Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about legislation that my colleague from Washington, Congressman Doc Hastings, and I are introducing to name the soon-to-be-opened Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Wenatchee, WA, after Elwood ``Bud'' Link. Bud provided both the inspiration and the energy necessary to make this project a reality, thereby fulfilling a longstanding and serious need for his community. Bud, a World War II veteran and an active member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10445, recognized the need for better, more accessible veteran medical services for those veterans living in north central Washington. Like countless others, Bud suffered from health problems attributed to his service in the Navy, where he bravely served aboard the USS Tracy escorting convoys throughout the South Pacific and protecting medical personnel after the deployment of the atomic bomb. When Bud returned to the States, he, like so many other veterans, relied on the VA for health care. In order to receive the necessary treatment from the VA, however, Bud was forced to make a 3-hour drive in each direction to the VA medical center nearest to his home. Realizing that this was the case for veterans all over his community, Bud, his wife of over 50 years, Helen, and his fellow VFW Post 10445 members, helped by the American Legion and other veteran service organizations, mobilized the community to work toward the creation of a new, more accessible outpatient veteran center. I was proud to contribute to this effort. After several years of hard work, I stood with Congressman Doc Hastings at the Cashmere VFW hall on March 20, 2006 to announce the VA's final decision to create the Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Wenatchee, WA. Although Bud sadly passed away before this exciting announcement was made, the creation of this facility in Wenatchee represents the culmination of Bud and his fellow veterans' efforts to make veterans' medical care more accessible and, in turn, to hold the Federal Government accountable for fulfilling its promises to the veteran community. Bud dedicated his time and energy to addressing this and other veteran needs as an advocate, a leader, and a concerned citizen. Due in large part to Bud's work, the new CBOC, set to serve six counties in north central Washington, is likely to make over 25,000 visits by veterans more accessible next year. Bud's life of service and activism, coupled with this final victory, reaffirms a valuable lesson for all Americans: even a single citizen can see a problem and fix it. Bud Link dedicated his time and energy to helping other veterans, and now that the clinic he fought for is going to open, we have a chance to honor his lifetime of service. My bill will ensure that Bud's efforts and good example will not be forgotten, but rather, that the new CBOC will carry on Bud's legacy. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the work that Bud Link and his fellow veterans have done to make this new CBOC a reality.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 8, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Will REAL ID Actually Make Us Safer? An Examination of Privacy and Civil Liberties Concerns'' for Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 10 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. Allen Gilbert, Executive Director, The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, Montpelier, VT; Jim Harper, Director, Information Policy Studies, CATO Institute, Washington, DC; Dr. James Carafano, Assistant Director, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, Senior Research Fellow, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC; Bruce Schneier, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, BT Counterpane, Minneapolis, MN; and Janice Kephart, President, 9/11 Security Solutions, LLC, Alexandria, VA.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to hold a hearing on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 10 a.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate office building.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the Session of the Senate on Finance will meet on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 10 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Review and Oversight.''

