Herb Kohl

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce three bills that I believe will be important for our small businesses, especially our smaller manufacturers. In each of these bills, there is an emphasis on keeping our research and development and manufacturing here in the United States, rewarding our innovative American businesses with predictable credits and equitable treatment, and creating good paying jobs. The first bill, S. 155, is designed to incentivize keeping jobs in the United States by increasing the existing Research & Development tax credit for companies that produce most of their goods domestically. The Domestic Jobs Innovation Bonus Act would create a bonus R&D Credit that increases incrementally to reward a higher percentage of domestic production. To earn the bonus credit, a company would need to make at least half of their products domestically--and for doing so would receive an additional 2 percentage points on top of the existing R&D credit. The credit would max out at a 10 percentage point increase for companies with 90 percent to 100 percent of their receipts from domestic production. For example, a company with 100 percent domestic production that would normally receive a 20 percent R&D tax credit would receive a 30 percent credit under this proposal. To be clear, this isn't a tax credit that will benefit every company that has a presence in the United States. It may not benefit many large, multi-national corporations, but those companies will still have access to the existing R&D Credit, which I support as well. It is my hope that a credit like this could convince a company that is deciding whether to manufacture and research here or abroad, to choose America. I am introducing a second bill, S. 156, with Senators Corker and Alexander that would establish a uniform energy efficiency descriptor for all water heaters and improve the testing methods by which that descriptor is determined. Currently, water heaters are lumped into two categories under two federal statutes, based on arbitrary gallon capacity and energy input ratings. ``Smaller'' water heaters are covered by the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, NAECA, and must be rated using an energy factor or EF rating. ``Larger'' water heaters are within the scope of the Energy Policy Act, EPACT, and must be rated using a thermal efficiency or TE rating. Not only do the testing methods differ, but a manufacturer is forbidden to place an EF rating on a TE-sized unit, and vice-versa. This legislation would direct the Department of Energy to work with industry stakeholders to develop a uniform energy efficiency descriptor that applies to all sizes of water heaters. It also would develop a test method to accurately determine that descriptor for all types of water heaters. It is my hope that the water heating manufacturing community can develop and implement the new test method and descriptor that will eliminate confusion and enable consumers and business owners to make informed purchasing decisions on water heaters. In today's tough economy, energy bills continue to stretch family budgets. Families can save money and conserve energy if they have accurate information about how much energy home appliances consume. The difference between EF and TE ratings was based on the assumption that smaller units were exclusively for residential uses while larger units were exclusively for commercial purposes. Due to advances in manufacturing technology, the assumptions underlying the earlier dividing line are no longer accurate. In fact, both larger and smaller units made by leading U.S. manufacturers are used in residences without regard to which Federal law applies. Yet, Federal legislation continues to be written by taking this distinction into account. In particular, these American companies are affected by the current disparate energy standards because it can disadvantage some of their products. Establishing one standard will help breakdown a patchwork of incentives and efficiency designations at both the state and federal level. For example, water heaters rated with a TE rating are not eligible for the ENERGY STAR label, and accordingly, not eligible for many state appliance rebate programs that link their incentives to an ENERGY STAR designation. This bill will make it so all products are competing on a level playing field for all incentives. In addition to the energy savings that this bill will provide, it is also about the jobs potential for companies making these cutting-edge products. A globally-recognized cluster of water technology companies is emerging in the City of Milwaukee and surrounding counties. An important part of this effort is innovative water heater technologies. Incentivizing these products through predictable and equitable standards is vital to these companies. The third bill, S. 157, would extend the Section 48 investment tax credit to solar light pipe technology. This is a promising new technology that could save our businesses money on their electricity bills, and reduce our overall energy usage--two goals on which we can all agree. Light pipes collect natural light, and then through the use of sensor technology, automatically dim the other lights in a building--thereby using less electricity for the same amount of light. Despite the clear benefits of the technology, high cost has kept many businesses from using light pipes. Adding this technology to Section 48 will provide that boost that these businesses need to justify the expense. I became aware of this technology because one of the companies that makes it is based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. This company, Orion Energy Systems, employs about 250 people, and has been growing even during this tough economic time. In addition to light pipes, Orion makes energy efficient lighting systems, and partners with wind and solar power companies to significantly reduce the energy costs for many of our largest and most distinguished companies. Orion technology has been deployed at more than 6,000 facilities, and has worked with 126 of the Fortune 500 companies. Since 2001, Orion customers have saved more than $1 billion in electricity costs by displacing nearly 600 megawatts. This credit will help Orion and companies like it create thousands of jobs through the production of the technology as well as installing it. I urge my colleagues to support all of these bills, and I hope that they are enacted as part of an agenda that focuses on innovation, job creation, and shoring up our vital manufacturing sector.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I am deeply disappointed that the Senate has failed to vote on Louis Butler's nomination to the district court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The partisan bickering that has prevented a debate and vote on several district court nominees is a stark reversal of Senate tradition and practice. Justice Butler is exceptionally well qualified for the Federal bench. By dint of hard work and perseverance, Justice Butler rose from humble beginnings to be an accomplished lawyer, advocate, trial court judge, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, and professor. Few nominees have such a strong record of public service. Justice Butler's career has been distinguished by the years he has spent fulfilling the Constitution's guarantee of an attorney and fair trial for all Americans, rich and poor alike. He cut his teeth as a young lawyer representing defendants who could not afford legal representation. As a trial court judge, he earned a reputation for being a tough but fair jurist and was recognized as a top Milwaukee judge. Justice Butler was the first African American to sit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and he served there with distinction for 4 years. During his time on the court, he participated in hundreds of cases, many of which were decided by a unanimous or near-unanimous court. He proved himself to be a hard-working, thoughtful and consensus-building justice. We ask our judges to make the most difficult decisions in the closest cases, neither an easy nor simple task. Over the course of Justice Butler's tenure as a trial judge and a State supreme court justice, he has faithfully carried out this duty by following the law with the impartiality, integrity and respect that we demand of a judge. Justice Butler has an impressive legal background that would serve our Federal bench well. Indeed he is a very fine man. He is deeply committed to the law, to his community, and to his family. Justice Butler's nomination proves once again that the process we use in Wisconsin to choose Federal judges and U.S. attorneys ensures excellence. The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission has been used to select Federal judges and U.S. attorneys in Wisconsin for 30 years. Through a great deal of cooperation and careful consideration, and by keeping politics to a minimum, we always find highly qualified candidates like Justice Butler. I believe that Justice Butler would make a fine addition to the Federal bench, and I regret that he and other district court nominees have not been given the up-or-down votes that they deserve.