Tim Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, I move to waive all applicable sections of that act for purposes of the pending measure, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I wish to encourage my colleagues to pass the FHA, Emergency Fiscal Solvency Act, H.R. 4264. Since 1934, the FHA has been helping stabilize the mortgage market by ensuring that qualified low-to-moderate income and first-time home buyers have access to mortgage credit. Since the beginning of the financial crisis, the FHA increased its market share from below 5 percent in 2006 to approximately 30 percent at its peak volume in 2009 in pursuit of that mission. This counter-cyclical expansion was essential to the mortgage market--especially for first-time homebuyers who comprised 78 percent of the single-family purchase loans insured by the FHA in 2011. According to Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics, without the FHA's counter-cyclical support, and I quote, ``the housing market would have cratered, taking the economy with it.'' However, the FHA is now facing a potential crisis of its own--but this time we have the opportunity to act. On December 6, I held a hearing in the Banking Committee entitled Oversight of FHA: Examining HUD's Response to Fiscal Challenges. Through the course of the hearing, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan described how loans made from 2000 to 2009--and especially those loans made at the height of the mortgage crisis from 2007-2009 before the ban on seller-funded downpayments took effect--were weighing heavily on the FHA's finances. As I stated in the hearing, I am very concerned about the FHA's condition and will not hesitate to take action to prevent the FHA from needing taxpayer support. This is only an immediate first step. I fully intend to engage my colleagues on and off the Banking Committee to find bipartisan consensus to provide the FHA with the additional authorities Secretary Donovan described during our hearing and address any technical fixes to this language. While this bill is not perfect and the path forward will not be easy, it is essential that we come together to protect taxpayers and this essential program. I yield the floor.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today, on the 376th birthday of the National Guard, I wish to honor all those who have served in the National Guard and to pay tribute to the South Dakota National Guard, which this year celebrates its 150th anniversary. The South Dakota National Guard has served in every major American conflict since the Civil War, in addition to helping countless communities recover from natural disasters and other emergencies. This June, South Dakotans participated in celebrations across the State to commemorate the Guard's important milestone. The history of the South Dakota National Guard dates back to the early days of the Dakota Territory. On January 27, 1862, the Guard first formed in Yankton, SD, to protect settlers in the fledgling territory. Since that time, the South Dakota National Guard has served our Nation in every major conflict, sending units to the Spanish- American War, World Wars I and II, and Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm. The Guard has also been called to aid in our country's military efforts during the Mexican border conflict, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, and peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. Since the attacks of September 11, over 8,000 South Dakota guardsmen have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we honor the service of those guardsmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. As the father of a soldier in the National Guard, I personally understand the sacrifices these service members make and the burdens placed on their families during deployments. I know our entire Nation shares in my gratitude for their service. When disaster strikes, the South Dakota National Guard comes to the aid of our State and Nation. Throughout its history, the men and women of our Guard have battled floods, fires, blizzards, tornadoes, and a host of other disasters. Last year, when flooding from the Missouri River threatened communities along its banks, guardsmen were there to shore up levees, pile sandbags, and help citizens prepare for the worst. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated states along the gulf coast, units from the South Dakota National Guard were deployed to help the region recover. The Guard personnel from the Mount Rushmore State represent the best South Dakota has to offer. They have consistently served our State and country with resolve, compassion, and honor. On the occasion of the South Dakota Guard's 150th anniversary observance, please join me in commending Guard personnel for their great service, both to the citizens of South Dakota as well as to the Nation. I applaud their willingness to answer the call to duty.