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a business meeting during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The purpose of this meeting will be to consider and approve S. 357, the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act of 2007.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from New York. I know my colleague from Illinois, Senator Durbin, will be here shortly as well to talk about a critical juncture at which we are now in terms of the war in Iraq. Last week, both the House and Senate sent a very strongly worded bill to the President of the United States supporting our troops, saying we are there for them when they need us, but we also said it is time for a change of course in Iraq, that we can no longer leave our troops in the middle of a civil war. It is disappointing to all of us that the President chose to veto that bill and sent it back to us. But I think it is very important for us to set the context of where we are now as we look at what we are going to send back to the President. These are the facts. There is increased violence in Baghdad as we speak. There is increased violence outside Baghdad today. In fact, over 100 American soldiers died last month alone, and at least 27 more American troops have been killed this month. In my home State of Washington, we got the sad news yesterday morning that six of our Fort Lewis soldiers were killed over the weekend. These are families--husbands, children, grandchildren--who will be impacted forever and who will not forget. Months ago, the President said to the American people that he was going to change his course by having a surge of American troops-- 25,000, 30,000, 40,000 new troops. They are now on the ground in Iraq. What we are seeing is increased violence inside and outside of Baghdad, more American soldiers losing their lives. And what are we looking at? An Iraqi Government that has not changed, has not stood up to the mark to care for their own country and make the tough decisions they need to make. The bill we sent to the President was designed to give him the tools to turn to Iraq and say: You need to take on your own battles and make these tough decisions. It is time for Iraqis to stand up. Four years after removing Saddam from Iraq, the Iraqis have still not made the political compromises necessary to bring peace to their own country. In fact, they are on pretty shaky ground today, even as we speak, as we hear of factions that may pull out. Most important, what is happening here in our country? Mr. President, 64 percent of Americans and 65 percent of independents support setting a timetable for redeployment. That is the ground we are now on, as the President vetoed that very important piece of legislation which funded our troops. We had funding for our veterans as they came home and important, critical funding for Katrina and other important causes. Despite all the facts I just laid out--the increased violence, the soldiers being killed, the Iraqis not standing up for their own Government--we have seen Republicans on the other side of this aisle stubbornly stand with President Bush and refuse to set a timetable for our troops to come home, refuse to set a timeline to force Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future, and refuse to set a timetable to let Iraqis know we are not going to be there endlessly, month after month, year after year, for decades. Mr. President, what is heartening to me today, after the President's veto, is we now are hearing from many of our Republican colleagues that they, too, believe we cannot continue to send a message that we will continue to be there forever. Senator Schumer was just here on the Senate floor and spoke of some of our Republican colleagues who have been speaking out. House Minority Leader Boehner said: Over the course of the next 3 to 4 months, we'll have some idea how well the plan is working. Early signs are indicating there is clearly some success on a number of fronts. But, by the time we get to September or October, Members are going to want to know how well this is working, and if it isn't, what's Plan B. We are now hearing, thankfully, our Republican colleagues set forth time tables of their own. I think it is important we listen to what they are saying because despite the fact they said no time tables in the bill, we are hearing them say there is a timeline; that this country cannot continue to send our troops to Iraq without Iraqis standing up. Importantly, as well, we are hearing our Republican colleagues talk about benchmarks. We know benchmarks without consequences are pointless. But unlike the President, our Republican colleagues are starting to realize this and are breaking with the White House. Senator Susan Collins said: Obviously, the President would prefer a straight funding bill with no benchmarks, no conditions, no reports . . . Many of us, on both sides of the aisle, don't see that as viable. I hear that as very promising language from our colleagues on the other side. We are hearing from many others--Senator Voinovich, who spoke out this weekend. We are hearing from House minority whip Roy Blunt, who says he ``can support binding benchmarks on the Iraqi Government tied to a `consequences package,' so long as it would not put restrictions on the military.'' Mr. President, we support our troops. The bill we sent to the President last week supports our troops. Our troops have done everything we have asked them to do and more, and they have done it courageously. It is time now for us to give them the tools they need so the Iraqis will stand up and take control of their own government. We can no longer simply say: We will stand down when you stand up to the Iraqi people. I hope our Republican colleagues will join with us in standing up as well, now, to send a strong message to the Iraqi people that it is time for our troops to get the support they need and to know that they will be brought home in a timely manner. It is encouraging to hear the comments we are hearing. I hope they are met by the courage of our colleagues on the other side to stand with us, find some language we can agree on, and send the supplemental to the President. I hope that is what we can do over the next several days. I encourage our colleagues to work with us to do so. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, all of us in the Senate share the same goal of making sure the Food and Drug Administration stays as the gold standard for drug safety and effectiveness, and the legislation that is before the Senate today moves us toward that goal. Throughout our country, researchers, scientists, and doctors are making 21st century medical advances, and the legislation we are looking at will ensure we have a 21st century FDA. It provides the resources, the authority, and the oversight to ensure that safe drugs move from the lab to our medicine cabinets without delay. Like other Members of the Senate, I worked on the FDA reforms back in the 1990s. Those reforms responded to the challenges we faced then. The bill before us now responds to the challenges we face today. In recent years, we have seen a lot of problems at the FDA with drug approval and postmarket surveillance. The bill we have addresses those challenges and ensures the FDA has the resources and the tools to promptly and thoroughly review new drugs and medical devices. The bill reauthorizes and improves two pieces of legislation that will be critical in providing a timely review process. It creates a new system to actively monitor drugs after they have been approved by the FDA. It strengthens science at the FDA and, importantly, improves transparency. It improves oversight and information about clinical trials, and it works to prevent potential conflicts of interest among advisory committee members. Like many Americans, I was shocked at the recent revelations concerning drugs that posed risks to public safety but remained on the market for far too long. This legislation moves to address those concerns by instituting strong, new protections, including postmarket studies that will be made available to the public. I believe this new transparency and vigorous oversight is the right path toward restoring public confidence in the FDA. The bill takes critical steps also to improve medical care for our children. The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act that is included in this bill uses incentives and regulations to put America's children first. It builds upon the legislation we enacted back in 1997 that ensures pediatric medicine is a priority and that information on pediatric drugs is readily available. It extends and improves a program that has undertaken nearly 800 studies and has helped to provide pediatric labeling information for 119 drugs. The Pediatric Research Improvement Act included in this bill is another critical component of improving pediatric care. It provides needed safety measures through mandatory clinical trials. It will help to continue pediatric oversight programs that have required trials for more than 1,000 pediatric drugs since 1998. All too often, doctors are not given guidance on the proper dose of prescription drugs for children. This bill is going to eliminate that guesswork so our children get the right doses for safer, more effective treatment. The bill also provides help to our Nation's children through the Pediatric Medical Devices Safety and Improvement Act. Every year, we see these wondrous technological improvements in medical devices. However, sometimes those improvements do not account for the needs of the children and the pediatricians who treat them. What that means is essential, often lifesaving devices do not meet the size or the scope or the needs of sick children. This bill will push manufacturers to develop and produce devices that are safe and effective for children and infants. Through incentives and investor outreach, this bill will ensure that exciting advances in lifesaving devices are not just limited to adults. This legislation also delivers greater safety while providing better access. I believe it will improve the way we deliver safe innovative health care in America, and it is really my hope it will also begin to restore confidence in the institutions that safeguard our public health. The American public deserves nothing less than the gold standard of care from our FDA. When a nervous parent or worried senior visits their corner pharmacy, they deserve to know the product they buy on that shelf has been approved by a thorough and complete process. When a patient begins to take a new drug, they deserve a system that has actively tracked that drug and provides the patient with information on any risks they might face. Everyone--drug companies, researchers, patients, and doctors alike--deserves a system that supports an efficient and timely FDA approval process. So I am very eager to move this legislation forward and get it to a vote so we can begin to deliver what the American people deserve. I hope this Senate moves quickly on this bill and we are able to move it along in the process very shortly in the Senate. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for an additional 5 minutes to speak to the FDA bill that is in front of us today.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I see another colleague on the Senate floor, and I ask him how much time he is going to need.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we are now in the fifth year of the war in Iraq. Once again this year, the President failed to include an honest cost of the war in the budget he sends to Congress every year. Why is that so important at this time? If the President had initially sent to Congress a realistic budget instead of one that is intended to make his fiscal policies look less irresponsible, our men and women in the service wouldn't be faced with debate after debate after debate on emergency spending bills to pay for the cost of the war. Unfortunately, again, he did not send us a budget that was honest and paid for the war. So what we have now is an emergency spending bill for Iraq and other emergencies. Unfortunately, last night--and sadly, in my opinion--the President decided to say no to our men and women in Iraq, to our veterans, to victims of Katrina, and to many other people who needed this measure passed and signed by him. Democrats understand that our troops and their families should not pay for the President's budget games. That is why we passed funding for the emergency supplemental at record speed--faster, in fact, than the Republicans did in the last 2 years. Back in 2005, the Republican Congress didn't send the President emergency funding until May 10. In 