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today to support ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START. This treaty continues the bipartisan arms control framework first proposed by President Ronald Reagan and implemented by President George H.W. Bush with the START I and START II treaties. President George W. Bush continued this work with the Moscow Treaty. Now President Obama has taken another important step to address the dangers of nuclear weapons with the New START treaty. Stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing existing nuclear stockpiles is critical to our national security. New START helps accomplish this goal by placing responsible limits on nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, while still enabling the United States to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent. New START also reestablishes regular onsite inspections of Russian nuclear facilities, which ended more than a year ago when the previous START treaty expired. The potential lack of safety, security, and controls of Russian nuclear weapons is a grave security risk, and there is no substitute for onsite inspections to address this threat. I carefully considered the views of our military and diplomatic leaders in evaluating New START, and I am impressed by the breadth of bipartisan support for this treaty. The Secretaries of State, Defense, and Energy support New START. Our senior uniformed military leaders support New START, including the head of the Missile Defense Agency. Every living former Secretary of State, Republican or Democrat, supports New START. I commend my colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the extensive work they have done to consider the New START treaty. They have produced a thorough record on the merits of this treaty, which enables every Senator to cast an informed vote. After reviewing this record, I am proud to cast my vote in favor of ratifying New START.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, the basic outline of legislative changes to the Controlled Substances Act that we expect to receive from the Department of Justice are as follows: The legislation will deem certain nurses or other licensed health care professionals, who are designated by the nursing home as agents of DEA-licensed practitioners (practitioners being the resident's attending physician or specialist), as authorized to transmit the practitioner's order for a controlled substance, specifically Schedule II drugs, to DEA- licensed pharmacies, either orally or by fax. The nursing home, while not licensed by DEA, will be responsible for designating those who are authorized to transmit a practitioner's order, and for making a list of such authorized agents available to the pharmacy. Whenever oral or faxed orders for controlled substances come in from authorized agents, pharmacies will be required to verify, based on the nursing home's list, that the nurse is authorized to call or fax in the practitioner's order. This chain-of-accountability process will allow the practitioner to give oral instructions for ordering a controlled substance to the resident's nurse over the phone. In addition, practitioners will be permitted to opt out with certain employees, should a practitioner have a problem with a particular nurse or designee. Both practitioners and the nursing home will be required to keep written logs, or records, of such oral (or faxed) orders that are submitted by nurses. The nursing home will be further required to keep the list of authorized nurses current and to immediately notify the pharmacy of any changes in this list. Nurses or other licensed health care professionals who are authorized as agents by the nursing home will be required to formally acknowledge their responsibility for ordering and administering controlled substances by accepting liability in terms of certain penalties that would apply under the Controlled Substances Act if they engage in diversion or other unacceptable practices. Pharmacies will also be required to maintain logs, or records, of the orders that are placed by authorized nurse agents. Pharmacies will be further required to make telephone (or fax) contact with the resident's practitioner, under whose authority the controlled substances were ordered, within 48 hours of the time that the authorized agent transmits the order. The pharmacy will then be required to verify, and record, that the practitioner ordered a controlled substance. The practitioner will also be required to provide a written prescription to the pharmacy for the controlled substance within 10 days of the time that the authorized nurse agent transmits the order. Additional reasonable safeguards may be included.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise to announce that I have lifted the hold I placed earlier this month on Michele Leonhart's nomination to be Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, DEA. I had placed the hold reluctantly after numerous failed attempts to work with the agency for over a year on the issue of delivering pain medication to nursing home residents in a timely matter. At a Special Committee on Aging hearing I chaired earlier this year, panelists detailed a recent DEA enforcement initiative that has delayed many nursing home patients from receiving much-needed medication to control their pain. For several years, nurses had been able to call into pharmacies urgently needed prescriptions following a doctor's order. Pharmacies would fill the order, patients would get their pain medication, and doctors would follow up with written confirmation of the prescription. Due to the DEA's new enforcement initiative, pharmacies face huge administrative fines if they continue to follow this practice. Most disturbingly, nursing home residents sometimes must endure the pain for hours or even days as nursing home staff try to adhere to the newly enforced regulations. Finally, nursing homes have been forced to send frail and pain-ridden residents to the emergency room, at great cost, simply to get pain medication that they used to be able to get in their nursing home. At Ms. Leonhart's nominating hearing before the Judiciary Committee in November, I expressed my disappointment that the DEA had not followed through on the pledges made to the Aging panel in March to work with us to address the problem swiftly. Nearly 2 weeks after her confirmation hearing--and three months after submitting a draft proposal to DEA--I was told that any solution would require each State to grant nursing homes the authority to dispense controlled substances pain medications. However, any solution requiring ``state-by-state'' action would take many years to achieve. The urgent pain relief situation in nursing homes will not permit such a long-term approach. When the Judiciary Committee approved Ms. Leonhart's nomination, I asked to see meaningful progress on the issue prior to her final confirmation. I am pleased to have recently received Attorney General Eric Holder's assurance that he will promptly deliver the DOJ's support for a legislative fix. As a result of our discussion, I am releasing the hold on Michele Leonhart's nomination, and I look forward to introducing a mutually acceptable legislative fix in the opening days of the 112th Congress. Based on our agreement, DOJ will deliver draft legislation to me in January to permit the timely delivery of pain medications to nursing home residents. The legislation will deem certain nurses or other licensed health care professionals to be ``authorized agents.'' Those agents will be chosen and designated by the nursing home as agents of DEA-licensed practitioners--practitioners being the resident's attending physician or specialist. They will be authorized to transmit the practitioner's order for a controlled substance, specifically schedule II drugs, to DEA-licensed pharmacies orally or by fax. The nursing home, while not licensed by DEA, will designate those authorized to transmit a practitioner's order and to make a list of those authorized agents available to the pharmacy. In exchange, nursing homes, practitioners, and pharmacies will be required to take certain steps to verify their accountability. I happily submit for the record a document detailing the specifics of our agreed-upon framework for the legislation outlined above. I am confident that it will ensure our mutual interests are met by enabling nursing home residents to have the pain medication they need while preventing drug diversion and misuse. I would like to thank Attorney General Holder for his strong commitment to seeing that a Federal legislative solution can be moved forward in the opening weeks of the 112th Congress. After all, time is of the essence for nursing home residents who are in need of immediate pain relief.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to praise the passage of S. 118, the section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act. Earlier this Congress, Senator Schumer and I introduced S. 118 to modernize and improve section 202 housing for seniors across the country. This piece of legislation will help ensure that seniors have accessible, safe and affordable housing so they can live independently and with dignity, while also saving the government money by keeping people out of expensive nursing homes. HUD's senior housing program, also known as the section 202 program, provides capital grants to enable the development of supportive housing exclusively for the very low-income elderly population. Unfortunately, the 202 program has been unable to address the growing demand. For every available unit, there are ten seniors waiting to move in. Under the current law, the development and preservation of existing 202 communities can be time-consuming, bureaucratic and often require duplicative waivers and special permission from HUD to complete. Additionally, the program provides rental subsidies and grants to fund supportive services for seniors, such as in-home care and transportation. Over one-third of the section 202 population is considered disabled enough to be at risk for being put in a nursing home. By reducing the need for costly nursing home stays, access to these types of services saves both seniors and the government money. Modernizing the elderly housing program will promote the preservation and renovation of existing 202 developments. Many properties are in need of both rehabilitation and increased access to services that help seniors to remain in their homes. This legislation will help provide the modernization they desperately need. I want to thank the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging as well as the Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging for being champions of this legislation and for working with us to develop a comprehensive bill that will help meet the growing need for senior housing in this Nation. I also want to thank Senator Dodd and his staff for all of his efforts to move this legislation. He has always been great to work with and he will be greatly missed next year. And I want to extend my appreciation to Senator Shelby and his staff for working with us on this bill. Senior citizens deserve to have housing that will help them maintain their independence. It is my hope that with the passage of S. 118, many more Americans have a place to call home during their golden years.