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I want to express my support for S. 3637, a temporary extension of the Transaction Account Guarantee, or TAG, Program. The program, which is administered by the FDIC for insured depository institutions and the NCUA for credit unions, provides unlimited insurance for non-interest-bearing accounts at banks and credit unions. These transaction accounts are used by businesses, local governments, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations for payroll and other recurring expenses, and this program provides certainty to businesses in uncertain times. These accounts are also important to our Nation's smallest financial institutions. In fact, 90 percent of community banks with assets under $10 billion have TAG deposits. This program allows these institutions to serve the banking needs of the small businesses in their communities, keeping deposits local. In my State of South Dakota, I know that the TAG Program is important to banks, credit unions, and small businesses. Our Nation's economy is certainly in a different place than it was in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis when this program was created, but with concerns about the fiscal cliff in the United States and continued instability in European markets, I believe a temporary extension is needed. Therefore, I believe that a clean 2-year extension makes the most sense and provides the most certainty for business and financial institutions and also provides time to prepare for the end of the program in 2 years. I wish to note that this legislation has a cost recovery provision that ensures no taxpayer is on the hook for this insurance. Financial institutions pay for the coverage. This is not and never will be a bailout. This is simply additional insurance paid for by the banks to ensure these accounts remain stable. I thank Leader Reid for making this issue a priority in the lameduck session. I also thank Senator Sherrod Brown for being a great partner for many months on this important topic. The administration has just issued a SAP in support of TAG, and I ask unanimous consent to have it printed in the Record.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. I ask my colleagues to support the extension of TAG. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess until 2:15, as provided under the previous order.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. I thank Senators Udall and Harkin. The Senator has raised an important point about this legislation. The intent of this legislation is not to lessen the amount of information that a consumer receives prior to conducting a transaction at an ATM. As the Senator has laid out, it is important that consumers be fully informed of the types of fees that they may face at the time of the transaction. The point was to modernize the information that consumers get, taking into account technological changes. But this bill is only one step toward modernization. The CFPB may wish to look at other steps to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the fees they may incur, whether that be through improved onscreen ATM disclosures, better disclosures at point of sale, or other methods. I understand that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is already taking a look at this issue as part of an existing rulemaking to streamline inherited regulations, and I agree that it is important for them to keep this fact in mind as they move forward on this rulemaking. Mr. MERKLEY: I thank Chairman Johnson. Yes, I would like to reiterate that the intent of this bill is to streamline duplicative disclosures and not make consumers less aware of potential fees that they face. Like you, I encourage the Bureau to use their upcoming rulemaking to ensure that this is not the case. I now turn to my friend from Minnesota.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I rise to celebrate the life of Senator George McGovern, a man that many in this body called a friend, and an inspiration. Senator McGovern was more than an elected official, although his 22- year career in the Senate and House of Representatives serving the great people of South Dakota left a lasting legacy filled with numerous accomplishments and achievements. Senator McGovern inspired me and many others into public service. Like my mother, Senator McGovern was a PK, a preacher's kid, and I recall from my mother's memories that this was not easy. Senator McGovern often talked about growing up not only as a Methodist PK who couldn't attend movies, but also as a child of the Depression, living in a small parsonage that shared the little they had with those in the congregation who had even less. His Methodist background provided the foundation for his deep sense of morality and social justice. It was the force that led him to be a lifelong advocate for feeding the hungry, for serving his country as a bomber pilot during World War II, and then returning home to work for peaceful solutions to international conflicts. Each chapter of Senator McGovern's life was as riveting and spellbinding as the chapters of the many books he penned over the years. Numerous honors were bestowed upon him, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the World Food Prize, and the Air Medal. From his heroic military service where he flew 35 missions as a B-24 Liberator pilot and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for making a hazardous emergency landing of his damaged plane and saving his crew; his tenacious advocacy in fighting world hunger and working to provide school meals for millions of children in dozens of countries; to his unwavering and passionate support of various social programs, his strongly stated political views, and his wisdom on a spectrum of contemporary political and world issues, Senator McGovern's life has had a profound impact on our nation and world. He traveled the world to advocate for better nutrition programs and establish efforts to fight hunger. He was the first U.N. Global Ambassador on World Hunger. He was the first director of the Food for Peace Program under President John F. Kennedy. He developed the ``McGovern Report'', which led to a new set of nutritional standards and guidelines for Americans. He joined longtime friend Senator Bob Dole in establishing