Tim Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city of Crocker, SD. A cafe was the first business to open in Crocker in 1906. The cafe was soon followed by the Lambert Lumber Company and the Crocker State Bank. Eventually the town expanded to include a clothing store, pool hall, drug store, hardware farm machinery store, and a blacksmith. The first train ran through Crocker in 1907. Soon there were four trains a day, with a sleeper on one train en route to Minneapolis. The post office was established on February 6, 1907. The first Crocker school was moved into the town in 1908, on the corner of Vera Street and Third Avenue. Today the Crocker Lutheran Church, which was founded in 1917, still remains a thriving place for its congregation. I am proud to publicly honor Crocker on this memorable occasion. Small communities like Crocker are part of the backbone of our great State and help to preserve our agricultural roots and deep-seated character. After 125 years, Crocker still exemplifies what it means to be a great South Dakota community.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I would like the Record to reflect that I was necessarily absent on Monday June 19, 2006, for rollcall vote No. 175, the confirmation of the nomination of Sandra Segal Ikuta, of California, to be U.S. circuit court judge. Unfortunately, my flight from South Dakota to Washington, DC, was delayed due to bad weather. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted in favor of the nomination.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Cresbard, SD. Cresbard, which is a small, friendly community, is home to various businesses, in addition to a museum and an excellent community center. Cresbard was originally located about 3 miles northwest of its present location and named after John A. Cressey and George A. Baird. In 1883, Mr. Baird circulated a petition for establishment of the Cresbard post office which was located in Mr. Cressey's home. On June 15, 1892, Mr. Cressey granted James A. Ward a right-of-way for the Duluth, Pierre, and Black Hills Railroad. The railroad grade was built across the counties of Faulk, Hughes, Sully, Hyde, Edmunds, and Brown. Despite this attempt, tracks were never laid. In 1906, surveyors for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad came through, and men from the Dakota Town Lot Company began to develop locations along the newly proposed right-of-way. In 1907, the residents of Cresbard finally heard the sound of a train whistle. Although having an economy that is predominately agriculturally based, Cresbard is now considered home by several businesses including a post office, hotel/restaurant, automotive service station, and a bank. Cresbard is also home to several churches, and is viewed as a haven for hunters from October through December each year. I am pleased to announce that Cresbard will be celebrating its centennial from June 30 to July 2. The centerpiece of this anniversary will be the all-school reunion. There are numerous other events scheduled including a car show, hot air balloon rides, 10K run, softball tournament, and street dance. These activities should serve as a reminder to the citizens of Cresbard that the community spirit is alive and well. Mr. President, I am proud to publicly honor Cresbard on this memorable occasion. This celebration is a great way of recognizing Cresbard's long and productive history, and I am pleased that the citizens of Cresbard, past and present, are being honored and celebrated.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I wish today to recognize and honor Ruth Ziolkowski on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Ruth Ziolkowski deserves great recognition for her dedication to the establishment of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. She is the president of the board of directors and chief executive officer of the foundation, which is a nonprofit educational and cultural project established in 1949. Ruth assumed leadership of the project after the 1982 death of her husband, Crazy Horse sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Work on the memorial is now a family endeavor, with many of Ziolkowski's five sons and five daughters working as a team to advance the project. Native American leaders chose the figure of Crazy Horse for his devotion to serving his people and preserving their culture. He was known not only for his skill in battle but also for his loyalty to his people. Ruth Ziolkowski, in many ways, reflects his character. When completed, the Crazy Horse Memorial will be the world's largest sculpture. In 1998, the completion of the face of Crazy Horse made it the world's largest single sculpted portrait. However, the goals of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation go beyond completion of the physical structure. The foundation works for reconciliation and harmony between races, and provides services such as the Crazy Horse Memorial Native American Scholarship Program, which assists students from the nine South Dakota reservations. Ruth Ziolkowski holds honorary doctorate degrees from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the University of South Dakota. In 1997, she received the Free Spirit Award from the Freedom Forum, which is a nonpartisan, international foundation dedicated to free press, free speech, and free spirit. In addition, Korczak and Ruth Ziolkowski have been accepted into the Hall of Fame of Sales and Marketing Executives International, Inc. On June 26, 2006, Ruth Ziolkowski's 80th birthday, there are plans to bring the mountain alive with Legends in Light, a multimedia laserlight show that tells the story of Native Americans and their contributions throughout the centuries. The celebration's magnitude can only strive to match the vast contributions the Ziolkowski family have made to ensuring that the dream behind the Crazy Horse memorial comes true. Mr. President, I wish to publicly recognize Ruth Ziolkowski's achievements, and wish her the best on this special occasion.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city of Mellette, SD. Mellette was incorporated into South Dakota in 1881, with the first store opening the same year. The community was named after Arthur Mellette, the first governor of South Dakota. By 1882, Mellette was a thriving town with 39 businesses including doctors, lawyers, and other professionals. The Western Enterprise was the first newspaper in Mellette, and by the time publication ended in 1941, the newspaper was the oldest, continuous paper in Spink County. Today, Mellette is the home of 240 residents, 8 businesses, churches, and other civic organizations. The Mellette Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1895, still keeps residents safe. Northwestern Elementary, Middle, and High Schools also call Mellette home. I am pleased to announce that Mellette celebrated its 125th anniversary with a community celebration on May 26 to 27. There were numerous events, such as karaoke, a flea market, a parade, an antique tractor pull, a horseshoe tournament, kid's games, and a Harley motorcycle raffle, followed by a community supper. A historical display included ``Old Time'' Mellette videos. The festivities were a fitting celebration to honor a wonderful community. I am proud to publicly honor Mellette on this memorable occasion. After 125 years, Mellette still exemplifies what it means to be a great South Dakota community.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the city of Groton, SD, and to recognize the 125th anniversary of its founding. Groton was founded in 1881 in Brown County. Still standing from those early days is Trinity Episcopal Church which was built in 1884 as a place for the newly formed town to come together and gather as a community. Groton now has six churches and multiple gathering places to house its growing and thriving community. Groton is home to the Granary Rural Cultural Center. Groton's commitment to fine arts and culture shines through in this establishment where art shows from artists from both North and South Dakota are on display. The Granary Rural Cultural Center not only promotes the arts, but also the heritage of those living in the Dakotas while celebrating and caring for the land. One of the most notable pieces of Groton's history took place in 1923 when $1,000 was stolen from the First National Bank, while the tellers were held at gunpoint. During the holdup, one brave citizen ran outside to ring the alarm alerting the authorities of the situation. Fortunately, only minor injuries were inflicted in the ordeal. Groton will be celebrating its 125th anniversary with a variety of events. Among the festivities will be an all-school reunion, Legion baseball, pancake breakfast, water carnival, bingo, tractor pull, parade, dance, fireworks display, and community church service. The anniversary will serve as an occasion to bring this close-knit community even closer together. I am proud to publicly recognize Groton and congratulate the community on this achievement. As the people of Groton take this opportunity to appreciate how far the city has come from its beginnings, I know they will understand the important role Groton plays in making South Dakota the great State that it is.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I rise in order to pay tribute to the centennial of the founding of the city of Brentford, SD. The community is distinguished as the only ``Brentford'' in the United States. Brentford was established in 1906 along the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad line and named by a railroad employee for Brentford, England. The town was built in less that a year and reached a peak population of around 300, with a current population around 70. There are a church, gas station, restaurant, and two construction companies located in Brentford. Additionally, the Brentford Volunteer Fire Department serves Brentford City, Tetonka, and LaPrairie townships, and part of Clifton Township. I am pleased to announce that Brentford will be celebrating its centennial on June 23 through 25. There are numerous events scheduled, including a parade, performances by Brentford area musicians, fireworks, a paintball tournament, and an antique tractor pull. This celebration is a fitting way to recognize this milestone for this pleasant and progressive community. One hundred years after its founding, Brentford continues to be a vital community and a great asset to South Dakota. I am proud to honor the achievements of Brentford on this memorable occasion.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 125th anniversary of the founding of one of South Dakota's great cities, Aberdeen. Aberdeen is the third largest city in the State, and the county seat of Brown County. Aberdeen boasts a robust economy, first-rate hospital, two 4-year universities, art, culture, shopping, and outdoor recreation. Taken all together, Aberdeen has an exceptional quality of life, and things are only getting better for this dynamic city. Aberdeen was founded in July of 1881 with the arrival of the Milwaukee Railroad and takes its name from the home town of the Milwaukee Railroad's Scottish President, Alexander Mitchell. As more railroads came into the area, Aberdeen became known as the ``Hub City,'' referring to its role as a busy intersection for trainlines. Aberdeen's citizens are justly proud of their city's history, and they have undertaken numerous successful projects designed to preserve and celebrate this heritage. The city's many historic attractions include the Granary Rural Cultural Center, Dacotah Prairie Museum, and J.L. Zeitlow Telephone Pioneer Museum, among others. In addition, Aberdeen is home to and promotes a lively and renowned antique market. Perhaps Aberdeen's most famous early resident was Lyman ``Frank'' Baum, who would eventually write ``The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.'' During his time in Aberdeen, Baum owned a store, Baum's Bazaar and later edited The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer. Many believe that Baum's description of Kansas in ``The Wonderful Wizard of Oz ``was based on his time in Aberdeen. Storybook Land, a theme park based on ``The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,'' commemorates Baum. Another nationally known figure from Aberdeen in more recent times is former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Other institutions in the Aberdeen area include two 4 year universities, Northern State University and Presentation College; a top flight medical center, Avera St. Luke's Hospital; Wylie Park recreational area; and of course plenty of good hunting and fishing. Aberdeen combines the warmth and friendliness of a small town with the cosmopolitanism associated with larger communities. I am pleased to recognize the achievements of Aberdeen, and to offer my congratulations to the residents of the city on this historic milestone. As the city motto states, Aberdeen is indeed ``A Great Place to Live.''