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I take a moment to say a few words about the junior Senator from Wisconsin, Senator Russ Feingold, who will be leaving the Senate at the end of this session. We have served together in the Senate, working for the people of Wisconsin every day, since he was elected in 1992. But now Wisconsin is losing a powerful and thoughtful advocate that carried on the proud progressive tradition of Robert LaFollette. Russ came to the Senate by winning an upset election, running as an outsider. He famously wrote a promise to the people of Wisconsin on his garage door, and people responded to his sincerity. Keeping that promise has kept him close to the people of Wisconsin as he traveled to every county in the State once a year to hold a listening session. That kind of accessibility, and his pledge to raise his campaign money mostly from the people of Wisconsin, gives him a credibility and integrity that no one in the State can question. Money and politics has always been an issue that Russ felt passionately about. So it should be no surprise that his biggest legislative win was when he worked with Senator John McCain to put restrictions on campaign financing with the historic Bi-Partisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, better known as the McCain-Feingold bill. That legislation, like many of his stands over the years, didn't always make him popular with his colleagues, but it was the right thing to do to try and root out corruption and roll back the influence of the special interests. The American people will never have confidence in our system as long as they believe that a politician's support can be bought and sold. Russ worked to restore confidence in our government and he should be commended for that. He took a lot of unpopular positions over the years. Most notable was his sole opposition to the Patriot Act. He stood up for his ideals when it would have been easy to brush them aside. But that is the kind of person Russ is. He was never willing to sacrifice his principles to do the politically easy thing. Our country is safer because of his work. Russ also has been a tough budget hawk, working tirelessly to bring down spending and give the next generation a debt-free future. He also helped form the current lobbying rules that restrict gifts, employment, and perks that can be given to members and staff by special interest lobbyists. These policies didn't always make him popular around here-- and sometimes caused problems inside his own party--but he was willing to buck the system when he felt he had to. Janesville should be proud of their hometown son who has accomplished so much. He leaves the Senate, but I hope he doesn't leave public service. His character and intelligence are needed by his community, State and country. We will miss him. Chris Dodd

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, today I recognize and congratulate the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council, MBCTC, on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. For the past 100 years the MBCTC has literally built Milwaukee. Many of today's notable Milwaukee landmarks and buildings like the Petit National Ice Center, the Performing Arts Center, the Bradley Center, County Stadium, then Miller Park, Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, the Port Washington and Elm Road Generating Stations and most recently the Marquette Interchange are owed to the tireless work of members of the MBCTC. Not only has the MBCTC truly had a hand in shaping the Milwaukee we know and love today but it has done so while tending to its membership, the men and women of the building trades who make it all possible. The MBCTC remains true to its founding principles to represent its members in the building and construction trades for justice on the job, better wages and never sacrificing quality for its customers. For a century, their true commitment to members and their families as well as to our Milwaukee community has stood on solid foundation. On behalf of our State and Nation, I join this centennial celebration in recognition of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council. Let us honor their hard work and long history of building up Milwaukee into a great place to visit, work, live and raise a family.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I want to first commend my colleagues on the Senate Impeachment Trial Committee for the outstanding work they have done to receive and report the evidence in this case to the full Senate. Led by Senators McCaskill and Hatch, the committee's dedication to impartiality and integrity is something of which we can all be proud. The Constitution gives the Senate ``the sole power to try all impeachments.'' The Senate acts as the factfinder in impeachment proceedings and determines, as individuals and as a body, whether the respondent is guilty of ``high crimes and misdemeanors'' so as to require removal from office. After carefully reviewing the evidence, I voted to convict Judge Porteous on each Article of Impeachment. On articles I and II, the evidence showed that Judge Porteous used his judicial office for financial gain by failing to recuse himself in a nonjury civil case and engaging in corrupt relationships with Jacob Amato, Robert Creely, and Louis Marcotte. The House managers proved by clear and convincing evidence that Judge Porteous deprived litigants of a fair trial and undermined his sworn judicial duties. On articles III and IV, I found Judge Porteous guilty because of his dishonesty and gross misconduct. The facts were clear. He filed his bankruptcy petition under a false name, concealed assets and debt to finance his gambling habit and lied to the FBI to obtain Senate confirmation of his judicial appointment. Finally, I voted against Judge Porteous's motion to disaggregate the articles. I did so because each article contained a series of events that sufficiently related to the charged allegation. The case against Judge Porteous can be distinguished from those of Judge Nixon and President Clinton. Here, the House presented specific, indivisible articles of misconduct which provided a clear record for us to evaluate. As with each judicial impeachment, the Senate is faced with difficult and novel issues. However, the Constitution makes clear that impeachment is a remedial provision that cures our institutions when officials violate the public's trust and confidence. I do not come to my decision lightly, but removal and disqualification of Judge Porteous is necessary. As required by the Constitution, Judge Porteous no longer enjoys the privilege of sitting on the Federal bench or holding any Federal position ``of honor, trust or profit.'' I thank and appreciate my colleagues for their commitment and collegiality during this process.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, today I recognize the 75th anniversary of the Marcus Corporation. Not only does this month mark a monumental anniversary, it also gives us a time to look back at the accomplishments of the Marcus family. Founded by Ben Marcus, the company opened a theater with just one screen in Ripon, WI. This small business became the basis of the Marcus Corporation, a leading name in hotels and movie theaters in the Midwest. Your hotels, like the Pfister in particular, serve as beautifully preserved landmarks, well-known meeting places, and home away from home for guests and employees alike. The Marcus family has consistently recognized and credited the work of their employees for the company's success, providing a rewarding environment for staff. The company has shown its integrity not only through its business operations but also in its contribution to the communities that house its theaters and hotels. The Marcus Corporation has shared its success with the communities surrounding its businesses through both financial contributions and extensive volunteer programs. Employees of the businesses are encouraged to give back to their patrons through volunteer hours at a local program or cause of their choice. In fact, to mark this special anniversary, the Marcus Corporation will collectively volunteer 75,000 hours of community service. Milwaukee organizations such as the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the United Performing Arts Fund have benefited from the company's generosity. I am proud that the heart of such a great company calls Wisconsin home. I thank the Marcus family and Corporation for all they have done for Wisconsin. I am pleased to recognize the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of this company, and I send all the best for health, happiness, and continued achievement. On a personal note, to my dear friend Steve Marcus, together with sons Greg and David, congratulations on achieving much success in everything from your tremendous business growth and civic leadership down to your terrific tuna salad and for sharing it so generously.