Gordon Smith

Mr SMITH

Mr SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor our Nation's veterans and their families. As we approach Memorial Day and reflect upon the countless sacrifices of our service men and women, we must also take a moment and remember our military families. These families have shouldered the burden of our military engagements, going extended periods, sometimes years, without seeing their spouse, their mother, or their father. To help alleviate this burden, Senator Feinstein and I are introducing the Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act. The Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act would peg the Family Separation Allowance to the Consumer Price Index, allowing for increases in the benefit, providing some additional relief to military families separated by deployments. The Family Separation Allowance is a benefit awarded to our military families when a service man or woman with dependents is deployed overseas for 30 days or more. The current amount of the Family Separation Allowance is only $250, which does not have much purchasing power in these days of high fuel and food prices. The Family Separation Allowance remains at $250, regardless of economic conditions. When a service member is deployed, a family experiences new and unexpected costs. Oftentimes, the deployed service member is a vital part of a household, helping to raise children, perform various community services and complete chores around the house. Therefore, many of our military families are forced to seek additional help. Families must pay for extra child care or for a lawn care service, tasks that often are the deployed service member's responsibility. Pegging the Family Separation Allowance to the Consumer Price Index will better reflect the economic burdens our military families encounter. The FSA will not be stuck at $250 a month when fuel costs are skyrocketing and food prices continue to rise. The Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act also creates a new Family Separation Allowance for those service members who do not have dependents. Just because a service member does not have dependents does not mean he or she will not need help at home while overseas. Many still need help maintaining their lawn, ensuring the upkeep of their house, or providing for the storage of their car. Our bill is a means to help our military families and those who serve. Deploying overseas is a difficult adjustment for our military families and this legislation will provide some relief. I ask my colleagues to join Senator Feinstein and me to pass the Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. On Thursday evening, May 15, 2008, in Sacramento, CA, a 23-year-old man was sitting in his car at a gas station when he was approached by three men. According to police, one of the men asked him if he was gay and he responded that he was. When the man then exited the car, he was attacked by the three men as they yelled homophobic slurs. Micah Jontomo Tasaki, 21, Gregory Lee Winfield, 20, and Robert Lee Denor, 19, were arrested at the gas staion where the attack occurred in connection with the assault. Luckily for the victim, he did not sustain injuries serious enough to necessitate a hospital visit. A Sacramento police officer investigating the crime has called it a ``gay bashing'' and a hate crime. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, Albert Einstein once said, ``It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.'' I wish today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of an Oregonian who devoted his career to that supreme art and, in doing so, made a priceless contribution to the field of journalism. Harold ``Shorty'' Dorn passed away in Reston, VA, last week at 83 years of age. Like countless others of his ``greatest generation,'' Shorty proudly wore the uniform of our country during World War II. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 and served in the Pacific until the end of the war. Upon returning home, Shorty earned his college degree and began nearly four decades of service as a college professor. Generations of Oregonians are fortunate because the vast majority of Shorty's career was spent at two of my State's outstanding institutions of higher learning--10 years at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande and 23 years in the Department of Journalism at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Professor Dorn was admired and respected by his students for his intelligence, his integrity, his warm humor, his trademark quips, and for the fact that he genuinely cared about them and their future. Shorty's commitment to his students did not end upon their graduation, and many continued to call on him for advice and counsel as they moved on in their careers. Just as Shorty was devoted to his students, he was also devoted to his family--to his wife Ethel and to his two daughters, Jenna and Lorah. Upon retirement from Oregon State University, Shorty and Ethel moved to Reston, VA, so he could be closer to his daughters, who were both building distinguished careers of service. He also discovered that one of the best parts of retirement was the time he had to be a wonderful grandfather to his two grandsons, Jon and Ben. Mr. President, it was once said that, ``In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less.'' Shorty Dorn was certainly one of the best of us, and I extend my condolences to his family and friends.