently submitted inadequate funding requests and has routinely missed critical security deadlines that were required by law. It was not until the Dubai Ports World controversy hit the front pages of local newspapers that many members of the Congress began to take port security seriously. I hope that Members of this body will give this important piece of legislation the consideration it deserves. Lastly, we all know that you cannot have a successful security policy without adequate funding. Today is a good first step, but the administration and this Congress must take the next step after we pass this legislation and fund these initiatives as proposed here. There are more than 360 ports in our Nation that serve as a gatekeeper for our Nation's trade and commerce, bringing into the country most of the merchandise and raw materials our businesses rely upon. If an incident forced the shutdown of ports across the Nation, the impact on our national economy would be devastating and have long- term consequences. The Coast Guard, through the National Maritime Transportation Act, has taken important steps to create a plan to guarantee trade resumes quickly after an attack. However, more needs to be done to enhance the Coast Guard's plan and ensure effective implementation. Our economic health depends on it. Given the role our ports play in the economy, we cannot underestimate the importance of ensuring that the containerized cargo that comes into our country is safe and that the ships entering our borders do not carry enemies of our Nation. Yet less than 6 percent of the cargo coming into this country is inspected, a level that is unacceptable if we are to take security seriously. Making the current situation worse is the fact that current State inspection and radiation scanning technologies are woefully inadequate. The measure before us today addresses the shortfalls of the past 5 years. First, it enhances the examination of cargo domestically and before it reaches our shores. Second, the bill improves interagency cooperation. Third, it improves the sharing of intelligence information with the creation of interagency port security command centers. Fourth, it provides an additional director within to improve communication and cooperation between the public and private sectors to quickly resume trade should an incident occur. And fifth, the bill offers assistance and technical training to our partners in the war on terror. These are all simple fixes but fixes that have significant consequence in our efforts to protect our ports. As we consider this piece of legislation, we must not forget the security needs of our other transportation systems. Amendments will be offered to this bill that relate to securing other modes of transportation and it is my intent to support those amendments as well so that we have a comprehensive approach to securing our infrastructure. I am hopeful that the Senate will pass this bill as soon as possible. Our approach has broad bipartisan support. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has focused on the issues of transportation security long before the events of September 11, 2001. We have dedicated substantial time and resources to oversee and investigate the security and safety of our Nation's systems of transportation and this bill will mark the fourth landmark transportation security related bill that has been brought before the Senate. The time is right to pass these needed security improvements, and I am hopeful that we can make it happen.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendments Nos. 4767, 4867, as Modified, 4757, and 4868, En Bloc

Mr. INOUYE. Yes.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise in support of the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives Bill. Henry Giugni was my dear friend. He was an important part of my life for nearly half a century. He tirelessly and proudly served the people of Hawaii as my chief of staff. After leaving my office, he eagerly and enthusiastically dedicated himself to serving the Senate and the citizens of the United States as the Senate's 30th Sergeant-at-Arms. In the days following his passing on November 3, 2005, I was deeply touched by the hundreds of people who reached out to me, and shared, through conversations and letters, their memories of Henry. The stories were poignant. They were filled with love and affection for a bear of a man who--while he could be gruff and outrageous at times--could never camouflage his gentle soul and his willingness to help others, especially those who were less fortunate or who were just beginning their careers. The shared memories of Henry revealed that he enriched lives, served as an inspiration, and gave hope. Similarly, this bill, which bears Henry's name, will not only honor him, but more importantly will serve the people of Hawaii, especially the descendants of the islands' first settlers. It will also help Hawaii's unique native traditions and culture to flourish. By establishing a digital memorial archive at the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media, this bill will enrich the lives of the people of Hawaii and those who live beyond Hawaii's shores. The digital archive will be a 21st-century way of inspiring and giving hope by preserving the invaluable lessons and insights from the collective memory and history of Native Hawaiians. During the years that Henry was a young boy attending school, the history of Native Hawaiians and Hawaii was rarely--if ever--taught in Hawaii. It was only relatively recently that Hawaiian history became an essential part of the curriculum of Hawaii's schools. Henry was proud that he was part-Hawaiian, and he was proud that someone like him, from humble beginnings, could find success in Washington, in an environment vastly different from his roots in Hawaii. While he became an acquaintance of presidents and kings, his heart was always with the native people of Hawaii, who are still struggling for their moment in the sun. In addition to creating a digital archive and preserving the traditions and culture of Native Hawaiians, this legislation will support initiatives to develop Web-based media projects from the archive to create educational materials that can be used to enhance the education of indigenous students. It also can serve to inspire higher educational achievement by indigenous students by sharing with them the stories and histories of accomplished individuals with indigenous backgrounds, such as Henry. So although Henry is no longer with us, his mentoring and sharing spirit will live on through the digital archive created by this bill. Through the archive, Henry will always be the embodiment of the kupuna--the respected elder who has much wisdom and insight to share. My colleagues, please join me in supporting the Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives Bill.