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the founding of the town of Chelsea, SD. Chelsea is a rural community in Faulk County. Small towns like Chelsea are part of the backbone of our wonderful State. Chelsea originally began in the middle of a wheat field, where extensions of the Minneapolis and St. Louis railways met. There are competing stories for how the town was named. One says that Chelsea was named after the borough of London, one that it was named for a landowner in Chelsea, OK, and another that says it was named for someone from Chelsea, MA. The first building to go up in Chelsea was two-story poolhall and saloon, built by H.E. Batteen. Other businesses soon followed. By 1909, there were 30 businesses in Chelsea, including a post office, weekly paper, bank, butcher, lumber yard, and drug store. There were at least three churches, including the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, which is still active today. The area in which Chelsea is situated has both fertile farmland and excellent fishing and hunting. In particular, the area is known for its great pheasant shooting and the numerous hunting lodges that dot the landscape around Chelsea. Small communities such as Chelsea do not always get the attention that they deserve, but it is places like Chelsea that help to maintain South Dakota's agricultural roots and deep-seated character. I am proud to honor Chelsea on its 100th anniversary, and I am confident that the next 100 years will bring still more progress and prosperity.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, it is with great honor that I rise today to congratulate the Brookings chapter of Disabled American Veterans on their 25th anniversary, which will be celebrated on July 1, 2006. Disabled American Veterans, an organization with over 1.2 million members, is focused on building better lives for disabled veterans and their families. The organization strives to meet this goal by providing free assistance to veterans in an attempt to obtain benefits and services earned through their military service. Because it is not a governmental agency, Disabled American Veterans is fully funded by membership dues and public contributions. At the conclusion of World War I, Disabled American Veterans was created to help ease the suffering caused by the effects of World War I. Since the beginning, Disabled American Veterans has continually grown and adapted to the needs of disabled veterans. Today, Disabled American Veterans is committed to making sure the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are well cared for upon their return from service. In 1986, the Disabled American Veterans transportation program was initiated in South Dakota. The following year, this program quickly expanded to become nationwide. This program is designed to provide free rides for all veterans to VA facilities so that they may attend scheduled appointments. In 2005, the South Dakota program alone transported over 20,000 veterans to VA hospitals. On July 1, 2006, the Brookings chapter of Disabled American Veterans will celebrate their 25th anniversary. This celebration, which will be held at the Brookings Pizza Ranch, is designed to honor the 11 surviving charter members. Mr. President, I am proud to have the opportunity to honor these members and their committed service. I strongly commend their years of hard work and dedication and am very pleased that their extensive efforts are being publicly honored and celebrated.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Senate's most enduring figure, Senator Robert Byrd, of West Virginia. Today marks the day that Senator Byrd becomes the longest serving member in the history of the U.S. Senate, with almost 50 years of senatorial experience. I extend to Senator Byrd my congratulations on this momentous occasion. Born in 1917, Senator Byrd had a hardscrabble childhood. After the death of his parents when Senator Byrd was just 1 year old, he was raised by his aunt and uncle in various communities in West Virginia. He graduated at the top of his high school class in the 1930s, in the midst of the Great Depression. Taking work wherever he was able to find it, Senator Byrd pumped gas, sold produce, and cut meat. These jobs grounded Senator Byrd in the realities of the working world. During World War II, he became a welder and worked on the Liberty and Victory ships. After the war, Senator Byrd began his political life with a successful run for the West Virginia House of Delegates. After serving two terms, Senator Byrd was elected to the West Virginia Senate, then to the U.S. House of Representatives. Finally, in 1958, Senator Byrd was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has subsequently been reelected by large margins again and again. In numerous elections, he has carried all 55 counties in West Virginia and in 2000 carried nearly every precinct in the State, an unheard of achievement. Additionally, Senator Byrd has held more positions in the Senate leadership than any other Senator in the history of the institution, including 12 years as Democratic Leader. While outside of the Senate Chamber, Senator Byrd became the first member to initiate and complete the courses needed for a law degree while simultaneously serving in Congress by taking night classes from American University over the course of 10 years. In May 2001, Senator Byrd was named ``West Virginian of the 20th Century'' by Gov, Bob Wise and both houses of the West Virginia Legisature. He is also blessed with two daughters, six grandchildren, and five-great granddaughters. I am pleased to recognize my colleague, Senator Byrd, on this historic day. The work he has done throughout his life has bestowed countless benefits to the people of West Virginia and to the Nation. It is a pleasure to work with such a creative and dedicated lawmaker, and I once again congratulate Senator Byrd on reaching this milestone.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, extreme weather conditions pounded much of South Dakota in 2005, leaving nearly 60 out of the State's 66 counties eligible for Federal disaster aid. Many family farmers and ranchers have had little reprieve from the previous year of harsh weather conditions, as blizzards and drought have already hampered the 2006 production year. On top of natural disasters, low commodity prices and skyrocketing energy costs are forcing producers to make tough decisions in order to keep their operations afloat. I believe we can do more to help ease the burdens that our producers bear, and I want to draw the Senate's attention to a handful of South Dakota counties devastated by natural disaster in 2005 and into 2006. In 2005, 59 South Dakota counties were included in Presidential or Secretarial emergency declarations as either primary or contiguous disaster counties. These counties experienced natural disasters such as drought, high winds, extreme heat, flash flooding, hail, prairie fires, spring frost, severe storms, and blizzards. For example, 2005 marked the fourth consecutive year of experiencing drought conditions in central South Dakota, including Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Stanley, and Sully counties. Inadequate snowfall, meager spring rains, high temperatures, and desolating winds led to sparse pastures and a lack of forage crops necessary for feeding livestock. Without adequate precipitation, producers were forced to reduce the size of their livestock herds. Of the 57,500 acres planted or growing in Stanley County, losses ranged from 35 to 70 percent. In Sully County, 50 to 70 percent of 280,075 acres planted or growing were lost due to drought conditions. Hyde County's corn, soybean, and sunflower crops experienced yield losses ranging from 50 to 80 percent. In southern South Dakota, Charles Mix County experienced much of the same drought conditions. While drought typically wreaks havoc on an area over an extended period of time, one day of particularly extreme temperatures and strong winds on top of severe drought can devastate already struggling crops. On July 23, 2005, the temperature reached 114 degrees Fahrenheit with 45-mile-per-hour winds. These conditions led to a 60 percent loss of corn yields, 50 percent loss of soybean yields, and 30 to 35 percent of yield losses in sorghum, alfalfa, mixed forage, and grass. Neighboring county, Hutchinson County, experienced 100 percent loss of prevented corn and soybean yields and 50 percent loss of corn and soybean yields. We are now in the middle of the 2006 production season and Farm Service Agencies, FSA, in parts of the State report conditions edging toward severe drought and fear that without adequate precipitation soon, many counties will be faced yet again with another difficult year of production. Livestock producers are increasing supplemental feeding early this year due to poor pasture conditions and lack of water in dams and dugouts. Farmers are left with very little to work with, as both the topsoil and subsoil lack the necessary moisture to produce operation-sustaining crops. This cycle of drought conditions has created a new element of synergism in the agriculture industry, compounding year upon year of devastating effects not only on producers' pocketbooks, on livestock and land conditions. Campbell County, in north-central South Dakota, is one among many counties experiencing drought again this year. Entering into its fourth year of drought conditions, with only 1.54 inches of rainfall to date for 2006, Campbell County is currently 63 percent below the normal precipitation for the area. Today, many water sources are dry due to below normal snowfall during the winter months yielding no runoff, and below normal rainfall this spring. In addition to drought, frost has forced producers to shorten grazing time on native pastures and native and tame greases. In central South Dakota, drought is rearing its ugly head for the fourth and fifth consecutive years. Hand County is experiencing yet another extremely dry year, with approximately 330 livestock producers affected and an estimated $210,000 needed in Emergency Conservation Program, ECP, funds to correct the damage. In Lyman County, winter and spring wheat yields will likely yield zero to 40 percent of normal. Row crops, which were planted into dry ground, are not germinating and will likely fail unless adequate precipitation is received soon. While most livestock producers in these areas have not liquidated as of yet, should these conditions persist, they will be forced to sell their entire herd. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Clay County, which experienced a series of heavy rains, flooding, hail, and frost in 2005. Much of the alfalfa affected by the excessive rain incurred a significant quality loss, because most of the first cutting was not able to be marketed as dairy-quality hay. The majority of producers affected suffered a 20 to 40 percent of yield losses, while 100 to 125 producers experienced greater than 30 percent in losses. Of those with greater loss, some producers received assistance from the FSA Farm Loan Division in order to keep their farm in operation. Counties throughout the State have also been impacted by frost or freezing temperatures. Haakon County, in western South Dakota, had frost hit winter wheat and alfalfa crops in March of 2005, only to experience freezing temperatures two months later. Eighty percent of yield losses affected the 15,800 acres of alfalfa and 10 to 20 percent of winter wheat yields were lost. Among other counties affected by frost or freezing temperatures were Brown, Gregory, McPherson, Hyde, Potter, Brookings, Perkins, Clay, and Sully. Dealing with winter storms is certainly not new to South Dakotans. However, from time to time the combination of unusually high winds, freezing rain, and large snow accumulation results in the temporary paralysis of communities and agriculture operations. Not only did severe winter weather in 2005 and the spring of 2006 take a toll on livestock, but many producers were without electricity for days and even weeks. Producers' pocketbooks took an extra hit because of the high fuel costs it took to run generators around the clock. From November 27 through November 29, 2005, severe winter storms swept through much of eastern South Dakota. President Bush declared 42 primary and contiguous counties as emergency designations. In Hamlin and Deuel Counties, 30 percent of producers' alfalfa and winter wheat were lost in that particular blizzard. Western South Dakota was hit with severe blizzard conditions on April 18 and 19, 2006, dropping as much as 24 inches of snow. Harding, Meade, Haakon, and Butte counties were among those hardest hit by the spring blizzard, with the total estimate of livestock losses at approximately 11,732. Harding County experienced the worst losses. According to the Harding County FSA office, 60 of the 300 producers contacted reported losses totaling 2,500 cows and calves and 6,000 sheep. For one producer in northwest Harding County, about one-third of his herd died when between 450 and 500 of his sheep piled up against a fence and suffocated. Butte County also sustained significant losses to their livestock herd. I briefly described the agricultural conditions South Dakota's family farmers and ranchers have faced over the last year and a half. The counties I described are merely a snapshot of the reality that our producers experience following a natural disaster. In some cases, disasters are limited to portions of one county, while other disasters span large parts of the state, affecting all producers. Every farmer or rancher knows that each production year is a gamble with Mother Nature. Unfortunately, all too often most producers at some point lose this gamble and suffer the devastating effects of a natural disaster. I understand the financial and emotional hardships that this places on many family operations' struggle to survive. Because agriculture is the driving force behind South Dakota's economy, it is crucial that producers receive the resources necessary to recover from their losses. In response to the many natural disasters that producers throughout the country have suffered, Senator Kent Conrad and I introduced the Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2006 on March 16, 2006. Our relief package would provide emergency production loss and economic assistance to agricultural producers for losses sustained during the 2005 production year. Assistance for crop production losses, livestock assistance, supplemental nutrition, and economic disaster assistance to aid with rapidly-increasing production input costs are included in our bill. In addition, a number of provisions in the bill address agricultural recovery in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Senators Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan and I worked to fold our stand- alone bill into the larger spending bill, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 4939. On May 4, 2006, the Senate passed the $109 billion emergency funding package, of which $3.9 billion would be used for agriculture disaster relief. As a negotiator in the conference consideration of the bill, I fought to secure meaningful disaster aid for producers. However, House leadership demonstrated their priorities, leaving America's family farmers and ranchers out to dry yet again. The conference report that was presented to the committee contained only money for Hurricane Katrina-related agriculture disaster--not a penny was included to provide relief for the flooding and drought conditions that have plagued so many of our producers in 2005. While this administration insists that the 2005 crop year was outstanding, if not a record-breaking year, the disaster situations I just described indicate otherwise. This agreement was a raw deal for our producers and a raw deal for our rural communities.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, recently I joined my colleague, Senator Nelson of Nebraska, in introducing the Emergency Energy Assistance for Disabled Veterans Act. I am supporting this bill because I am concerned about inadequate reimbursement rates offered to veterans who must travel to VA facilities for treatment. The VA beneficiary travel program reimburses veterans 11 cents for every mile they are required to drive in order to visit a VA doctor. This reimbursement often is not enough to cover the cost of the trip, especially given high gas prices and the lengthy distances some veterans must travel. The State of South Dakota is home to almost 77,000 veterans-- approximately 10 percent of the State's population. Today gasoline averages $2.97 per gallon. In rural States such as South Dakota, many veterans must travel more than 120 miles each way in order to reach a veterans hospital. South Dakotans living in Selby and Gettysburg must travel as much as 170 miles. With the price of gas rising, the fixed mileage reimbursement leaves these veterans behind. Oil companies are reaping substantial profits without reinvesting these profits in the infrastructure that helps keep gasoline markets operating smoothly. I am deeply concerned that these companies are being paid billions in profits while at the same time receiving tax cuts and incentives. On the opposite end of the spectrum, veterans are forced to make tough choices in order to afford driving to the VA for treatment. The men and women who defended our Nation should not have to choose between buying groceries and visiting a doctor at the VA. For over 30 years, mileage reimbursement rates for veterans have remained stagnant, whereas Federal employees received an 8-cent increase for a similar travel program in September 2005. Currently, Federal employees are reimbursed 44.5 cents per mile when using a private vehicle for official Government business. We owe our Nation's veterans the same benefit. President Bush has consistently supported VA budgets that short change veterans health care by billions of dollars. Unfortunately, under current law, money to reimburse veterans for travel is allocated from the same accounts used to provide medical care. This bill changes the funding formula and would mandate a separate allowance to reimburse travel costs. This will reduce the competition between programs that are equally meritorious and necessary but are forced to compete for the same pot of funds. Mr. President, I encourage my colleagues to support the Emergency Energy Assistance for Disabled Veterans Act. It is time we rectified this glaring injustice and provide our veterans with the support they deserve.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I find it simply astonishing that with the very limited time we have remaining in this congressional session this Senate finds itself failing to spend its time debating education, affordable health care, veterans, gas and energy prices, job creation, or the exploding Federal budget deficit and instead, as part of what can only be viewed as an extraordinarily cynical political charade, we will devote our time to debate the marriage protection amendment, an amendment to our national Constitution that has been overwhelmingly defeated in the past and which continues to be opposed from groups ranging from liberal to the far right libertarian, as well as by religious organizations, including my own ELCA Lutheran Church. Could it be that there are those who do not want to talk about the real issues facing American families because their inaction has resulted in collapsing poll numbers and declining public support and they now feel a desperate need to change the subject? The lengths that some people will go to pander on this issue is, frankly, shameful. There are ads currently running in my State claiming that I must not care about children having a mother and a father. How foolish. How sad. My wife Barbara, a social worker, and I will celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary tomorrow. We have three wonderful children and three beloved young grandchildren. Barbara and I are both former Sunday school teachers, and we have each in our own way devoted our careers to public service which advances the interests of families and particularly of children--and decent wages and farm incomes, affordable health care, affordable housing, high quality and affordable education, a truly profamily Tax Code, opposition to budget deficits which will have to be paid by our children and our grandchildren, advancing the cause of adoptions, advancing the programs which serve the needs of low-income expectant mothers and their early childhood needs. Ironically, these are all efforts which have largely been opposed by those who today tout the need for a marriage protection amendment. How cynical is that? I oppose gay marriage--and I voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act enacted years ago by this Congress. But marriage law in its details have been left to the respective States since the very beginning of our Nation, and there is no need today to speculate about what future courts may or may not do. There is no need today to strip these rights away from the States and to deny States the right even to interpret their own constitutions. My State of South Dakota has already enacted antigay marriage law and has taken up a possible State constitutional amendment to that effect. But that is where the debate ought to take place--in South Dakota and other States, not here in DC. I must add that this debate reminds me somewhat of an old children's fable where a child noted that the emperor has no clothes when all the adults around him were reluctant to similarly point out the obvious. Very frankly, the sanctity of my 37-year marriage is less at risk from gays than from ordinary heterosexuals who are behind high divorce rates, domestic abuse, and irresponsible refusal to provide for child support. Gay individuals seeking some legal structure in which to maintain a stable and loving relationship as opposed to promiscuity is less of a threat to my wife and I than public policy out of this Congress which works against the real needs of South Dakota families-- involving decent wages, childcare, health insurance, and affordable housing. How wonderful would it be if we were here today talking about strategies that could strengthen our families and our communities, that would focus on the real needs of children rather than using them as a pawn in a cynical election-year charade. The American Constitution ought to be rarely amended--as all the generations of American leaders who served in this body understood. When it is amended, it ought to expand opportunity and freedom, and it ought to be consistent with being profamily in a real and serious way. There is a place for debate over gay marriage, but in South Dakota that debate ought to take place in Pierre and through public debate on the State constitution. All roads should not lead to Washington, DC. This Senate should once again resoundingly and in a thoughtful, bipartisan manner reject the pending amendment to our Nation's most sacred civil document, our United States Constitution. I yield the floor.