the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program that provided school meals to millions of children. He served 3 years as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. Yet Senator McGovern never forgot the people of South Dakota, residing many months out of the year in his hometown of Mitchell, location of the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Museum. George would often take his dog, Dakota, on daily walks on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University, sometimes stopping to eat at the university cafeteria and visit with students. Senator McGovern once said that ``politics is an act of faith,'' meaning that you need faith that the people can make good and moral decisions. He had that faith, and his life of moral and intellectual leadership has made it easier for all of us to carry that faith forward. One of the characteristics that I most admired in Senator McGovern was that his belief in good and moral decisions extended to leaders in both parties, and led to his lifelong friendships with statesmen like the aforementioned Senator Dole, with whom he formed a deep friendship as they worked on hunger issues, and William Buckley, with whom he delighted in debating the issues whether in public, on ``Firing Line'', or over a drink as they traveled together debating their opposing views. Senator McGovern knew and valued what so many have forgotten today; that America needs a strong two-party system built on respect and cooperation if we are to survive as a democracy. He also found time to write 14 books on political issues and philosophy. And he found time to check off a few items from his personal bucket list. In his late eighties, he parachuted from an airplane. He drove a stock car at a local speedway. Even this past summer, as he was to observe his 90th birthday, he had hoped to fly a B-1 aircraft. With all of his accomplishments, perhaps his greatest was his marriage to Eleanor. I will never forget the opening of the McGovern library in Mitchell, SD, which Eleanor was too weak to attend, and how affectionately he touched the newly unveiled statue of her standing with him, as they had stood together throughout their lives. We can rejoice today that they are now reunited and with their children Terry and Steve. They lived the lives that John Wesley admonished them to live when he said: Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I come to the floor today in strong support of amendment No. 3095 offered by Senator Hagan to strike section 2823 from the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 2823 would severely limit the Department of Defense's ability to use alternative fuels to enhance our Nation's national security. This section would needlessly prohibit the Department of Defense from entering into a contract to plan, design, refurbish, or construct a biofuels refinery or any other facility or infrastructure used to refine biofuels unless such planning, design, refurbishment, or construction is specifically authorized by law. Under the authorities of the Defense Production Act, DPA, the Department of Defense has created the Advanced Drop-In Biofuels Production Project. This initiative is focused on creating a public- private partnership that will provide incentives for private sector investment in cost-competitive, advanced biofuels production capability. This initiative requires at least a one-to-one cost share with private stakeholders. In furtherance of this initiative, in August 2011, the Department of Navy, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding to invest $510 million, equally shared among them, for investments in the joint construction or retrofitting of plants and refineries to produce advanced biofuels. Now is not the time to prevent this important program from continuing. Before this project can be finalized, the President has to determine that this is essential to the national defense. Only then will it go forward. I am confident that this requirement in the DPA will ensure that only the most important projects for our national security will go forward. As chairman of the Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over the DPA, I believe it is misguided to limit the authority of the Defense Department to continue with this project. As the largest single customer of oil in the world, the Department of Defense spent $17 billion in fiscal year 2011 on fuel. This dependency on a single source of energy forces the Department of Defense to reallocate funding from other critical needs when oil prices spike. An increase of $1.00 in the price of oil costs the Department of Defense over $100 million. Last year alone, spikes in oil prices required the Navy to pay an additional $500 million on higher fuel costs. The renewable fuels industry has played an important role in addressing our energy needs. Unfortunately, section 2823 would hinder our Nation's ability to promote renewable energy sources within our country. By striking this provision, we will allow the Defense Department to retain its authority to take essential steps to diversify the energy sources available to our military. I believe that energy security is an essential part of national security. I thank Senator Hagan for offering this amendment. I urge all my colleagues to support this important amendment. I yield the floor.