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, today I recognize and congratulate Delbert F. Reynolds on his retirement as the field office director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development office in Wisconsin. For the past 41 years, Mr. Reynolds has dedicated himself to helping others through his work with HUD. During his tenure, he served under eight Presidents and 13 of the 15 HUD Secretaries. In 1987, he became director of the Milwaukee Field Office, where he coordinated and oversaw all programs assigned to the office. His 23 years in this position make him the longest serving field office director in Milwaukee's history and an asset to our State that will be greatly missed. While director, Mr. Reynolds has contributed significantly to HUD and its programs. His insight and experience lead to his selection as special adviser to HUD policymakers. In Wisconsin, he created many successful programs, which were then incorporated on a national level. Mr. Reynolds's leadership and dedication have not gone unnoticed by his peers. He has received numerous awards for his service, including the Manager of the Year Award and the Vice President's National Performance Review--Hammer--Award in 1998. Given to those who work towards a better government, this award recognized Mr. Reynolds for his team's efforts on Section 8 financial management. His awards reflect not only his contributions to HUD and our Nation but also his commendable work ethic. A native of Milwaukee and an alumnus from the University of Wisconsin, Mr. Reynolds exemplifies dedication to providing quality, affordable housing to the people of Wisconsin and public service at its finest. On behalf of our State, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for the 41 years of service Mr. Reynolds has provided.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today as chairman of the Special Committee on Aging to talk about retirement security in America. In recent years, workers have seen their savings take a hit, with many wondering whether they will ever be able to retire. The current retirement income deficit--in other words, the gap between what Americans will need in retirement and what they will actually have--is $6.6 trillion, according to the nonpartisan Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Now more than ever, we need to strengthen our Nation's pension and 401(k) systems so that Americans can protect the retirement savings they work a lifetime to earn. In doing so, we must recognize that today's retirement savings vehicles look a lot different than they did a generation ago. Our current system increasingly places the responsibility for saving on the individual, meaning that people have to make retirement decisions on their own because many employers are not doing it for them. That is why the Aging Committee is working to give people more guidance, more tools, and more protection. Many Americans are increasingly relying on 401(k)-type defined contribution savings plans to fund their retirement. Having a 401(k) requires an individual to make several proactive decisions, including the decision to save, how much to save, how to invest their savings, whether to take loans out, and how to make their savings last through retirement. The committee's focus has been on helping participants make better decisions. After all, a person should not have to be a financial planning expert in order to plan for a secure retirement. We are discovering that the best system would have certain automatic features, such as automatic enrollment with escalating contribution rates and target date funds that adjust automatically, combined with options to opt out for those who want to create their own portfolio. We are pushing for more retirement coverage through ideas like better target date funds that are designed in the best interests of participants. We are collaborating with the Department of Labor on many of these issues and also introducing our own bills in some cases. Senator Tom Harkin and I introduced a bill to require the disclosure of 401(k) fees to participants. A small difference in fees, compounded over a lifetime, can make a huge difference in overall savings. I commend the Labor Department for recently issuing regulations that will bring greater transparency and disclosure of 401(k) fees and make it easier for employers to ensure that their plans' fees are reasonable, and I look forward to reviewing the Department's participant fee disclosure regulations when they are issued this fall. Senators Bingaman, Isakson, and I have introduced the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act, which would have 401(k) statements translate the balance into a potential stream of retirement income. This will help participants save and plan for an adequate retirement. I am also working with my colleagues to ensure that oversight of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the entity that insures the pensions of more than 44 million workers and retirees, is strengthened. Of course, we cannot talk about retirement security without talking about Social Security. The Aging Committee recently released a report that lays all the options on the table for making it secure over the long term. We also must make sure that those who rely on it the most are protected. Finally, one of the most important ways to have a secure retirement is to work longer. We are focused on the removal of barriers to working past retirement age for those who choose to do so. Our efforts will keep people in the labor force and encourage employers to offer the benefits and flexibility many are looking for later in life. In closing, I would like to applaud the many advocacy groups that are striving to create a universal, secure, and adequate pension system. Their efforts to bring necessary attention to the important issue of retirement security are appreciated. Together we will continue our work to improve retirement security for all Americans.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I join my colleagues today in congratulating Chairman Leahy and Senator Sessions for conducting fair and impartial hearings for Solicitor General Kagan. I am here today to support General Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court. Her confirmation will be a milestone that we can all be proud of. For the first time in history, three women will be serving on the Supreme Court at one time. General Kagan came before the Judiciary Committee with an impressive resume that had all the trappings of an accomplished lawyer worthy of appointment to the Supreme Court. During her hearings, she proved herself to be very well qualified for the job. She impressed us with her sharp and keen mind, her intellect, and comprehensive knowledge of the Constitution and the law. She pledged to consider each case with an open mind and to impartially uphold the rule of law. She appeared mindful of the need for judicial modesty and fidelity to precedent, but not when it stands in the way of ending injustice or guaranteeing our fundamental rights. At times during the hearings, Solicitor General Kagan seemed to be somewhat more candid than previous nominees. She disavowed a purely originalist interpretation of the Constitution, recognizing that such a limited approach will not always solve our 21st-century problems. I was pleased she unequivocally expressed her support for opening the Supreme Court to cameras. So I believe with General Kagan's confirmation, the American people will be one step closer to seeing for themselves the Supreme Court debate our most pressing legal and constitutional issues. But despite the strength of her qualifications, like so many nominees before her, General Kagan often retreated to the generalities and platitudes she once criticized. I am pleased she rejected the analogy that Supreme Court Justices are like umpires, simply calling balls and strikes. Instead, she acknowledges that each Justice's legal judgment determines the outcome of close cases. But at times her answers gave us too little insight into what informs her unique legal judgment and how it will impact those close cases. As I have said before, the confirmation process demands more than that. This was the public's only opportunity to hear from General Kagan. In my opinion, she made small inroads, but we still have a long way to go in meeting the high standard to which we should hold Supreme Court nominees during their confirmation hearings. In sum, I am voting for General Kagan because she is unquestionably well qualified, has a record of being a principled, consensus-building lawyer, and because I believe her judicial philosophy is within the mainstream of our country's legal thought. I am confident she will make a superb Supreme Court Justice and is a worthy nominee to carry on Justice Stevens' long legacy of exemplary public service to our Nation. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise to today in support of Louis Butler's nomination to be District Court Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin. Justice Butler is an accomplished lawyer whose career has been distinguished across the board as an advocate, trial court judge, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, and professor. He is supported throughout Wisconsin and I am confident that he will be an excellent Federal judge. For 30 years, Justice Butler has dedicated himself to public service. He began his career fighting for the rights of indigent defendants as a public defender. He was the first public defender in Wisconsin history to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a trial court judge, he earned a reputation for being a tough but fair jurist and was recognized as a top Milwaukee judge. For more than 10 years, Justice Butler has shared his expertise and knowledge by training judges as a faculty member of the National Judicial College. Justice Butler served with distinction on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for 4 years. There, he participated in hundreds of cases, many of, which were decided by a unanimous or near-unanimous court. During his 4 years on the bench, he proved himself to be a hard-working, thoughtful and consensus building jurist. Throughout his career, Justice Butler has been a judge who upholds the rule of law in an impartial and deeply respectful manner. He possesses all the best qualities that we look for in a judge: intelligence, diligence, humility, and integrity. In addition to Justice Butler's impressive legal background and solid record as a judge, he is a fine man. He is deeply committed to his family, to his community, and to public service. Justice Butler's nomination proves once again that the process we use in Wisconsin to choose federal judges and U.S. attorneys ensures excellence. The Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission has been used to select Federal judges and U.S. attorneys in Wisconsin for 30 years, through Republican and Democratic administrations and the tenure of Senators from both parties. Through a great deal of cooperation and careful consideration, and by keeping politics to a minimum, we always find highly qualified candidates like Justice Butler. I along with Senator Feingold are confident that the people of Wisconsin will be enormously proud of him and that he will serve them well. So, it is clear that this upstanding and well-qualified nominee should be promptly considered by the Senate. Justice Butler has been pending for far too long and a vote on his confirmation is overdue. Someone like this deserves an up or down vote. I understand that some of my colleagues may oppose his nomination, and I accept that, but let us take an up or down vote as soon as possible.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise to highlight the significance of the many events and announcements occurring around the country to celebrate the enactment of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. This week in Wisconsin, disability advocates are holding multiple events around the State to commemorate the signing of the law on July 26, 1990, at a White House ceremony by President George H.W. Bush. Disability advocates, employers, State and local officials, and policymakers are speaking about and reflecting on how they have worked together and joined forces during the last two decades to make major changes in housing, in transportation, and in health and social services. There is much discussion in the news and online about the ADA as well. In an online video entitled ``We Came Together: Wisconsin Reflects on the ADA's 20th Anniversary,'' one Wisconsin disability rights advocate, Dick Pomo, observes that ``disability today is simply a fact of life--not a way of life.'' This statement is testament to the hard work of millions of Americans who have come together over the last several decades, and who have journeyed to State capitals and Washington, DC, to deliver the message that they wanted to participate fully in society. Simply put, they did not take ``no'' for an answer. I am also reminded that in the Senate the ADA is one of the legacies of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, with whom I worked to see that this civil rights bill became the law of the land. The House of Representatives experienced a milestone this week when Representative Jim Langevin of Rhode Island was able to preside over the House because the Speaker's rostrum--a raised platform--had been made wheelchair accessible. This is a wonderful and public symbol of accessibility, a core principle of the ADA. There are many other concrete, visible gains: kneeling buses, sidewalks and driveways with curb cuts, crosswalks with traffic lights that make audible noises to signal when it is safe to walk, and elevators and ramps that have been artfully worked into the structure of new buildings and even many historic ones. For all this and much more, I salute the tirelessness and tenacity of disability advocates across the country who have joined forces to make American society far more open and accessible to all. As chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, I know that many of these changes will also be of enormous benefit to our now rapidly aging society. Equally important are a series of changes that are now transforming the way health and social services are delivered to those with lifelong disabilities, as well as to older Americans whose disabilities are age related. One such key program, known as Money Follows the Person, is a Medicaid demonstration initiative in which Wisconsin has participated since 2003. This program allows States to transition beneficiaries in nursing homes to community-based living situations if they wish to do so. Funds are used for various purposes--for example, for ramps, clothes, equipment and furniture. In Wisconsin, funds have been used to reduce the number of nursing facility beds and to track spending on long-term care services and supports on an individual level. The State has also applied for additional funding under the health reform law's expansion of Money Follows the Person, which is slated to provide $2.25 billion in new funding through 2016. Another program that has been central to Wisconsin's growing success in making long-term services both more available and more focused on each person's individual needs is its Aging and Disability Resource Center initiative. State officials started ADRCs in 1998 in 8 of the State's 72 counties, and they have been gradually spreading and opening in new counties ever since. The goal is to have a statewide network of ADRCs in place by 2012, operated either by county government or nonprofit organizations. Often called the ``front door'' of long-term care, ADRCs are charged with serving all State residents by providing them with unbiased, comprehensive information about what services and options are available to them, and, where appropriate, with eligibility and enrollment information for the Medicaid Family Care managed long- term care program. I am pleased that the Obama administration has made ADRCs--which were pioneered in Wisconsin--an important part of their efforts to make long-term services and supports a much more well-defined and well- understood part of our health care system. This is consistent with the intent and language of the ADA, and also with the Supreme Court's Olmstead v. L.C. decision of a decade ago, asserting that involuntary institutionalization of people with disabilities was discriminatory under the ADA. I commend U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius for her efforts to engage States in the complex and critical tasks of improving the availability of community-based long- term services and supports, while simultaneously improving the quality and accountability of services that are provided in nursing homes. One of my constituents recently shared with me a story that demonstrates both how important the ADA has been to people with disabilities, and also how far we still have to work toward a more inclusive and accessible society. Steve Verriden has been a quadriplegic for 35 years, the result of a dive into a lake when he was just 23 years old. Following his life-changing accident, he spent years in a nursing home before he was able to use a community integration waiver to transition to home-based assistance. With his new independence, Steve was also able to go back to school to complete a degree in journalism. Steve has experienced how the ADA has changed the lives of people with disabilities, literally opening doors that were before inaccessible to people in wheelchairs and with severe disabilities. As Steve transitioned out of facility living and returned to school before the ADA was passed, he knows what it was like to have to wait in the cold for someone to open a door for him, hope the classes he needed to take would be offered on a wheelchair-accessible building, and rely on friends to drive him and his wheelchair around before kneeling buses came along. Steve has since worked with an Independent Living Center, recruiting and helping people with disabilities transition from nursing homes back into the community, and sharing his personal insights with others in order to help them live more fulfilling and independent lives. At the ADA's 20-year mark, it is clear that while we have accomplished a great deal, much change still lies ahead. The Aging Committee will continue to monitor implementation of health care reform initiatives that are designed to improve the quality of life for older adults, and will examine and explore new best practices and other efforts that can create better services, housing, and employment opportunities for the millions of Americans with disabilities.