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, 850 million people around the world go hungry every day. Famine and hunger destroy the lives of those who already suffer from extreme poverty, violence, and loss. Each instance is heartbreaking, but all too often we turn a blind eye to those in need. As a person of faith, and a board member of Bread for the World, I believe we can do more to help the most vulnerable throughout the world, and I want to draw the Senate's attention to a handful of countries devastated by poverty and hunger. For over 40 years, Colombia has been engaged in an armed conflict between insurgent guerrilla groups and the Colombian military. This violence, exacerbated by decades of political instability and illegal drug trafficking, has subjected thousands of innocent civilians to human rights abuses. Since taking office in 2002, President Alvaro Uribe Velez has made strides in boosting the Colombian economy and stabilizing the political process. However, crime and widespread violence continue to undermine these efforts. Colombia has the third largest internally displaced population in the world. Between 2 to 3 million people, out of a total population of 43 million, have been forced from their homes. On average, 350,000 people become internally displaced each year. Many flee to escape kidnappings, assassination attempts, and local violence linked to drug trafficking and the civil conflict. Colombia's displaced population is in a dire state of need. Eighty percent of internally displaced people live in extreme poverty and lack access to sufficient food. In fact, Colombian insurgents have increasingly employed roadblocks and isolation tactics to stop food shipments from reaching vulnerable locations. All too often, internally displaced persons are forced to eat fewer meals, each of which consists of low nutritional value. The average daily caloric intake of an internally displaced person is 1,752 calories--well below the recommended minimum of 2,100 calories. Another country ravaged by poverty and hunger is Haiti. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of the population living in poverty. In 2004, political unrest, coupled with social and economic instability and natural disasters, crippled a nation already in a state of extreme food insecurity. The poor are particularly susceptible to chronic malnourishment. Almost half of Haiti's 8.3 million citizens are undernourished. Even more troubling, due to chronic malnourishment nearly half the children under the age of five suffer from moderate to severe stunted growth. Haiti, along with Afghanistan and Somalia, experience the worst daily caloric deficit per person in the world. The average Haitian consumes only 460 kilocalories each day. The United Nations World Food Program provides food assistance to 600,000 Haitian people. While humanitarian relief programs like the World Food Program are a step in the right direction in eradicating hunger in Haiti, a number of factors are impeding efforts. Looting, poor road conditions, and a lack of security continue to hinder the delivery of food aid in the country. Africa has long battled systemic poverty, violence, and hunger. The Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, has been engulfed in political turmoil for over 8 years, resulting in the death of nearly 4 million people. While the DRC is moving toward reunification and increased political stability, parts of the country remain highly volatile. Widespread violence, particularly in the eastern part of the country, has resulted in the internal displacement of more than 3.4 million people. Civil conflict has also wreaked havoc on the country's agriculture industry. In some areas, there is a lack of secure farmland, and severe labor shortages and constant looting by combatants contribute to the crisis. Oftentimes, raiders slaughter livestock, causing scarcity of meat. In addition, efforts to increase the food supply have been thwarted by a widespread lack of basic education, job opportunities, and weak local implementing partners. We cannot continue to ignore the current situation in the DRC while nearly 1,000 people die each day from war-related hunger and disease. Seventy-one percent of the Congolese population is undernourished and the mortality rate has climbed to more than 50 percent due to starvation. In addition to the crisis in the DRC, Ethiopia is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Ethiopia has the poorest human development indicators in the world. More than three-quarters of Ethiopians live on less than $1 per day, and almost half the population is undernourished. Drought has plagued Ethiopia for decades, leaving the country stripped of the natural resources required to feed its citizens. During the past 20 years, five major droughts have destroyed crops and livestock, and have left many people with few personal belongings. Ethiopia is of strategic importance to the United States, and its stability is crucial to the Horn of Africa and our efforts in the global war on terrorism. Ethiopia shares borders with nations plagued by civil war and government instability, which impede famine relief efforts. In response to the famine in Ethiopia, USAID is transitioning its emergency response famine program to be more proactive. Revamping this program will help stimulate economic growth in the country. The hope is to permanently reduce famine-related poverty and hunger by increasing the government's capacity to respond effectively to these crises. In addition, famine relief efforts will be assisted by nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and local communities and households. Finally, years of internal armed conflict and political instability have caused severe food shortages in Sudan. Southern Sudan, ravaged by civil war, may face the return of millions of internally displaced people following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005. A quarter of the Sudanese population is undernourished, and an estimated 3 million people will be in need of food assistance as they return to their homes. In western Sudan, the violence in the Darfur region has culminated in the first genocide of this century. In February 2003, fighting erupted between rebel groups and government backed militias. The United Nations estimates that more than 70,000 people have been killed in this conflict, while other organizations believe the actual number is three to four times higher. As a result of ongoing ethnic violence, approximately 2 million people have been internally displaced, and 220,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Chad. Famine remains a distinct possibility, with need far outweighing the ability of government and nongovernment agencies to deliver food aid. Prior to the crisis in Darfur, an estimated 18 percent of Sudanese suffered from natural malnutrition. Today, 3.5 million people in Darfur are hungry, with numbers expected to skyrocket until the conflict is resolved. Relief efforts have slowed considerably due to widespread violence. Furthermore, refugees and internally displaced people are not expected to return to their homes for the next planting season. As the rainy season approaches, flooding will likely hamper our ability to adequately distribute food aid. Finally, the World Food Program recently announced that it must reduce daily rations in Darfur and eastern Sudan to as little as 1,050 kilocalories, or 50 percent of the daily minimum requirement, due to funding shortfalls. I briefly described the food shortage crises facing five impoverished and vulnerable countries. This is a snapshot of the reality millions face each day--including those who live in the United States. Each statistic represents a person struggling to survive, not knowing where their next meal will come from--if it will come at all. In many situations, people remain poor and powerless with virtually no hope of breaking the cycle of despair. We can no longer use ignorance as an excuse for our inaction. Without question, assisting fellow human beings in need is a moral issue. However, in many of these war-torn and troubled nations it is also an issue of national security. Countries that are politically unstable and ravaged by hunger and disease are often breeding grounds for terror and violence. After all, it wasn't long ago that Osama bin Laden based his operations in Sudan in order to export terrorism and attack innocent civilians. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, poverty abroad cannot be ignored. Political instability and infectious disease know no border and can affect us at home. Sadly, too often instances of extreme hunger and famine do not invoke action among the world's most powerful nations until it is too late--leaving millions dead or forever suffering from the consequences of chronic malnutrition. Our inaction is not because we don't care, but I do believe the United States should be more proactive, and not reactive, in ending hunger and poverty. The Federal budget is a reflection of our Nation's values and priorities. The Bush administration has made clear its priorities by extending tax cuts to the fabulously wealthy, while deeply cutting funds for hunger prevention and poverty programs. Less than half of 1 percent of our budget goes to fighting poverty, hunger, and disease. The United States is the most powerful and wealthy nation in the world. We should be a leader in ending hunger and poverty, and we can begin by standing up for those at home and abroad who are in dire need of assistance.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Madam President, today I rise in order to pay tribute to the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city of Clark, SD. As the county seat of Clark County, this vibrant, progressive community has been a center of commercial and civic activity since its inception. The site which Clark is built on was chosen by GEN S.J. Conklin, who would later become known as the Father of Clark County. The prospects of the town increased greatly when the railroad was complete in early 1882. With the arrival of the trains came a flurry of economic activity. The first businesses opened in Clark were the Clark House operated by Mattie Greenslet and a general store operated by COL W.H. Lamb. Later there would be a land office and the Big Store, known as the largest department store west of Minneapolis. Now Clark is home to seven churches, a thriving business community, excellent hunting and fishing, and the high school's Clark Comets, among various other attractions. Each year, Clark hosts both Potato Day and the Halloween Spooktacular. Additionally, there are over two dozen civic organizations doing good work in the community. I am pleased to announce that Clark will be celebrating its 125th anniversary with a community celebration on June 10 to 11. There are numerous events scheduled, including a parade, street dance, ecumenical church service, community potluck, and baseball games. This celebration is a fitting way to recognize Clark's long and productive history. Even 125 years after its founding, Clark continues to be a vital community and a great asset to South Dakota. I am proud to publicly honor Clark on this memorable occasion. The citizens of Clark are continuing to live up their motto: Clark is indeed ``a nice place to visit . . . a great place to call home.''