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, each November we recognize National Native American Heritage Month to honor the tradition, culture, contributions, achievements, and sacrifices of those that originally inhabited this great Nation. With over five million individuals of Native American descent in the United States, it is important to celebrate the instrumental impact Native American culture has had on American history. National Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to focus our attention on the beliefs of tribal sovereignty by ensuring trust responsibilities and strengthening government-to-government relationships with tribes across the Nation. Representing a State that is home to nine treaty tribes, this month has added significance to me. I would like to personally acknowledge and honor South Dakota's nine treaty tribes: the Cheyenne River Sioux, the Crow Creek Sioux, the Flandreau Santee Sioux, the Lower Brule Sioux, the Oglala Sioux, the Rosebud Sioux, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, the Standing Rock Sioux, and the Yankton Sioux. South Dakota greatly benefits from the rich heritage and culture each tribe brings to our State. It is fitting that President Obama has declared November 23, 2012, the day after Thanksgiving, as Native American Heritage Day in an effort to fully appreciate the legacy American Indian culture has had on our Nation since its infancy. I am pleased we have honored our Native American Indian and Alaska Native people with a day, week, and month of observance every year since 1976. During this month's commemoration, we must not only celebrate our Native American Indian and Alaska Native's past, but also emphasize where improvements are needed for their future well-being. I am proud the Indian Affairs Committee has recently approved my legislation to reauthorize the Native American Languages Preservation Act, and I hope my colleagues will consider this important measure, as it is critical to preserve Native languages that have long influenced our history and culture. We should promote diversity rather than suppress it, as the foundation of the United States is built on diverse cultures and backgrounds. While we pause to recognize the strong contributions our tribes have made to this Nation, the Federal government must uphold its responsibilities to our tribal communities. I hope students around the United States take the opportunity this month to learn about the Thanksgiving story from the American Indian point of view. By observing and celebrating National Native American Heritage Month, we are reaffirming our Nation's respect for American Indian people. I would like to acknowledge and praise the more than 70,000 American Indians in South Dakota who bring a unique and enriching culture to our communities. I urge everyone in America to participate in our celebration of American Indians, not only during the month of November, but through a daily commitment to advancing the quality of life of American Indians, in an effort for our Nation to move forward with strength and resolve.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Taiwan as their National Day of Celebration, October 10, 2012, approaches. This day commemorates the end of imperial rule in China. Since that day more than 100 years ago, Taiwan has successfully transitioned to a democracy. Taiwan has peacefully transferred power between political parties and earlier this year held another free and fair Presidential election. As we know from our own American history and have seen in countries around the world this past year, achieving a democracy is no easy feat, and I commend all those who have helped Taiwan reach this point. The United States and Taiwan continue to enjoy a close friendship, and I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the people of Taiwan on the 101st anniversary of their National Day. I also would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Jason Yuan, Representative of the ROC, Taiwan, to the United States, on his new post as Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Taiwan. I cherish the friendship with Ambassador Yuan and wish Ambassador and Madame Yuan the very best of luck in the future.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I wish to speak today to commemorate the life of Sacagawea and the impacts her life has had on the development of our great Nation. While there is some controversy regarding the death of Sacagawea, most research indicates that this year marks the 200th anniversary of her reported death in present day South Dakota. Sacagawea is historically most famous for guiding Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, along with her husband and infant son, on U.S. President Thomas Jefferson's Corps of Northwestern Discovery expedition to the Pacific Coast and back from 1804 to 1806. Sacagawea, the daughter of a Shoshone chief, was born around 1788 in present-day Idaho. At a young age, she was captured by the enemies of the Shoshones, the Hidatsa, and sold to a French-Canadian trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau. Charbonneau married Sacagawea and the two lived among the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes of the upper Missouri river in present-day North Dakota. When Lewis and Clark came to the area on their journey in November of 1804, they commissioned Charbonneau and Sacagawea, who was with child, to serve as interpreters. With the help and knowledge of Sacagawea, the Lewis and Clark expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805. It was reported that Sacagawea died on December 20, 1812, at Fort Manuel Lisa, which overlooked the Missouri River near the present-day city of Kenel, in Corson County, SD. John Luttig, the trading post's clerk, wrote: ``This evening the wife of Charbonneau, a Snake Woman, died of a putrid fever. Aged about 25 years. She left an infant girl.'' Though Sacagawea had a short and difficult