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, for 8 years now, the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership has conducted a program for summer interns working in congressional offices. This 6-week program is designed to enhance their internship experience by giving them an inside view of how Congress really works. It also provides an opportunity for them to meet with senior congressional staff and other experts to discuss issues ranging from the legislative process to the influence of the media and lobbyists on Congress, to careers on Capitol Hill. Interns are selected for this program based on their college record, community service experience, and interest in a career in public service. This year, 23 outstanding interns, most of them juniors and seniors in college, are working for Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate. I congratulate the interns for their participation in this valuable program and I thank the Stennis Center and the senior Stennis fellows for providing such a meaningful experience for these interns and for encouraging them to consider a future career in public service. I ask unanimous consent that a list of 2010 Stennis congressional interns and the offices in which they work be printed in the Record.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act. This legslation will re-authorize appropriations for the Housing Assistance Council, HAC, which has been committed to developing affordable housing in rural communities for over 35 years. HAC was originally given a three-year authorization through the Farm Bill in 2008. During the past three years HAC made $46.1 million in grants and loans to help build 3,878 homes throughout rural America. The program has leveraged its funding with over $360 million in other financing and has provided essential technical assistance to local non- profits throughout the country in the form of capacity building grants. These critical services help local organizations, rural communities and cities develop safe and affordable housing. Throughout the country, approximately \1/5\ of the Nation's population lives in rural communities. About 7.5 million of the rural population is living in poverty and 2.5 million of them are children. Nearly 3.6 million rural households pay more than 30 percent of their income in housing costs. While housing costs are generally lower in rural counties, wages are dramatically outpaced by the cost of housing. Additionally, the housing conditions are often substandard and there are many families doubled up due to lack of housing. Rural areas lack both affordable rental units and homeownership opportunities needed to serve the population. There are several federal programs that are aimed at developing affordable housing and economic opportunities in rural communities in both the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture. However, rural housing programs have traditionally been underfunded. The administration's fiscal year 2011 budget request zeroed two programs that were devoted to helping rural communities: Rural Innovation Fund, and the Self Help Homeownership Program, SHOP. In many regions, federal funding might be the only assistance available for housing and economic development. The Housing Assistance Council is yet another tool that rural communities can utilize when trying to develop affordable housing. The presence of the HAC in Wisconsin has made a huge impact on rural housing development in Wisconsin and other rural communities across the country. In Wisconsin, HAC has provided close to $5.2 million in grants and loans to 17 non-profit housing organizations and helped develop 825 units of housing. Tony Romo, the current quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, grew up in a HAC-supported self-help home in Burlington, WI. His parents built the home as part of Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corporation's sweat equity, self-help homeownership program. There are countless examples linking a child's future success to the stability in their childhood home. Tony Romo's story provides one such example of how a child raised in safe, stable homeownership may go on to later success. I am very honored to work with Senators Snowe and Inouye on this legislation. Its passage will allow every state to better serve the needs of the people living in rural areas. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the adoption of this bill.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act. This legslation will re-authorize appropriations for the Housing Assistance Council, HAC, which has been committed to developing affordable housing in rural communities for over 35 years. HAC was originally given a three-year authorization through the Farm Bill in 2008. During the past three years HAC made $46.1 million in grants and loans to help build 3,878 homes throughout rural America. The program has leveraged its funding with over $360 million in other financing and has provided essential technical assistance to local non- profits throughout the country in the form of capacity building grants. These critical services help local organizations, rural communities and cities develop safe and affordable housing. Throughout the country, approximately \1/5\ of the Nation's population lives in rural communities. About 7.5 million of the rural population is living in poverty and 2.5 million of them are children. Nearly 3.6 million rural households pay more than 30 percent of their income in housing costs. While housing costs are generally lower in rural counties, wages are dramatically outpaced by the cost of housing. Additionally, the housing conditions are often substandard and there are many families doubled up due to lack of housing. Rural areas lack both affordable rental units and homeownership opportunities needed to serve the population. There are several federal programs that are aimed at developing affordable housing and economic opportunities in rural communities in both the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture. However, rural housing programs have traditionally been underfunded. The administration's fiscal year 2011 budget request zeroed two programs that were devoted to helping rural communities: Rural Innovation Fund, and the Self Help Homeownership Program, SHOP. In many regions, federal funding might be the only assistance available for housing and economic development. The Housing Assistance Council is yet another tool that rural communities can utilize when trying to develop affordable housing. The presence of the HAC in Wisconsin has made a huge impact on rural housing development in Wisconsin and other rural communities across the country. In Wisconsin, HAC has provided close to $5.2 million in grants and loans to 17 non-profit housing organizations and helped develop 825 units of housing. Tony Romo, the current quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, grew up in a HAC-supported self-help home in Burlington, WI. His parents built the home as part of Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Corporation's sweat equity, self-help homeownership program. There are countless examples linking a child's future success to the stability in their childhood home. Tony Romo's story provides one such example of how a child raised in safe, stable homeownership may go on to later success. I am very honored to work with Senators Snowe and Inouye on this legislation. Its passage will allow every state to better serve the needs of the people living in rural areas. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the adoption of this bill.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today along with Senator Hatch to introduce a resolution to increase awareness of Polycystic Kidney Disease, PKD, a common and life threatening genetic illness. Over 600,000 people have been diagnosed with PKD nationwide. There is no treatment or cure for this devastating disease. Families and friends struggle to fight PKD and provide unwavering support to their suffering loved ones. But there is hope. The PKD Foundation has led the fight for increased research and patient education. Recent studies have led to the discovery of the genes that cause PKD as well as promising clinical drug trials for treatment. More needs to be done, however, and the government wants to help. In order to increase public awareness of this fatal disease, I propose that September 13th through the 19th be designated as National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week. This week coincides with the annual walk for PKD which takes place every September. In Wisconsin, where over 10,000 patients are living with the disease, residents gather across the state to take part in this very special walk. Increasing awareness will help all those affected by Polycystic Kidney Disease, and I hope my colleagues will support this important resolution.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I thank the Chairman for his continued work to ensure that appropriate resources are available to protect the economy from a future failure of a systemically risky financial institution and to help pay back taxpayers for the recent failures we experienced. With regard to assessments under the orderly liquidation authority of the bill, the bill requires that a risk-based matrix of factors be established by the FDIC, taking into account the recommendations of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, to be used in connection with assessing any individual entity. One of the factors listed in the bill's risk matrix provision would take into account the activities of financial entities and their affiliates. Is it the intent of that language that a consideration of such factors should specifically include the impact of potential assessments on the ability of an institution that is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization to carry out their legally required charitable and educational activities? As the Senator knows, many Members of the Senate--like me--feel strongly that we must ensure that our constituents and communities continue to have access to these vital resources, and any potential assessment on tax-exempt groups which are charitable and/or educational by mission could severely hamper these groups' ability to fulfill their obligations to carry out their legally required activities.