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. This Sunday, members of Lutheran World Relief, in conjunction with churches and people of faith, will pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia. Lutheran World Relief advocates for those around the world suffering from poverty, hunger, or injustice. It is a voice for the most vulnerable worldwide, and this weekend Lutheran World Relief will shine a bright light on the current situation in Colombia. For over 40 years, Colombia has been engulfed in a civil conflict pitting guerrilla groups again the Colombian Government. As a result, innocent civilians have been kidnapped and ransomed; illicit coca production and drug trafficking continue to plague the country; and thousands have died or have been forced from their homes in order to flee violence. The United States has provided assistance to Colombia, both military and economic, in order to stem the illegal trade in drugs and promote a peaceful resolution to the civil conflict. However, Colombia remains the leading supplier of the world's cocaine, and it is home to at least three illegally armed groups that have been designated foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State. Without question, Congress must assist countries in eradicating drug crops and combating terrorism. However, we must also remember that societies are based on the rule of law, and human rights must be respected. We should not sacrifice one goal in order to achieve another. Lutheran churches in South Dakota an around the Nation are in solidarity with peace communities in Colombia. I commend Lutheran parishioners and worshippers of other faiths, as they pray for peace and remember all those who have perished in the conflict. As a Lutheran myself, I believe protecting human rights in Colombia must remain a high priority.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I join Senators Harkin, Lugar, and Dorgan in introducing a broad package of initiatives to jump-start the distribution of renewable fuels, empower consumers, and achieve our long-standing goal of displacing foreign sources of energy. The Biofuels Security Act of 2006 stakes out three broad approaches toward increasing production of renewable fuels and connecting the infrastructure required to deliver biofuels to a new fleet of flexible fuel vehicles. In combination these policies can extend home-grown renewable fuels to a predominate place in America's energy mix. The Biofuels Security Act of 2006 moves forward to aggressively increase the amount of renewable fuels used in the marketplace to a requirement of 60 billion gallons in 2030. Our approach is phased through a realistic and technically feasible glide path beginning with a 10 billion gallon requirement in 2010, escalating to 30 billion gallons in 2020 and doubling that standard in the final decade. Existing ethanol capacity is anticipated to grow by approximately 30 percent in 2006, from 4.4 billion gallons to 6.3 billion gallons by the end of 2006. Domestic ethanol production is meeting demand and ethanol from corn has the capability of producing upwards of another 10 to 15 billion gallons in the next decade. As ethanol production from corn matures, new feedstocks, such as switch grass will compliment corn as a driver toward ethanol production. Setting benchmarks and creating long- term market stability through a demand-driven standard will ensure a competitive biofuel market and help drive down the cost of gasoline and other refined products that pinch consumer budgets. Tying together future demand are 2 sets of standards and incentives that will transform the availability of higher blends of ethanol fuels. Our bipartisan approach requires auto manufactures to produce vehicles that can run on higher blends of renewable fuels. Flexible fuel vehicles are capable of optimal performance with high ethanol blended fuels, such as E85--a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Auto manufacturers are gradually moving toward production methods that can inexpensively modify trucks and cars to perform at the highest standards on E85 fuel. The Nation lacks, however, a long-term policy that sets benchmarks and targets to manufacture dual-fueled vehicles. Today, there are approximately 6 million dual-fueled vehicles in the United States, a small fraction of the 230 million gasoline an diesel-fueled vehicles filling our roads. Through introducing this bill we are committing to the public that a decade after enactment of the Biofuels Security Act all vehicles sold in the in the United States will be dual-fueled vehicles providing maximum performance on all fuel blends. The second basket of requirements and incentives is targeted toward ensuring that as Americans purchase dual-fueled vehicles that the fueling infrastructure is in place to meet the demand. Retail gasolene stations that market E85 and B20--diesel fuel mixed with biodiesel and petroleum diesel fuel--are few and far between. Fuel distributors and retail station owners who want to market E85 are often locked out through contractual agreements with big oil companies offering certain fuel blends. Accordingly, most gasoline marketers offering E85 are independent distributors and station owners that understand the competitive advantage from distributing alternative fuels. The Biofuels Security Act ties together dual-fueled vehicles with refueling infrastructure through an enhanced tax credit of 75 percent capped at $45,000 for the installation of refueling equipment for small business gas station owners. The credit is phased-back to 50 percent and capped at $30,000 for larger retail gasoline station owners. Our goal is that in a decade at least 40 percent of all retail gasoline stations include an alternative fuel pump. The Biofuels Security Act of 2006 builds upon the strong consumer demand pushing our country toward portfolio of biofuels--ethanol, biodiesel--from diversified feedstocks grown and refined throughout the country. Combining a long-term renewable fuel requirement to infrastructure and vehicle preference can decrease our reliance on imported energy sources and lower consumer energy costs. All 3 of these pieces need to move in concert in order to maximize the transition from a hydrocarbon-based society to a more balanced and sustainable model.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I join Senators Harkin, Lugar, and Dorgan in introducing a broad package of initiatives to jump-start the distribution of renewable fuels, empower consumers, and achieve our long-standing goal of displacing foreign sources of energy. The Biofuels Security Act of 2006 stakes out three broad approaches toward increasing production of renewable fuels and connecting the infrastructure required to deliver biofuels to a new fleet of flexible fuel vehicles. In combination these policies can extend home-grown renewable fuels to a predominate place in America's energy mix. The Biofuels Security Act of 2006 moves forward to aggressively increase the amount of renewable fuels used in the marketplace to a requirement of 60 billion gallons in 2030. Our approach is phased through a realistic and technically feasible glide path beginning with a 10 billion gallon requirement in 2010, escalating to 30 billion gallons in 2020 and doubling that standard in the final decade. Existing ethanol capacity is anticipated to grow by approximately 30 percent in 2006, from 4.4 billion gallons to 6.3 billion gallons by the end of 2006. Domestic ethanol production is meeting demand and ethanol from corn has the capability of producing upwards of another 10 to 15 billion gallons in the next decade. As ethanol production from corn matures, new feedstocks, such as switch grass will compliment corn as a driver toward ethanol production. Setting benchmarks and creating long- term market stability through a demand-driven standard will ensure a competitive biofuel market and help drive down the cost of gasoline and other refined products that pinch consumer budgets. Tying together future demand are 2 sets of standards and incentives that will transform the availability of higher blends of ethanol fuels. Our bipartisan approach requires auto manufactures to produce vehicles that can run on higher blends of renewable fuels. Flexible fuel vehicles are capable of optimal performance with high ethanol blended fuels, such as E85--a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Auto manufacturers are gradually moving toward production methods that can inexpensively modify trucks and cars to perform at the highest standards on E85 fuel. The Nation lacks, however, a long-term policy that sets benchmarks and targets to manufacture dual-fueled vehicles. Today, there are approximately 6 million dual-fueled vehicles in the United States, a small fraction of the 230 million gasoline an diesel-fueled vehicles filling our roads. Through introducing this bill we are committing to the public that a decade after enactment of the Biofuels Security Act all vehicles sold in the in the United States will be dual-fueled vehicles providing maximum performance on all fuel blends. The second basket of requirements and incentives is targeted toward ensuring that as Americans purchase dual-fueled vehicles that the fueling infrastructure is in place to meet the demand. Retail gasolene stations that market E85 and B20--diesel fuel mixed with biodiesel and petroleum diesel fuel--are few and far between. Fuel distributors and retail station owners who want to market E85 are often locked out through contractual agreements with big oil companies offering certain fuel blends. Accordingly, most gasoline marketers offering E85 are independent distributors and station owners that understand the competitive advantage from distributing alternative fuels. The Biofuels Security Act ties together dual-fueled vehicles with refueling infrastructure through an enhanced tax credit of 75 percent capped at $45,000 for the installation of refueling equipment for small business gas station owners. The credit is phased-back to 50 percent and capped at $30,000 for larger retail gasoline station owners. Our goal is that in a decade at least 40 percent of all retail gasoline stations include an alternative fuel pump. The Biofuels Security Act of 2006 builds upon the strong consumer demand pushing our country toward portfolio of biofuels--ethanol, biodiesel--from diversified feedstocks grown and refined throughout the country. Combining a long-term renewable fuel requirement to infrastructure and vehicle preference can decrease our reliance on imported energy sources and lower consumer energy costs. All 3 of these pieces need to move in concert in order to maximize the transition from a hydrocarbon-based society to a more balanced and sustainable model.