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, Alpha Company, 641 Aviation Regiment is an Army National Guard company that operates C-23 Sherpa cargo airplanes. Headquartered in Portland, OR, the company has detachments in Oklahoma, Washington, and South Dakota. Commanded by MAJ David Doran, the company consists of 44 soldiers and 10 C-23 airplanes. The Oregon soldiers that are part of the company hail from all around the State of Oregon: Portland, Salem, Pendleton, McMinnville, La Pine, Hermiston, and Dallas. The company deployed to Iraq from October 2007 to May 2008. The story of Alpha Company, 641 Aviation Regiment is as complex as the 44 personalities that comprise the company. It is a mixture of experienced combat veterans on their second or third tour and young and eager soldiers experiencing their first deployment. The youngest is 21; the oldest is 54. There are married fathers and unmarried bachelors. There are full-time guardsmen and traditional National Guard, who split time as electricians, students, civilian aviators, and aspiring attorneys. Identifying with ``Ducks,'' ``Beavers,'' ``Huskies,'' and ``Sooners,'' the dynamics of this hodgepodge is sometimes surprising, generally humorous, and always fascinating. From Oregon to Oklahoma and Washington to South Dakota, the soldiers in this company have interacted with individuals from all across the country, with equal parts of Midwest know-how and Northwest can-do. As a result, those from Oregon have learned the right way to eat grits, and those from Oklahoma have learned 20 different words to describe ``coffee.'' Each person in this company has brought a unique perspective and fresh batch of life experiences to share with the group. Everyday, a new story begins with ``back when I was a kid . . .'' or ``on my last deployment . . .'' This company brought together a cross section of America, fresh with an unflinching sense of duty, deep-seated pride in their job, and an unquenchable drive to get that job done. Alpha Company operates the C-23 Sherpa, which is the least understood and most underestimated aircraft in the Army inventory. With its boxy dimensions, it has assumed the moniker ``BOX CAR.'' As unsightly and unusual as it may be, pound for pound and passenger for passenger, this rat-nosed aircraft has moved more parts and people around Iraq than most other military airframes. The crews who fly the Sherpa will tell you that what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in dependability. The Sherpa is the unsung, unappreciated, and unassuming aircraft that gets it done, around the clock. Whether it is a box of widgets or 14 soldiers going out on R&R leave, this aircraft and its crews make it happen. In October 2007, Alpha Company mustered and deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq. The unit quickly assumed the mission and took over all Army fixed-wing cargo operations under Multi-National Forces-Iraq. This expansive support covered Mosul, Kirkuk, and Basra, in addition to a dozen smaller air bases throughout the country. From passengers to blood to ammunition, Alpha Company flew six aircraft per day to get as much moved as possible. This amounted to two aircraft above and beyond the mission requirement. Alpha Company implemented the first fully standardized night vision goggle flight program, greatly increasing aircrew survivability by operating in hours of darkness. This also enhanced the performance capabilities of the C-23 by operating in generally cooler temperatures. The company's support of Other Coalition Forces-Iraq, OCF-I; Special Operations, was instrumental in the timely transportation of sensitive cargo and detained personnel. The company increased existing support by 100 percent and developed mission support into Baghdad. This mission had not existed prior to Alpha Company's arrival. It filled a crucial gap in aviation support for OCF-I and was pivotal to ongoing combat operations. LTG Stanley McChrystal, head of special operations in Iraq, cited the unit for their dependable and outstanding service to OCF-I. In April 2008, the unit surged to increase its operational tempo by 100 percent to support combat operations in and around Basra. During the 2 weeks at the height of the operation, Alpha Company flew 377 hours, more hours than ever recorded by a C-23 company in a 2-week period. By the end of April, the company was preparing to redeploy back to home-stations, families, and loved ones. For their meritorious performance of duty and courage over the dangerous skies of Iraq, the company earned 4 Bronze Star Medals, 7 Meritorious Service Medals and 38 Air Medals. During their 6 months in Iraq, the company flew over 4,000 flight hours, moved over 9,000,000 pounds of cargo and over 20,000 passengers, more than any other C-23 company in a 6-month period since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Alpha Company's accomplishments are extraordinary and truly reflective of the distinguished service and dedication of America's citizen soldier. The State of Oregon is profoundly proud and deeply grateful for their sacrifice and commitment. It is with great pride that I honor their service today and enter their accomplishment into the Record.