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which the Senate will pass today. After 2 years of work, the reckless practices of Wall Street firms that resulted in terrible losses for people in Wisconsin and across the nation will finally be ended. These events showed us that maintaining the current regulatory system is not an acceptable option. Wall Street needs accountability and transparency to avoid future financial meltdowns. Congress has the duty to ensure that this kind of failure never happens again. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act takes vital steps to end ``too big to fail,'' bring unregulated shadow markets into the light, and make our financial system work better for everyone. This bill has been thoroughly deliberated in both the House and the Senate. The Banking Committee held more than 80 hearings since 2008 on the financial crisis, addressing its causes, grave impacts and potential remedies. These hearings explored all of the elements of this legislation in detail, and also looked at the specific regulatory failures that contributed to the crisis. The information gathered at these hearings laid down the foundation for the current bill. The bill was carefully debated and deliberated while on the Senate floor for 3 weeks--almost as long as the debate on health care reform. After the bill passed in the House and the Senate it was then negotiated by the Conference Committee. I was pleased with the Conference Committee's ability to address Members' concerns in both Chambers. The conference lasted 2 weeks and was televised and open to the public for viewing. This all brought welcome transparency to the legislative process. Throughout the consideration of financial reform, I met with people, banks and businesses in Wisconsin to better understand their needs so that our businesses and families can be protected from future recklessness. I have worked hard to make sure that this bill protects Main Street and its businesses by focusing on Wall Street--the source of this crisis. I am proud to say that we now have a bill that will change our regulatory system in a way that will prevent and mitigate future crises. The bill will ensure that a Federal bailout will never again be an option for irresponsible businesses. The bill creates a council of regulators to monitor the economy for systemic threats. It will institute new regulations on hedge funds and over-the-counter derivatives and create a Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that will oversee mortgage, credit cards and other credit products. Consumers will now have a single entity to report their concerns about abusive financial practices, allowing regulators to address these issues in a timelier manner--before more consumers are harmed. The bill improves access to credit, increases protections and expands financial education programs enabling consumers to make smart financial decisions and reducing widespread predatory practices In addition to providing consumers with adequate protections against fraud and predatory practices, I also believe that consumers need affordable alternatives to predatory lending products like pay day loans. Senator Daniel Akaka shares this belief which is why we worked together to draft title XII of this bill. Title XII will help to improve the lives of the millions of low- and moderate-income households in America that do not have access to mainstream financial institutions by providing grants to community development financial institutions so that they can give small dollar loans at affordable terms to people who are currently limited to riskier choices like payday loans. This grant making program will dramatically help to increase the number of small dollar loan options to consumers that need quick access to money so that they can pay for emergency medical costs, car repairs and other items they need to maintain their lives. This legislation is modeled in part after the FDIC's Small Dollar Loan Pilot Program. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, I am pleased to see that this bill will preserve the ability of the Federal antitrust agencies to protect competition and American consumers in the financial services industries. The legislation includes a broad antitrust savings clause that makes clear that nothing in the act will modify, impair or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust laws. It also includes more specific antitrust savings clauses in key provisions, further ensuring the continued ability of the antitrust agencies to fully enforce the relevant laws in these critical sectors in our economy.In addition to strengthening the oversight of mergers and acquisitions involving financial services firms, the bill specifically maintains the ability of the antitrust agencies to perform a thorough competition review of the transactions between these firms. This robust merger review authority ensures that the Federal antitrust agencies can continue to play their key role in protecting competition and ensuring consumers have choices for financial services and products at competitive rates and prices. Competition is the cornerstone of our Nation's economy, and the antitrust laws ensure strong competitive markets that make our economy strong and protect consumers. This bill will ensure that the antitrust laws retain their critical role in the financial services industry. This bill is another step in a long process of financial overhaul. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act provides regulators with flexibility to implement a number of new rules. They will have to make decisions on issues ranging from determining fair charges on debit card swipe fees to deciding when a risky firm should be taken over. We need to make sure that our regulators have the tools and resources they need to get the job done right. As a member of the Banking Committee, I am going to keep a watchful eye on the regulators to make sure they are given adequate resources and oversight to do the job that they have been charged with. Clearly we would not have this bill without the hard work and effort of Senator Chris Dodd. It has been an honor to work with him and I hope he is as proud of this great accomplishment as I am. Finally I would like to take a moment to recognize the staff that worked so hard on this bill. I would like to acknowledge the staff of the Banking Committee for all of their exceptional work: including Levon Bagramian, Julie Chon, Brian Filipowich, Amy Friend, Catherine Galicia, Lynsey Graham Rea, Matthew Green, Marc Jarsulic, Mark Jickling, Deborah Katz, Jonathan Miller, Misha Mintz-Roth, Dean Shahinian, Ed Silverman, and Charles Yi. I also express my appreciation for all of the work done by the Legislative Assistants of the Banking Committee Members including Laura Swanson, Kara Stein, Jonah Crane, Linda Jeng, Ellen Chube, Michael Passante, Lee Drutman, Graham Steele, Alison O'Donnell, Hilary Swab, Harry Stein, Karolina Arias, Nathan Steinwald, Andy Green, Brian Appel, and Matt Pippin.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. I want to thank my cosponsors, Senators Snowe and Lieberman for their support of this legislation and for their long-time support of this program. For the last few years, there have been too many jobs lost, and the manufacturing sector has been particularly hard-hit. My home State of Wisconsin has been particularly hard hit--in the last 10 years we have lost 168,000 manufacturing jobs, nearly a 30 percent drop in the manufacturing workforce. Despite these struggles, our Nation remains the world's largest manufacturing economy, and still employs a sizable percentage of our workforce. We must continue to do better, and work harder for our manufacturers. To put it simply, a strong manufacturing sector means a strong economy. Retaining and creating manufacturing jobs grows our prosperity. That is why the MEP remains a good investment for our country. The MEP is the only public-private program dedicated to providing technical support and services to small and medium-sized manufacturers, helping them provide quality jobs for American workers. The MEP is a nationwide network of proven resources that enables manufacturers to compete globally, supports greater supply chain integration, and provides access to information, training, and technologies that improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. MEP's results are undeniable. In fiscal year 2009 alone, based on services provided in 2008, MEP projects with small and medium-sized manufacturers created or retained 52,948 jobs nationwide, generated more than $9.1 billion in sales, and provided cost savings of more than $1.4 billion. In my home State of Wisconsin, the results are just as impressive. Wisconsin is home to two MEP Centers, and in the last year, Wisconsin companies that worked with the two centers were able to save or create more than 1,200 jobs, generate $118.6 million in sales, make $54 million in new investments, and generate $19.3 million in cost savings. Our small- and medium-sized manufacturers