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to SSG Greg Wagner and his heroic service to our country. As a member of the South Dakota National Guard, Staff Sergeant Wagner was deployed to Iraq with the Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery based out of Yankton. On May 8, 2006, he died when his convoy was attacked in a Baghdad neighborhood. Greg graduated in 1989 from Hanson High School in Alexandria. Soon after his graduation, he enlisted in the South Dakota National Guard. Al Blankenship, the Commander of the American Legion in Alexandria, remembers him as a true military man. Dedicated to the South Dakota National Guard, he worked full time as a heavy equipment mechanic at the National Guard maintenance complex in Mitchell until his unit was deployed in October 2005. Greg was a team leader for his unit, which was tasked with training and evaluating the Iraqi police force in one of the city's police districts. Greg's high school football coach, Jim Haskamp, remembers him as a very loyal person, which was evident in all aspects of his life. Greg's favorite past time was football. Haskamp recalls that, ``You could chew him out for something, and he'd come back and thank you for trying to make him better.'' Sergeant Wagner gave his all for his soldiers and his country. Our Nation owes him a debt of gratitude, and the best way to honor his life is to emulate his commitment to our country. Mr. President, I join with all South Dakotans in expressing my deepest sympathy to the family of Staff Sergeant Greg Wagner. He will be missed, but his service to our Nation will never be forgotten. first sergeant carlos n. saenz

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wanted to talk briefly about the current debate on S. 1955 and what is supposed to be Health Week in the Senate. It was my hope and the hope of many of my colleagues that this week would bring about changes to improve health care for South Dakotans and all Americans. This week should have provided an opportunity to debate many important and critical issues, but unfortunately the direction being taken is anything but productive and meaningful. A real Health Week would be about many things, including addressing problems with the Medicare Part D Program. In recent months, I have held several meetings in my home State with seniors, advocates, pharmacists, and other health providers about the program. What I have heard over and over again is that the benefit is not only confusing for beneficiaries but also often not adequately address prescription drug costs. It has also been unrealistically demanding on pharmacists and other health care providers, literally threatening community pharmacists' abilities to keep their doors open. While the administration continues to tout their estimated number of beneficiaries enrolled in Part D, the reality in small towns across South Dakota paints a very different picture. Supporters of the Part D Program have marketed the low-income benefit as one of the most important and beneficial aspects of the program. While I did not support the bill that is now law because I believe its basic structure is flawed, I have always conceded that the low-income provisions will help those seniors in need, and we should be doing what we can to make sure seniors who are eligible are informed about their choices. Unfortunately, the administration has done a poor job of ensuring that those most likely to see a benefit from the program are actually enrolled. In my State, there are 29,000 beneficiaries eligible for the low-income benefit, and according to a recent estimate by Families USA, only 9 percent of individuals have been enrolled. These are everyday South Dakotans with limited resources and support and they need help. Part of the problem is that the program is just too complicated and not being administered effectively. Just last week, the Government Accountability Office released a report that indicated that when beneficiaries contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, only 41 percent of questions are answered correctly regarding which plans are the least expensive and most appropriate for them. This is simply unacceptable, and frankly all of my colleagues should be outraged by this statistic. This is a problem that must be addressed, and during this time of debate on health care, we should be working toward enacting changes that will make things better. Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking toward the deadline for enrolling in the program. After May 15, only 5 days from now, seniors will suffer a penalty for late enrollment. CMS cannot even answer questions correctly--questions that are essential in order to help seniors select a drug plan that works for them, but the administration insists on penalizing seniors for delaying their decision regarding participation. All this time, drug companies and insurance companies continue to see the checks roll in. Negotiating lower drug prices under Medicare Part D, extending the enrollment for the program, and making the program be more accountable to seniors--these are the things we should be dealing with right now and what Health Week should be about. Health Week should also be about passing embryonic stem cell research legislation that will create a path toward cures for many diseases plaguing our society. It is hard to believe that on May 24, it will have been 1 year since the House passed its bill, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 or H.R. 810. I am strongly in favor allowing a closely monitored and controlled stem cell research effort to go forward using frozen fertilized embryos that would otherwise be incinerated as medical waste, and I am a cosponsor of S. 471 which was introduced by Senator Specter and is cosponsored by 41 of my colleagues here in the Senate. I believe these cells, which are created by the hundreds of thousands at fertility clinics, would be better used to advance medical research that holds great promise for curing or preventing some of the world's worst diseases, as well as repairing spinal cord and other injuries. This type of research is overwhelmingly supported by the American public and by a broad range of health, science, and disease advocacy groups. I have met with and heard from hundreds if not thousands of South Dakotans and their families, encouraging me to support vital, life- giving research, including embryonic stem cell research, and I agree. My values and my faith tell me to support lifesaving research which will provide cures and therapies for devastating illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The majority leader has indicated in the past that he will allow an up-or- down vote on stem cell research on the Senate floor, and it is unfortunate that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will not permit us to move forward, right now, on this issue. A real Health Week would also be about promoting a health insurance proposal that does help small business, but does so in such a way that protects consumers and does not infringe on State rights to regulate the health insurance market. The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act or S. 1955 would make health care coverage more affordable in many cases but would do so at the expense of providing meaningful coverage to consumers. South Dakota has mandated that insurance companies that want to offer plans in the State must provide some basic services including diabetic supplies and education, mammography screening, mental health parity, and prostate cancer screenings. My State also requires that insurers provide access to certain types of providers including nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, optometrists, osteopaths, chiropractors, podiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. S. 1955 will allow insurers to come into South Dakota and provide bare bones coverage that preempts these State mandates. South Dakota deserves to determine what basic care and coverage must be provided to our citizens, and S. 1955 would take away that right. To gain this exemption, all an insurer has to do is offer a plan that is similar to one offered to State employees in one of the five most populous States. Now some have stated that the availability of this so called enhanced option will ensure access to services that States have mandated, but this is simply not true. The alternative plan does not have to be affordable or comprehensive and could be a high-deductible health plan that provides virtually no preventive care. That means no dental screenings, no prostate cancer screening, no access to nurse practitioners. The Small Employers Health Benefits Program or SEHBP Act provides a strong alternative to the Enzi approach making coverage more affordable for small businesses and providing individuals with the same type of insurance offered to members of Congress and other Federal employees. This proposal is based on the successful Federal Employees Health Benefits Program which provides health coverage to millions of Federal employees, retirees, and their families and does so with very low administrative costs. While this alternative does provide an opportunity for small businesses to obtain coverage for their employees, it does so without jeopardizing the basic coverage currently ensured by South Dakota's health insurance laws. It provides a tax credit to small businesses and ensures that State consumer protection laws are kept in place. According to the most recently available data from the Small Business Administration, in South Dakota 19,750 businesses fall in this category, employing 136,560 people. The legislation also will provide for grant participation waivers to businesses with more than 100 employees under some circumstances. The SEHBP approach is supported by groups such as Families USA, the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, Consumers Union, and the National Partnership of Women and Families. We need to address the complex health care issues facing our Nation today, but we need to do so in a way that moves us forward. I believe, as do literally hundreds of organizations, including the AARP, American Cancer Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, that S. 1955 is wrong for small businesses and their employees. I oppose this bill and will continue to fight for adequate health care access in South Dakota.