life, her legacy still lives on. The celebration of her life also gives us a great opportunity to recognize the rich culture and heritage of our Native American tribes. As we bear in mind her life, death, and impact, I encourage everyone to join in also commemorating the unique culture of the indigenous peoples of the United States. Later this month, the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will be holding their regional meeting in Fort Pierre, SD. The South Dakota Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Encounters on the Prairie, will be hosting this regional meeting which will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of Sacagawea's reported death. I am proud to speak about the rich piece of our Nation's history she was a part of. Her memory and the heritage in which she embodies, continues to inspire us in South Dakota and across the Nation.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, our legislation which embodies a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reconcile the current Senate and House-passed versions of Iran sanctions legislation. Once implemented, this comprehensive new set of sanctions will help dramatically to increase the pressure on Iranian government leaders to abandon their illicit nuclear activities and support for terrorism. This bill passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 421 to 6 earlier this evening. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting it so that it can be adopted by the Senate and signed into law by the President as soon as possible. So far, in the sputtering P5+1 negotiations, Iran has shown no clear signs of a willingness to work with the international community to engage in a serious way on nuclear issues. It remains to be seen whether Iran will ultimately be willing to work towards progress on the central issues at upcoming negotiating sessions, or whether the meetings will simply be another in a series of stalling actions to buy time to enrich additional uranium and further fortify their nuclear program. That is why I think it necessary to intensify the pressure, and move forward quickly now on this new package that leaves no doubts about U.S. resolve on this issue. As we all recognize, economic sanctions are not an end: they are a means to an end. That end is to apply enough pressure to secure agreement from Iran's leaders to fully, completely and verifiably abandon their illicit nuclear activities. Isolated diplomatically, economically, and otherwise, Iran must understand that the patience of the international community is fast running out. With these new sanctions, including those targeted at the I-R-G-C, we are pressing Iran's military and political leaders to make a clear choice. They can end the suppression of their people, come clean on their nuclear program, suspend enrichment, and stop supporting terrorist activities around the globe. Or they can continue to face sustained multilateral economic and diplomatic pressure, and deepen their international isolation. This legislation is based on the Senate bill which passed with unanimous support in May. It incorporates new measures from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate. The sanctions contained in this bill reach more deeply into Iran's energy sector than ever before, and build on the sweeping banking sanctions Congress enacted 2 years ago to reach to insurance, shipping, trade, finance and other sectors, targeting those who help to bolster Iranian government revenues which support their illicit nuclear activities. As I have said before, the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is the most pressing foreign policy challenge we face, and we must continue to do all we can--politically, economically, and diplomatically--to avoid that result. In recent months, we have seen increased signs that the Iranian regime is feeling the pressure of existing sanctions. Their currency has plummeted, their trade revenues have been sharply curtailed, and they are under increasing pressure from the oil sanctions regime currently in place. With passage of this bill, we are taking another significant step to block the remaining avenues for the Iranians to fund their illicit behavior and evade sanctions. The bill also requires sanctions on those who purchase new Iranian sovereign debt, thereby further limiting the regime's ability to finance its illicit activities. In addition, there are substantial new sanctions for anyone who engages in joint ventures with the National Iranian Oil Company, NIOC; provides insurance or re-insurance to the National Iranian Oil Company or the National Iranian Tanker Company, NITC; helps Iran evade oil sanctions through reflagging or other means; or sells, leases, or otherwise provides oil tankers to Iran, unless they are from a country that is sharply reducing its oil purchases from Iran. The bill also expands sanctions against Iranian and Syrian officials for human rights abuses, including against those who engage in censorship, jamming and monitoring of communications, and tracking of Internet use by ordinary Iranian citizens. Many of my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, have helped us get to this point. I want to particularly thank Chairman Ros-Lehtinen of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Without her help, we would not be here. I also want to thank my colleagues, including Senator Menendez, who crafted many of its original provisions, and Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, Lautenberg, Brown, Kyl, Lieberman, and others who contributed their ideas. I also want to thank Majority Leader Reid for his tireless efforts to enact a strong comprehensive sanctions bill. Finally, I want to thank the staff who crafted the details of this bill, and worked long hours in intensive discussions over the last several weeks to get it done. They include Patrick Grant, Steve Kroll, Georgina Cannon, Ingianni Acosta and Colin McGinnis of my Committee staff; Dr. Yleem Poblete, Matt Zweig, and Ari Friedman of Chairman Ros- Lehtinen's staff; John O'Hara and Andrew Olmem of Senator Shelby's staff, and Shanna Winters, Dr. Richard Kessler, and Alan Makovsky of Ranking Member Berman's staff. All told, when enacted this bill and other efforts by the President will significantly increase pressure on Iran to abandon its illicit nuclear activities. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a detailed summary of the bill. I urge all my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. I thank Senator Lautenberg for his longstanding leadership on this issue. As I have previously noted, it is long past time for foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies to end their business in Iran. That is already happening due to US and international pressure on the business and financial sectors, and this new provision will accelerate that process. Firms realize the huge risks such activity poses, reputationally and otherwise, to their companies. I note that it is already a violation of U.S. law for U.S. subsidiaries to engage in sanctionable activity in Iran's energy sector and certain other activities under U.S. sanctions laws. It is also a violation of U.S. trade law for a U.S. firm to do business of any kind in Iran via a subsidiary that it directs. The balance that has been struck in prior law is to focus only on the activity of U.S. companies. Foreign subsidiaries are not, by definition, U.S. companies, and your provision takes a major new step forward in this area of the law. I agree with you that the way we have addressed this issue authorizing for the first time penalties on U.S. parents if their foreign subsidiaries engages in an activity that would be sanctionable if committed by a U.S. person--is a sound and responsible one, and will hopefully shut down this activity once and for all.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. The bill would authorize the imposition of similar civil penalties on such U.S. parent companies.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. I agree this legislation mandates penalties on a U.S. parent company if its foreign subsidiary has knowledge or should have had knowledge that the subsidiary was doing prohibited business with Iran, even if the U.S. parent company has no knowledge of these transactions.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Yes. That is my intent.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Humanitarian trade, including agricultural commodities, food, medicine and medical products has long been specifically exempted by Congress from successive rounds of Iran sanctions legislation, as long as such trade is licensed by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. With the sharp drop in the value of Iran's currency, and the worsening economic situation in Iran, it is becoming more apparent that U.S. financial sanctions targeting Iran's banking sector are causing increased concern among U.S. and other businesses, and banks of our allies engaged in such trade. The fear is that engaging in humanitarian trade in the current sanctions environment might lead to sanctions for legitimately licensed humanitarian trade. We must underscore with other countries and their banks that humanitarian trade with Iran is not subject to sanctions if it is appropriately licensed by OFAC. This has been a concern since the Senate first considered this bill and this concern still remains. It is not and has not been the intent of U.S. policy to harm the Iranian people by prohibiting humanitarian trade that is licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department, and we should do all we can to avoid this outcome. OFAC consistently issues many licenses, both general and specific, for this type of trade. The practical financing difficulties arising today between banks and those engaging in licensed humanitarian trade can be best addressed by U.S. government officials, who should do more to make it clear that no U.S. sanctions will be imposed against third-country banks that facilitate OFAC-licensed or exempted humanitarian trade. The Administration must continue to make this clear in public statements, in private meetings with foreign financial institutions, and elsewhere as appropriate. Misinterpretation of U.S. law, among foreign financial institutions, should no longer deny the people of Iran the benefit of OFAC-approved humanitarian trade.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I introduced legislation to facilitate completion of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System. The Mni Wiconi Project provides quality drinking water to three Indian Reservations and a non-tribal rural water system in western South Dakota that have historically faced insufficient and, in too many cases, unsafe drinking water. I have been involved with this project for the entirety of my 25 year congressional career, including sponsoring authorizing legislation that was ultimately enacted in 1988. In authorizing the project, Congress found that the United States has a trust responsibility to ensure that adequate and safe water supplies are available to meet the economic, environmental, water supply, and public health needs of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation, and Lower