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to rename the Lakeview Post Office after Dr. Bernard Daly. I am pleased to have my colleague Senator Wyden join me in this effort by serving as original cosponsor of this bill. Dr. Bernard Daly was an American country doctor, businessman, banker, rancher, state representative, state senator, county judge, and regent of Oregon State Agricultural College, today's Oregon State University. As early as 1888, Dr. Bernard Daly began actively encouraging young people to apply for college. When families could not afford the tuition, Daly quietly paid the bill. During a Christmas Eve party in 1894, an oil lamp started a fire in a crowed community hall in the small town of Silver Lake, Oregon. Forty- three people were killed in the blaze, and many more were badly injured. Dr. Daly traveled by buggy from Lakeview to Silver Lake, a distance of 95 miles, over bad, snow covered roads to help victims of the tragedy. It took 24 hours of continuous travel for him to reach Silver Lake. Despite the long journey, he began treating burn victims as soon as he arrived, and continued without rest until everyone had been seen. Dr. Daly saved all but three of the badly burned persons, and his methods of healing were later published in detail in a medical journal. The fire was widely reported and written about in The Oregon Desert. Dr. Daly's efforts to reach and treat the victims earned state- wide recognition and many admirers. When Dr. Daly died, he gave his fortune to the people of Lake County in the form of the Bernard Daly Educational Fund. Dr. Daly wrote in his will: ``It is my earnest desire to help, aid and assist worthy and ambitious young men and women of my beloved county of Lake, to acquire a good education, so that they may be better fitted and qualified to appreciate and help to preserve the laws and constitution of this free country, defend its flag, and by their conduct as good citizens reflect honor on Lake county and the state of Oregon.'' The fact that his will specifically directed that Daly scholarships be granted to women as well as men was very progressive for that era. Each year, approximately 40 graduates of Lake County high schools receive Daly scholarships. To date, well over two thousand students from Lakeview and other Lake County communities have used Bernard Daly's generous scholarships to attend college. Dr. Daly's educational trust fund has financed college educations for generations of Lake County, Oregon students, a legacy that continues to this day. I have received several messages from across the country and even one from Australia supporting the renaming of the Lakeview Post Office after Dr. Bernard Daly. Each one told a story of sincere appreciation for Dr. Daly's generosity. We urge our colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to rename the Lakeview Post Office after Dr. Bernard Daly. I am pleased to have my colleague Senator Wyden join me in this effort by serving as original cosponsor of this bill. Dr. Bernard Daly was an American country doctor, businessman, banker, rancher, state representative, state senator, county judge, and regent of Oregon State Agricultural College, today's Oregon State University. As early as 1888, Dr. Bernard Daly began actively encouraging young people to apply for college. When families could not afford the tuition, Daly quietly paid the bill. During a Christmas Eve party in 1894, an oil lamp started a fire in a crowed community hall in the small town of Silver Lake, Oregon. Forty- three people were killed in the blaze, and many more were badly injured. Dr. Daly traveled by buggy from Lakeview to Silver Lake, a distance of 95 miles, over bad, snow covered roads to help victims of the tragedy. It took 24 hours of continuous travel for him to reach Silver Lake. Despite the long journey, he began treating burn victims as soon as he arrived, and continued without rest until everyone had been seen. Dr. Daly saved all but three of the badly burned persons, and his methods of healing were later published in detail in a medical journal. The fire was widely reported and written about in The Oregon Desert. Dr. Daly's efforts to reach and treat the victims earned state- wide recognition and many admirers. When Dr. Daly died, he gave his fortune to the people of Lake County in the form of the Bernard Daly Educational Fund. Dr. Daly wrote in his will: ``It is my earnest desire to help, aid and assist worthy and ambitious young men and women of my beloved county of Lake, to acquire a good education, so that they may be better fitted and qualified to appreciate and help to preserve the laws and constitution of this free country, defend its flag, and by their conduct as good citizens reflect honor on Lake county and the state of Oregon.'' The fact that his will specifically directed that Daly scholarships be granted to women as well as men was very progressive for that era. Each year, approximately 40 graduates of Lake County high schools receive Daly scholarships. To date, well over two thousand students from Lakeview and other Lake County communities have used Bernard Daly's generous scholarships to attend college. Dr. Daly's educational trust fund has financed college educations for generations of Lake County, Oregon students, a legacy that continues to this day. I have received several messages from across the country and even one from Australia supporting the renaming of the Lakeview Post Office after Dr. Bernard Daly. Each one told a story of sincere appreciation for Dr. Daly's generosity. We urge our colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10, 2008, in Muncie, IN, Kyle Flood was attacked for being gay in what he believes was a hate crime. Flood, a 21-year-old college student at Ball State University, says he was leaving a bar at about 3 a.m. when two college-aged men approached him and his friends using anti-gay epithets. When the two groups crossed paths, a fight erupted. Flood was shoved to the ground and punched in the face. He was later treated at the local hospital for a scratched cornea, swollen eye, cuts and bruises. The Ball State community has reacted to the beating, and students have been informed to stay calm and try to travel to and from social events in groups. Police Chief Gene Burton has said that bias-motivated attacks are rare among students, but that they have happened before. No arrests have been made in connection with the assault. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with Senator Nelson of Florida in support of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's ``Operation: Last Chance,'' a final effort to bring the remaining Nazi war criminals to justice. The atrocities committed by Nazis and their allies were vast, redefining the modern conception of crimes against humanity. In the Nuremburg trials and other courts, many Nazis faced accountability for their atrocities committed under the shroud of World War II. Unfortunately, some of the most guilty perpetrators of these acts escaped justice, when they fled to South America, Eastern Europe, or simply faded into postwar anonymity. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which is committed to raising awareness of the Holocaust, is determined not to let the remaining perpetrators escape justice. In 2002, the center initiated ``Operation: Last Chance,'' which sought to capitalize on the opening of the Soviet archives to identify the remaining Nazi war criminals. However, time is running short, and several of the most wanted Nazis remain at large. We are thus introducing a bill to support the center's efforts. This legislation would require that the President report on foreign cooperation in prosecuting, extraditing, and receiving extradition of wanted Nazis. It would also indicate that the United States should take such cooperation into account when considering target countries for admission into or renewal of the Visa Waiver Program. For too many victims of the Holocaust, the crimes committed by the Nazis and their allies over 60 years ago have not been adequately redressed. Too many countries are ambiguous about helping in the search for the remaining Nazi fugitives, and so little time remains. I thus hope that this bill can help the Simon Wiesenthal Center in its pursuit of justice, and in doing so, finally lay to rest some of the terrible ghosts of the twentieth century. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with Senator Nelson of Florida in support of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's ``Operation: Last Chance,'' a final effort to bring the remaining Nazi war criminals to justice. The atrocities committed by Nazis and their allies were vast, redefining the modern conception of crimes against humanity. In the Nuremburg trials and other courts, many Nazis faced accountability for their atrocities committed under the shroud of World War II. Unfortunately, some of the most guilty perpetrators of these acts escaped justice, when they fled to South America, Eastern Europe, or simply faded into postwar anonymity. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which is committed to raising awareness of the Holocaust, is determined not to let the remaining perpetrators escape justice. In 2002, the center initiated ``Operation: Last Chance,'' which sought to capitalize on the opening of the Soviet archives to identify the remaining Nazi war criminals. However, time is running short, and several of the most wanted Nazis remain at large. We are thus introducing a bill to support the center's efforts. This legislation would require that the President report on foreign cooperation in prosecuting, extraditing, and receiving extradition of wanted Nazis. It would also indicate that the United States should take such cooperation into account when considering target countries for admission into or renewal of the Visa Waiver Program. For too many victims of the Holocaust, the crimes committed by the Nazis and their allies over 60 years ago have not been adequately redressed. Too many countries are ambiguous about helping in the search for the remaining Nazi fugitives, and so little time remains. I thus hope that this bill can help the Simon Wiesenthal Center in its pursuit of justice, and in doing so, finally lay to rest some of the terrible ghosts of the twentieth century. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the State of Israel on the 60th anniversary of its independence. The story of the tribes of Judea began, as we know, in the Old Testament. The Israelites fled from Pharaoh's slavery, wandering for 40 years in the desert before coming to their land. It is a familiar narrative--and not only to those who study Scripture--for those early trials of the Jewish people bespoke an awe-inspiring destiny, both glorious and tragic. No other people on earth have survived and prospered in the face of so much hardship. The Jewish community has been contemporaries of the Assyrians and Babylon, Crusaders and Rome, the Hapsburgs and the Soviet Kremlin. They have faced injustice, persecution, expropriation, pogroms, and genocide; and they have persevered. The return of the Jews to the Holy Land is perhaps the greatest historical event of our time. The Jewish community emerged from the greatest tragedy the Diaspora had ever known, and in its aftermath built the greatest triumph. The authors of that triumph encompass the whole of the early Israeli community. The great David Ben-Gurion declared Israel a state but he could not have without the thousands of brave Israelis willing to fight for it. Chaim Weizman secured international support for Israel but he could not have without the hundreds of thousands of Jews willing to immigrate to the Holy Land. And of all these heroes, the famous and the anonymous, none have given more than the 22,437 Israeli soldiers who have fallen in battle since 1860. It is no coincidence in Israel that Independence Day is preceded by Remembrance Day, to honor the fallen Zahal warriors. On this 60th anniversary of Israel's independence, I know that wherever they are, those sons and daughters of Judea are proud indeed. I am also proud that America has stood with Israel in her times of need. It is only fitting that the two great democratic nations forged by immigrants and pioneers be close allies, in the ongoing struggle against