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I want to give a statement on Women's History Month. This is an important time for Americans to reflect on the invaluable contributions women make in our society. Women are our families, our coworkers, and our neighbors. They juggle many roles in making our homes, our neighborhoods, and our country stronger. Eighty million women in our country are mothers. Sixty percent of American women work at least part time. Nearly 2 million American women are veterans. More than 200,000 women are doctors, and more than 2\1/2\ million women are registered nurses. South Dakota's own history is filled with women who balanced the needs of their families and their communities to make our country better. Mamie Pyle is one such woman. In 1902, Mamie's husband passed away when she was just 36, leaving her to raise four young children on her own. Not only did Mamie find a way to send all four of her children to college in the early 1900s, but she also led the South Dakota women's suffrage movement for a decade. Because of Mamie's determination, South Dakota ratified the national women's suffrage amendment in 1919. Mamie continued to serve her community as a member of the Huron College board of trustees for more than 40 years. In 1947, South Dakotans honored Mamie by naming her the State's Mother of the Year at age 81. It is women like Mamie who teach South Dakota girls--and all of us-- of the difference one person can make in our society and of the thousands of women who have made South Dakota the great State it is today. This month we remember that women are our soldiers, our doctors, our social workers, our mothers, and our teachers. And we remember the women who came before them and made these roles possible. So many of them are unknown to us, but our gratitude to all of them is no less real. Women's opportunities continue to expand in South Dakota, in America, and throughout the world. They are leaders in South Dakota, taking on new roles every day in our communities. Cecelia Fire Thunder is one such woman. Cecelia is the first female president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She has fought to improve the education of her tribe's children and the health of her tribe's community. This is not Cecelia's first role as a caregiver to her community. Before becoming president, she was a nurse and healthcare provider. Yet even as we celebrate South Dakota's women of yesterday and today, we live in uncertain times for women. As we honor the women who have helped us throughout history and those who make our country a better place today, it is imperative that we keep our promises to them. As the 200,000 active American women soldiers return home, we must keep our promise to them to give them access to the health care they need. Four million women are battered in their homes in this country every year. We must keep our promise to them to fully fund law enforcement and violence prevention programs under the Violence Against Women Act. More than 2,500 children will be born into poverty today alone in this country. We must keep our promise to their mothers that every child in every community in this country will receive a quality education. One in four Native American women live in poverty. We must keep our promise to them to make their communities stronger with programs that provide access to quality, affordable housing under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act. And most importantly, when the women in our communities are vulnerable, we cannot abandon them. We cannot ignore their needs. When we know that the leading causes of death for women are heart disease and cancer--and the average fatality rates for South Dakotans with these diseases are higher than the national average fatality rates--we cannot cut Government support for research that will cure these deadly diseases as the current 2007 budget proposes. We as a community must stand by our promise to women to find a cure for these diseases. This month we honor the women who protect our values in our homes, in our communities and overseas. This month we thank them for their sacrifices, their compassion, and their leadership. This month we renew our promises to them to continue building a safer, better, more just society for them, for their families and for all Americans.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the pending McCain- Collins-Lieberman amendment to create an Office of Public Integrity. I thank my colleague from Ohio, Senator Voinovich, who serves as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. I serve as vice chair. This is a committee that has three Republicans and three Democrats, and it has a history of close bipartisan cooperation. I applaud Senator Voinovich's observations about the Abramoff scandal and the fact that the Department of Justice has an investigation that is ongoing. The Department of Justice actually has requested the Ethics Committee not to begin its own investigation for fear of jeopardizing criminal charges that may or may not be brought by DOJ, and we also recognize a much greater investigative capability and the importance of not duplicating efforts. So I appreciate Chairman Voinovich's observations in that regard. I thank Senators Collins, Lieberman, Lott, and Dodd for their efforts to bring to the floor this bipartisan lobbying reform legislation and their ongoing work to complete this important bill. I support the bill, and I believe many of the reforms we are debating are long overdue. As vice chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, I am hopeful we can continue to work in a bipartisan manner to pass this legislation, conference the bill with the House, and enact these much needed reforms. I must say as an aside, while these reforms are much needed, the underlying truth is, I believe the greatest share of problems this body faces is due to a separate issue, that of campaign finance, but that will have to be taken up in a different context and different legislation. Unfortunately, I rise today to oppose the pending amendment. I know my colleagues have offered this amendment in an attempt to improve the ethics process and because they believe in good faith that the creation of a new Office of Public Integrity, or OPI, will address perceived shortcomings in the operations of the Ethics Committee. However, I am concerned this amendment attempts to fix something that, frankly, is not broken and will, in fact, have a detrimental impact on the Senate. As a relatively new member of the Ethics Committee, I do not have an entrenched loyalty to that committee. If I believed the committee was not taking its duties seriously or was acting in an irresponsible manner, I would be the first to call for a new approach. The truth is, I believe the Senate Ethics Committee operates effectively and in a bipartisan fashion. However, the members of the committee and its staff are obligated to operate under strict confidentiality, which I believe some of our colleagues and certain outside groups equate with inaction. This simply is not the case. To the contrary, the committee serves Senate offices in an advisory role, investigates matters of concern, and enforces the rules of the Senate on a daily basis. But to provide due process protections and to ensure professionalism, most of the committee's actions are confidential. I believe the Members who have had interactions with the Ethics Committee appreciate this professional approach which further encourages Members and their staff to seek the prior advice of the committee and avoids many potential problems. I recognize this perception of inaction must be addressed in order to restore public confidence in the ethics process. I thank the chairman of the Ethics Committee, Senator Voinovich, for offering an amendment during the markup of this bill that will allow the Ethics Committee to publish annually on a no-name basis a report detailing the activities of the committee. I believe this is an important step and will give our colleagues and the public a better idea of the committee's operations. I wish to spend a few minutes discussing my concerns about the amendment itself. First, I believe there are significant constitutional issues surrounding the creation of an independent Office of Public Integrity. The Constitution gives the Senate the authority to establish its own rules and to punish its own Members. An Office of Public Integrity that is outside the Senate would violate this section of the Constitution, as well as the speech and debate clause. As a consequence, such an office would never be able to acquire the information or compel the necessary testimony to investigate rules violations, keeping in mind that each Member of the Senate is subject to the same criminal laws as every other citizen of America but beyond those laws also must comply with the ethics rules we have internally in the U.S. Senate. An Office of Public Integrity that is set up within the Senate to avoid these constitutional issues, as I understand the current amendment as drafted, would merely duplicate the Senate Ethics Committee, would be a waste of resources, and would not solve the problems the sponsors perceive to exist. The two-tiered ethics process that would be created by this amendment would undoubtedly slow consideration of ethics complaints, create more doubt about the process, and make our colleagues and the public less confident in our ability to address these issues. I am also concerned about the practical operations of an Office of Public Integrity. As I understand the amendment under consideration, the Office of Public Integrity would take over most of the investigatory functions of the Senate Ethics Committee. When an ethics complaint is received, the Office of Public Integrity would preliminarily investigate the matter, and if grounds for further investigation are found, the matter would then be sent to the Senate Ethics Committee for approval. The decision to continue the investigation could be overridden by a public two-thirds vote of the Ethics Committee with a required public report on the