2006, the Republican Congress did not send an emergency funding bill until June 15. Not only did we send the White House a bill earlier than ever, we sent legislation that contained more funds than the President requested and all the money our troops need. Unfortunately for our troops, yesterday, 4 years after President Bush declared ``mission accomplished'' and 12 days after it was reported that 104 American servicemembers died in April, making it the deadliest month since the surge began, the President decided to veto that bill. With that, he decided to delay the funding for our troops. Included in that bill were billions of dollars to help solve the problems facing our men and women in uniform when they return home. The President didn't ask for those critical dollars. In fact, he has never included our wounded warriors as a cost of the war. Their families and now both Houses of the Congress understand the obligation to our heroes and have included them as a cost of war in this bill. The bill we sent to the President provided money to improve Walter Reed and other VA facilities that we know are in disrepair and money to help increase access to medical and mental health services for our returning soldiers. More than $143 million was included to improve the VA's polytrauma center, which, among other things, would have helped the VA better diagnose and treat the increasing number of traumatic brain injuries which have emerged as a signature wound of this war. The legislation also provided $100 million for the VA to target areas where mental health care is lacking. According to the VA's own statistics, more than 35 percent of returning Iraqi and Afghani veterans who have sought care have done so for mental health problems. We provide the funds in the bill we sent to the President. Unfortunately, he said no. Additionally, we put in $61 million for hiring and training of new compensation and pension claims adjudicators. That is important money because we are hearing from far too many of our returning soldiers that it is taking them months to get the benefits they have earned. These new claims processors will help address that growing backlog of claims. Unfortunately, last night the President said no. What we have today for our veterans, 4 years after President Bush declared ``mission accomplished,'' he decided to veto this bill. He decided to delay funds that would have addressed the problems facing our veterans. Not only did Democrats send the President funding earlier than ever, we listened to the military leaders, we listened to the Iraq Study Group, and we listened to the American people and included a provision to redeploy our forces from the Iraqi civil war. Americans overwhelmingly oppose the President's escalation plan. General Abizaid, General Casey, and other top former officials have made clear that a surge will not be a solution to a civil war in Iraq. Reportedly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff were not in favor of escalation, and even Colin Powell opposes the escalation. In fact, Colin Powell, who we know saw combat in Vietnam, said: I am not persuaded that another surge of troops into Baghdad for the purposes of suppressing this communitarian violence, this civil war, will work. GEN John Abizaid, former commander of U.S. Central Command, said: I do not believe that more American troops right now is a solution to this problem. The Iraq Study Group, made up of Republicans and Democrats, called for the redeployment of our forces. But the President ignored all of them. He decided instead to escalate the number of troops in Iraq. This escalation is in its third month, and so far the results are not promising. The Iraqi Government reported that violence from February to March increased. Officials said the number of car bombings in Baghdad is rising. According to the U.N., sectarian violence in the capital has not declined one bit. Officials have also reported that sectarian violence outside the capital has increased. As I mentioned, 104 American troops died in April--the deadliest month since this surge began. The redeployment provision this Democratic-led Congress included in the bill provided the President with an opportunity to force Iraqis to finally take responsibility for their own country. We are in the fifth year of this war, and Iraqis have yet to stand up for themselves. They are not policing their own streets. They are not running their own army. Their Government is a mess. Something has to be done to show them they have to get their act together, they have to take ownership of their own future. That is what the redeployment provision did in our bill. It said to Iraqis: After 5 years--5 years--and thousands of U.S. lives, you have to take responsibility for your future. It said: You must stand up. Well, unfortunately, for America's security, 4 years after President Bush declared ``mission accomplished,'' and after we have lost 3,351 troops, the President, last night, vetoed the bill. By doing so, he ignored calls from military experts and the American people for redeployment and the need to make clear to the Iraqis they have to take responsibility for their own future. The President asked our Nation for patience after the first and second years of this war. Then he asked the American people for more time after the third year, and more time after the fourth year. This year, the fifth year of the war, he is now again asking us for patience, for the American people to just stand by as more of our young men and women die and as the Iraqis continue to shirk their responsibility for their own country. It is clear our troops are now policing an open-ended civil war. Now, more than ever, we need a new direction in Iraq. Unfortunately, yesterday, and, sadly, the President vetoed a bill which did provide a way forward. In doing so, he withheld millions of dollars for our troops and for our veterans and ignored the advice of military leaders and the Iraq Study Group and, importantly, the will of the American people. Today the President stands alone against the vast majority of Americans desperately seeking a new direction in Iraq. It is now up to him to come to the negotiating table and provide the American people with a real strategy for success. Mr. President, we also have before us today a bill on the FDA. Can I ask how much time I have remaining?