Brule Indian Reservation. With treated drinking water from the Missouri River now reaching most of the three reservations, as well as the 7 county area of the West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water System, we are very close to completing this critically important project. Unfortunately, appropriations have failed to keep pace with projected timelines, and additional costs have cut into construction funding. Accordingly, the project requires an increase in the cost ceiling and extension of its authorization in order to be completed and serve the design population. Without an adjustment to the cost ceiling, some portions of the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System and Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System will remain incomplete. The legislation I have introduced today addresses this shortfall and other important aspects of the project. The legislation also directs other Federal agencies that support rural water development to assist the Bureau of Reclamation in improving and repairing existing community water systems that are important components of the project. Our Federal responsibility to address the tremendous need for adequate and safe drinking water supplies on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Lower Brule Indian Reservations remains as important today as it was 25 years ago. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this modest but important legislation.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I introduced legislation to facilitate completion of the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System. The Mni Wiconi Project provides quality drinking water to three Indian Reservations and a non-tribal rural water system in western South Dakota that have historically faced insufficient and, in too many cases, unsafe drinking water. I have been involved with this project for the entirety of my 25 year congressional career, including sponsoring authorizing legislation that was ultimately enacted in 1988. In authorizing the project, Congress found that the United States has a trust responsibility to ensure that adequate and safe water supplies are available to meet the economic, environmental, water supply, and public health needs of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation, and Lower Brule Indian Reservation. With treated drinking water from the Missouri River now reaching most of the three reservations, as well as the 7 county area of the West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water System, we are very close to completing this critically important project. Unfortunately, appropriations have failed to keep pace with projected timelines, and additional costs have cut into construction funding. Accordingly, the project requires an increase in the cost ceiling and extension of its authorization in order to be completed and serve the design population. Without an adjustment to the cost ceiling, some portions of the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System and Rosebud Sioux Rural Water System will remain incomplete. The legislation I have introduced today addresses this shortfall and other important aspects of the project. The legislation also directs other Federal agencies that support rural water development to assist the Bureau of Reclamation in improving and repairing existing community water systems that are important components of the project. Our Federal responsibility to address the tremendous need for adequate and safe drinking water supplies on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Lower Brule Indian Reservations remains as important today as it was 25 years ago. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this modest but important legislation.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to the 125th anniversary of the founding of Garden City, SD. Located in northeastern Clark County, Garden City is a proud small town, known for potato farming. The townsite of Garden City was established in 1882 on 40 acres of land donated by Clarence Hayward, an early resident. Hayward was known as the father of the town because of his steadfast dedication to the well-being and improvement of Garden City. It is said that were it not for his aggressive advocacy, Garden City would not be a town. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was built in the town in 1887, bringing with it great prosperity. At that time, R.S. Carpenter donated a 40-acre parcel of land located just south of Garden City to the town. His wife is credited with naming the town, an honor granted to her by the railroad workers who were impressed by her hospitality. She had a love of flowers and saw parallels between the townsite and the Garden of Eden. The year 1887 was important in the early history of Garden City. Besides the establishment of the railroad, 1887 was when the first buildings were constructed. There was a grocery store and hardware business built by William Morise and Charley Edwards, as well as a post office and a railroad depot. In following years, many business and civic organizations popped up to serve the growing population. In the 20th century, Garden City earned notoriety for being a center of potato farming in South Dakota. Commercial potato farming first arrived around 1908, and by the 1940s, Garden City farms were yielding half a million bushels of potatoes each year. Residents of Garden City plan to celebrate their town's 125th anniversary with a day full of activities for the whole family. Festivities will begin with a tractor parade, followed by a pork loin dinner, bean bag and horseshoe tournaments, and musical entertainment, all held in the park. At the Opera House, numerous mementos and antiquities will be on display to showcase the rich history of Garden City. Garden City was founded by a determined group of pioneers, who fought hard for the preservation and advancement of their town. This legacy is evident to this day in the can-do spirit of its residents. I congratulate Garden City on reaching this historic milestone and wish them the best in the future.