matter. If approved, the matter would be referred back to the Office of Public Integrity for further investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, if the Director of the Office of Public Integrity determines that there is probable cause that an ethics violation has occurred, the Director would, once again, send the matter to the Ethics Committee and, once again, this determination could be overridden by a public two-thirds vote of the Ethics Committee with a mandatory public report. Assuming the Ethics Committee did not override the Director's determination, the Office of Public Integrity would then present the case to the committee for a final ruling and implement any sanctions. Regardless of the committee's decision on the case, the amendment would require the committee to issue a public report at this stage of the process. I fail to see how this process of ethics cases bouncing back and forth between the Office of Public Integrity and the Ethics Committee will improve in any way the way ethics complaints are handled. Instead, the amendment would create more bureaucracy and a more belabored process. In addition, it is not clear if the underlying ethics complaint would remain confidential during this process. The amendment contains a provision prohibiting the Director or the staff of the Office of Public Integrity from disclosing any information about a case unless authorized by the Senate Ethics Committee. However, I do not know how information will remain confidential when cases are being referred back and forth between the Office of Public Integrity and the Ethics Committee, especially when the amendment specifically requires the committee to issue public reports. This leaves open the possibility that Members will be forced to live under the cloud of an investigation as a result of every accusation brought before the Office of Public Integrity, regardless of its merit--regardless of its merit. Such a situation would only interject more partisanship into the ethics process and create a blunt tool for extreme partisan groups to make politically based attacks. I have no doubt that my colleagues have offered this amendment with the best of intentions and based on their belief that this Office of Public Integrity would improve how we do our business in the Senate. Once again, if I believed the Ethics Committee process was broken or that the proposed Office of Public Integrity would, in fact, improve the mechanism for considering ethics complaints in the Senate, I would support that amendment. However, I know the ethics process is working in the Senate. To address the perception of inactivity which is the result of the Senate's confidentiality rules, the bill does contain important language to mandate that the committee report in broad terms its activities, which will provide greater transparency to the committee's action. It is my hope that my colleagues will listen to the concerns about this amendment expressed by the current and past members of the Ethics Committee who best understand the committee operations and will join us in a bipartisan fashion opposing the McCain-Collins-Lieberman amendment. I yield back my time.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Darlys J. Baum on her retirement from the South Dakota Housing Development Authority after 30 years of dedicated service to our State. Dar has served under six South Dakota Governors. Prior to being named executive director in 1995, Dar served as deputy executive director for 11 years. Before that, she served in various capacities, including director of rental housing programs. In addition to her duties as executive director, Dar found the time to bring South Dakota's rural housing perspective to regional and national boards. She served as a member of Fannie Mae's National Housing Impact Advisory Council from 2002-2003 and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines from 2002-2004. Under Dar's leadership, the South Dakota Housing Development Authority issued nearly $2.27 billion in long-term and $1.95 billion in short-term home ownership bonds. During this time, 23,869 families and individuals took advantage of SDHDA's low-interest mortgage loan opportunities, accounting for more than $1.8 billion in loans purchased. Additionally, more than $12.8 million was loaned to 7,602 families for downpayment and closing cost assistance. Working with lenders, service providers, and realtors, Dar helped create the Homeownership Education Resource Organization, HERO, to provide high-quality home buyer education. Pursuing the American dream of homeownership can be a daunting challenge for many families, and home buyer education services can help walk these families through the home buying process. Since Dar became executive director, SDHDA allocated more than $16.4 million in housing tax credits for 89 developments across South Dakota. Nearly 3,300 affordable housing units were created or preserved, totaling more than $242 million in project costs. During that same time, SDHDA used the HOME Investment Partnership Program for 939 HOME-assisted units in 88 multifamily developments, receiving more than $39 million in funding for construction or rehabilitation. Also, more than $1.6 million in HOME funding was utilized for homeownership rehabilitation in 222 homes. Total development costs contributed to South Dakota's economy from the HOME Program were more than $102 million during Dar's tenure as executive director. Dar was instrumental in helping lead the charge to end homelessness in South Dakota. She helped form the statewide Housing for the Homeless Consortium and the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness. These organizations were created to unite those who work to provide shelter, employment opportunities, food, education, health care, and support for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Since its creation, the Housing for the Homeless Consortium has been awarded about $6.5 million through the Continuum of Care Grant Program, which is a competitive grant program administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. As you can see, under Dar's extraordinary leadership, the South Dakota Housing Development Authority has done an impressive amount of work on South Dakota's housing needs. I, again, want to thank Dar for her tireless efforts to improve the housing opportunities available to South Dakota families. My staff and I have always highly valued her advice on so many important housing issues. Dar has a unique ability to generate creative solutions and bring people together in partnerships that solve so many critical housing problems. Dar Baum's commitment and dedication to public service is an example for others in public service to emulate.

Mr. JOHNSON

Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, as we continue to debate the budget resolution, I wanted to raise an important issue with my colleagues. The budget for fiscal year 2007 that was proposed by the administration would discontinue all activities of the National Children's Study or NCS. This important study which was authorized as part of the Children's Health Act of 2000, provides for the development and implementation of the largest longitudinal study of children ever conducted in the United States. The goal of the study is to improve the health and well-being of children. The information from this study will be used to determine and affect the major causes of childhood illness such as premature birth, asthma, obesity, preventable injury, autism, developmental delay, mental illness, and learning disorders. These disorders, among many other high-frequency diseases that afflict children, result from the interaction of multiple biologic, genetic, chemical, social and behavioral factors that combine to determine health. Researchers will analyze how these elements interact with each other and what helpful and/or harmful effects they might have on children's health. By studying children through their different phases of growth and development, researchers will be better able to understand the role of these factors on health and disease. The National Children's Study will follow a representative sample of America's children in order to identify causes and develop treatments of specific diseases, and develop population-based intervention strategies to prevent illness and ameliorate the impacts of poverty and substandard environments on children's growth, development, and mental health. This will include approximately 100,000 children from over 100 locations throughout the United States. Since 2000, over 50 million has been spent planning the study. Over 2,500 scientists and community members from across the country have developed a study plan that defines research question, hypotheses, and critical exposure and outcome measures beginning before pregnancy and continuing throughout the life cycle of children. In 2005, the Study designated seven Vanguard pilot centers throughout the United States, including sites in California, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin to begin the study with over 100 additional sites planned across the Nation. It is unfortunate that funding for the study was zeroed out the President's budget and would be extremely shortsighted to put off this study. While there are upfront costs to conduct a study of this size, they are dwarfed by the cost of treating the diseases and conditions it can be expected to address. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NICHD estimates that the major chronic diseases the study will address directly cost American $269 billion per year. If the study were to result in only a 1 percent reduction in those costs, the expense of the entire 20-plus year study could be recouped in a single year. The environment in which our children grow up has changed significantly over the past 50 years, resulting in increases in rates of diseases such as asthma, obesity, and learning and other developmental disabilities. In order to overcome these challenges, we need to invest in the National Children's Study, in addition to other research efforts to improve our understanding of how to prevent disease and improve the environments in which our children live. As a parent of three children, and now a grandparent of three, I know how important it is to provide a healthy environment for our youth. I hope the future will be brighter for future generations, and one way we can make that happen is by finding the answers to many health questions that plague us today. The National Children's Study will be one of the richest information resources available to children's health and development and will form the basis of child health guidance, interventions, and policy for generations to come. It is my hope that this body will do all it can to restore the cuts to the NCS and keep this critical work moving forward, and I will work with my colleagues through the Appropriations Committee to make that happen.