face different challenges than larger companies, especially in this tough economy. The improvements that come to a business from working with an MEP Center can mean the difference between profitability and growth or shutting their doors. It is vital that we support our manufacturers, and so it is equally vital that we continue strong support for MEP. The bill I have introduced today reauthorizes the MEP program for 5 years, through fiscal year 2015, and authorizes $825 million for the base program over those 5 years. This increase is in line with what President Obama called for in his budget and is a reasonable amount of growth at a time when we must scrutinize all Federal investments. The bill also includes Senator Snowe's legislation to change the cost-share percentage for MEP Centers to fully-access Federal funding. At a time of tight State budgets, and at a time when manufacturers have less funding to pay for MEP services, MEP Centers are finding it harder and harder to meet the current 2/3 cost-share requirement. The time they must take to meet this requirement takes away from their time with manufacturers. The bill changes the cost share to 50/50--in line with most other programs at the Commerce Department--and calls for a study to determine if this level is reasonable for the long-term. As I mentioned, state funding is one key component of a MEP Center's budget, and one area where funding has been constrained as of late. In response, this legislation authorizes a $5 million State incentive program. We should encourage State participation to grow this program, and make it a true partnership between the State, Federal Government and private sector. Finally, the bill creates a separate funding authorization for the Competitive Grant Program created in the 2007 America COMPETES Bill. This will ensure that funding for the base MEP program goes to the existing MEP centers and allows Congress and the Commerce Department to separately fund new, innovative services for our manufacturers. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. I want to thank my cosponsors, Senators Snowe and Lieberman for their support of this legislation and for their long-time support of this program. For the last few years, there have been too many jobs lost, and the manufacturing sector has been particularly hard-hit. My home State of Wisconsin has been particularly hard hit--in the last 10 years we have lost 168,000 manufacturing jobs, nearly a 30 percent drop in the manufacturing workforce. Despite these struggles, our Nation remains the world's largest manufacturing economy, and still employs a sizable percentage of our workforce. We must continue to do better, and work harder for our manufacturers. To put it simply, a strong manufacturing sector means a strong economy. Retaining and creating manufacturing jobs grows our prosperity. That is why the MEP remains a good investment for our country. The MEP is the only public-private program dedicated to providing technical support and services to small and medium-sized manufacturers, helping them provide quality jobs for American workers. The MEP is a nationwide network of proven resources that enables manufacturers to compete globally, supports greater supply chain integration, and provides access to information, training, and technologies that improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. MEP's results are undeniable. In fiscal year 2009 alone, based on services provided in 2008, MEP projects with small and medium-sized manufacturers created or retained 52,948 jobs nationwide, generated more than $9.1 billion in sales, and provided cost savings of more than $1.4 billion. In my home State of Wisconsin, the results are just as impressive. Wisconsin is home to two MEP Centers, and in the last year, Wisconsin companies that worked with the two centers were able to save or create more than 1,200 jobs, generate $118.6 million in sales, make $54 million in new investments, and generate $19.3 million in cost savings. Our small- and medium-sized manufacturers face different challenges than larger companies, especially in this tough economy. The improvements that come to a business from working with an MEP Center can mean the difference between profitability and growth or shutting their doors. It is vital that we support our manufacturers, and so it is equally vital that we continue strong support for MEP. The bill I have introduced today reauthorizes the MEP program for 5 years, through fiscal year 2015, and authorizes $825 million for the base program over those 5 years. This increase is in line with what President Obama called for in his budget and is a reasonable amount of growth at a time when we must scrutinize all Federal investments. The bill also includes Senator Snowe's legislation to change the cost-share percentage for MEP Centers to fully-access Federal funding. At a time of tight State budgets, and at a time when manufacturers have less funding to pay for MEP services, MEP Centers are finding it harder and harder to meet the current 2/3 cost-share requirement. The time they must take to meet this requirement takes away from their time with manufacturers. The bill changes the cost share to 50/50--in line with most other programs at the Commerce Department--and calls for a study to determine if this level is reasonable for the long-term. As I mentioned, state funding is one key component of a MEP Center's budget, and one area where funding has been constrained as of late. In response, this legislation authorizes a $5 million State incentive program. We should encourage State participation to grow this program, and make it a true partnership between the State, Federal Government and private sector. Finally, the bill creates a separate funding authorization for the Competitive Grant Program created in the 2007 America COMPETES Bill. This will ensure that funding for the base MEP program goes to the existing MEP centers and allows Congress and the Commerce Department to separately fund new, innovative services for our manufacturers. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, the Forest Products Laboratory, FPL, in Madison, WI, was established in 1910 to ``promote healthy forest and forest-based economies through the efficient, sustainable use of American wood resources.'' This month we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the establishment of the FPL. I would like to congratulate all past and present employees for the FPL for a century of service to the American public and their steadfast devotion to developing new and innovative usages for wood and wood products. Over the years their research has led to many improvements and breakthroughs in wood utilization. Early research at the laboratory focused on timber testing, wood preservation, and wood chemistry. Today, the mission of the FPL has never been more relevant. Our Nation's forest can help solve some of the greatest challenges our nation faces such as climate change and energy security. Forests contain a significant amount of small diameter wood that increases the risk of fire and disease. Finding new ways to utilize small diameter wood will improve forest health and has the potential to offset carbon emissions by utilizing wood, a renewable resource, as a building material. Right now, the Forest Products Laboratory is developing better ways to utilize small diameter wood for energy production and as a ``green'' building material. I am confident that the Forest Products Laboratory will continue to provide creative solutions to effectively manage our national wood resources and create a green economy. On behalf of our State and Nation, I thank the FPL for a century of research that has improved the lives of every American and the health of our Nation's forests.

Mr. KOHL

Mr. KOHL. Madam President, the State of Wisconsin has a long and proud tradition of lands conservation. Wisconsin was home to John Muir and Aldo Leopold--two of our Nation's great conservationists. It is also home to Senator Gaylord Nelson who established the first Earth Day 40 years ago. At the first Earth Day, Senator Nelson noted that his goal was not just one of clean air and water, but also ``an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures.'' He knew that this goal was achievable through grassroots efforts by every day Americans. Today I am pleased to congratulate Peter and Suzie Arnold for recently being named the Wisconsin Conservation Farmer of the Year Award Recipients by the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association. Their leadership and dedication to land conservation over the last 11 years has been a model for grazing lands conservation. Through the years their farm near Edgar, WI, has served to educate other dairy farmers on the benefits of grazing lands conservation and served as a research site for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dairy Forage Research Center. The Arnolds have adopted a number of conservation practices to improve soil, air, and water quality on their farm. Over the past several years the organic matter levels in their soils have increased from an average of 2.7 percent to 6 percent while attaining the highest Soil Quality Index score measured by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. This is a true testament to their commitment to conservation. I congratulate the Arnolds for their strong commitment to environmental stewardship and their willingness to continue Wisconsin's proud conservation legacy. The Arnolds are showing that Senator Nelson's vision of ``an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures'' is achievable through grassroots efforts by every day Americans.