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the urgency that is growing with each passing day for the House to take up and pass the farm bill. Most Senators in this body have a constituency that is being impacted by the worsening drought conditions, which is currently affecting 61 percent of the landmass of the continental United States. I have seen a growing frustration among my colleagues, myself included, with the lack of action on the part of the House of Representatives. The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, which is the Senate's version of the farm bill, contains an extension of the critical livestock disaster assistance programs, and would ensure that this assistance would apply to losses experienced this year. The bill also contains a new commodity program which would serve to supplement crop insurance. Unfortunately, if we do not complete a full reauthorization by the end of September, producers are at risk of not having this assistance available to them. Our disaster assistance programs, which we authorized in the 2008 farm bill, expired on September 30, 2011, and so they will not be available unless the House leadership brings up the farm bill for immediate consideration. We need to move the process forward so that we can get to a conference committee and complete a full reauthorization by the end of September. Continued unwillingness of the House leadership to bring the farm bill up for consideration puts my producers at risk. The uncertainty of how the House will proceed led me to join last week with Senators Baucus, Tester, and Conrad in introducing standalone legislation to extend the Supplemental Revenue Assistance, SURE, program, the Livestock Indemnity Program, LIP, Livestock Forage Program, LFP, and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, ELAP, through the current crop year. While the farm bill that we passed through the Senate last week includes the livestock disaster programs and a new commodity program to supplement crop insurance, the House has not given any indication that it will move the reauthorization process forward. As such, we introduced this standalone disaster assistance bill as another option for ensuring assistance is available for our producers. There are a lot of things in the House farm bill that I do not like, but that is why we have a process in place to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. Ideally, the House should just bring up and pass the Senate bill, which passed last month with wide bipartisan support, so we can give our producers some certainty and the assistance they need.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 40th anniversary of the South Dakota Humanities Council, SDHC. As an organization dedicated to promoting culture and our State's rich history, SDHC plays an integral role in fostering an interest in history, literature, and other humanities subjects. Founded in 1972, this important anniversary gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate 40 successful years of SDHC humanities programming in South Dakota. SDHC serves as a faithful steward of our State's heritage and a leader in promoting cultural awareness. After 40 years, SDHC continues to fulfill its mission ``to support and promote the exchange of ideas to foster a thoughtful and engaged society.'' With funding from the National Endowment for Humanities and support from local communities, SDHC has improved access to outstanding cultural and civic opportunities for all South Dakotans. Virtually every county and most school districts in our State have benefitted from SDHC-sponsored programs. Especially at a time when many school districts have been forced to make difficult cuts to their budgets, SDHC has served as a valuable partner to schools across our State through its support of programs like National History Day. In addition, SDHC grants to community organizations provide critical ``seed money'' that promotes the preservation and study of humanities topics in cities and towns across South Dakota. In addition to enriching the lives of South Dakotans, humanities programs represent an important source of economic development. The annual Festival of Books attracts thousands of booklovers every year who are given the chance to talk with locally and nationally recognized authors. In addition, the Museum on Main Street program brings Smithsonian exhibits to rural communities. This year, six communities in South Dakota will be hosting the exhibit ``New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.'' The SDHC's Speakers' Bureau provides funding for humanities scholars to present and lead discussions on humanities topics. These and many other programs sponsored by SDHC play an important role in attracting visitors to our State, which in turn brings in tourism dollars and supports jobs in local communities. I appreciate the valuable role of SDHC in promoting the humanities in communities and schools across South Dakota. As a member of the Senate Cultural Caucus and a lifelong supporter of the arts and humanities, I congratulate SDHC on 40 successful years and thank the organization for its service to our State.