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 26th, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 169, to amend the National Trails System Act to clarify Federal authority relating to land acquisition from willing sellers for the majority of the trails in the System; S. 312/H.R. 497, to authorize the Marion Park Project and Committee of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor Brigadier General Francis Marion; S. 580, to amend the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to update the feasibility and suitability studies of four national historic trails; S. 686, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail; S. 722, to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of certain land adjacent to the Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of Arizona; S. 783, to adjust the boundary of the Barataria Preserve Unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in the State of Louisiana; S. 890, to provide for certain administrative and support services for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission; and H.R. 1047, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum located in St. Louis, MO, as a unit of the National Park System.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, be authorized to hold a hearing on OSHA during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 10 a.m. in SD-628.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Airland be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 3 p.m., in open session to receive testimony on Air Force and Navy Aviation in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years defense program.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 26, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed business meeting.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. in Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on S. 462, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Water Rights Settlement Act.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Finance which will meet on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 1 p.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Coal: A Clean Future''.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss clean coal technology.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in open session to receive testimony on legal issues regarding individuals detained by the Department of Defense as unlawful enemy combatants.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I come to the floor this afternoon to take a couple of minutes to speak and to honor the life and legacy of a great leader from my home State of Washington. He was the former Speaker of the House, John O'Brien, and he passed away just this past weekend. It is no exaggeration to say that John O'Brien had one of the longest and most accomplished careers of anyone who served in our Washington State Legislature. I was really lucky to have an opportunity to work with him when I was in the Washington State Senate and he was serving in the House. He was one of those people whom, whenever he walked into a room, everyone noticed. I always thought he was just so tall, but then I am only 5 feet tall, so to me he was tall. But it is amazing to me how many people say that his stature brought the respect of everyone who ever met him, and it certainly was true for me and for so many of us. As Speaker of the House, he was known to be very tough but always fair. He was always firm, and he was always compassionate. I think I learned most from him that when you know the rules and use them for the betterment of all people, that is the kind of power which leaves you with a legacy everybody admires. John leaves us many legacies. He leaves us a record of long and distinguished service in the State legislature. There is a building on our capitol grounds in Washington State that bears his name. He leaves behind laws that made our State a better place to work, to live, and to raise a family. Most importantly, he left a legacy of service that lives on in all of us who were lucky enough to serve with him and to be inspired by his leadership. It is the kind of legacy that any elected official would be proud of. On this sad occasion, I extend my condolences to his family, to his many friends, and to all of us who served with him. We will not forget his legacy. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, before the Senator proceeds, I wish to take a minute and thank all of our staffs who worked tremendously hard to get this bill to the floor, the staff on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Byrd's personal staff--many Members worked very hard, along with their staff members but particularly those people who sit in the back row back there and are not recognized who stay up very late to get this to all of us. To all of our floor staff, I say thank you for your tremendous work in getting us to this point. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on our side the Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Landrieu, be recognized; following her, going back and forth, then Senator Feinstein for 4 minutes, and then Senator Jack Reed for 4 minutes.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield the Senator 30 additional seconds.