the forces of fanaticism. For Israel, this fight is as familiar as existence; for America, it is an old enemy in a new guise. During my time in the Senate, I have worked tirelessly to strengthen the bond between our two countries. I believe the bonds our two countries share are as everlasting as they are many-layered. Together, they will ensure that Israel faces down the next threat, and the one after that, and after that, and so on until her 120th anniversary, when I pray there will at last be peace. The past three have been littered with many enemies, from Titus to the Nazis, each with their own dream of destroying the Jews. Some came perilously close. But today we know that the destruction of the Second Temple, and the Inquisition, and the pogroms, and the Holocaust were not in fact the end of the story. The legend did not end. In 1948, the new chapter of the tribes of Israel began, always glorious and always tragic, animating the pages of history until the final chapter of Man. May Israel ever be with us, and us ever by her side.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to address the terrible toll taken by the recent cyclone in Burma. It is unimaginable to me that the people of Burma, already struggling under the weight of tyranny, could be expected to bear further hardship. The daily trudge for existence faced by the Burmese is heart- wrenching; and yet now their suffering has increased. On Saturday, May 3, their country was struck by a horrible cyclone, an unfortunately common occurrence in Southeast Asia. U.S. diplomats estimate the death toll from this storm could be as high as 100,000, victims of a 120 mph wind and a storm surge that has obliterated entire villages. The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been left without basic necessities such as food, potable water, and shelter. The Burmese military regime has compounded this crisis through political repression, economic mismanagement, and xenophobia. But the tragedy of Burma's government cannot and should not blind us to the human suffering inflicted by this most recent disaster. The international community must take immediate steps to alleviate some of the worst deprivations of this humanitarian crisis. To this end, I am proud and humbled that two of our own Oregon institutions are leading the effort in bringing comfort to the afflicted. Northwest Medical Teams and Mercy Corps are closely engaged in collecting humanitarian donations and cooperating with local partners to help the survivors in Burma. I urge the government in Burma to accept the foreign assistance offered by these groups and others around the world. I know I speak for all Oregonians--and indeed all Americans--when I say that our hearts go out to the survivors of this storm. We stand ready to help, and I sincerely thank all those who are donating their time and resources to help those stricken by this terrible disaster.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate violent crime that has occurred in our country. On the night of April 4, 2008, a 17-year-old Black man was traveling by bus from Wilmington, DE, to New Castle, DE, when three White men engaged him in a physical altercation. David and Lloyd Walker, 27 and 23 years old respectively, were identified by witnesses and arrested, but their accomplice, known only as ``Ritchie,'' is still at large. According to police, the three men began to argue with the young man when he complained that they were bumping into him. When the 17-year- old man got off the bus, the three men followed and attacked him, yelling racial slurs and threatening to kill him. Police say David Walker stabbed the teen five times in the back, puncturing one of his lungs and inflicting more stab wounds on his forearm. The three men fled the scene immediately after the stabbing. Both David and Lloyd Walker were charged with first-degree assault, possession of a deadly weapon during a felony, felony hate crime, and conspiracy. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by providing the resources necessary to adequately investigate and prosecute violent crimes. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council on their 100th anniversary. The Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council represents 25 different crafts across the entire construction spectrum, including: asbestos workers, boilermakers, brick and stone masons, cement masons, carpenters, electricians, elevator constructors, glaziers, ironworkers, laborers, linoleum and carpet layers, millwrights, operating engineers, painters and tapers, pile bucks, plasterers, plumbers, pipe fitters and steamfitters, roofers, sheet metal workers, sprinkler fitters and teamsters. The men and women who fill these jobs are some of the most impressive workers I have seen, devoted not only to their job, but to the safety of their coworkers. The Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council is committed to the highest level of professionalism. These building experts have honed their skills through years of practice, starting with an extensive apprenticeship and journey level program. The Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council is known for its apprenticeship program, recognized as one of the best in the country. It is this professionalism that the men and women of the building and construction trades learn early on and continue to demonstrate throughout their careers. This Nation will continue to grow and prosper because of our unrivaled workforce. However, workers of this caliber can only be produced in the proper work environment. The Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council ensures that workers have a voice. They stress the importance of providing a fair wage to those in the building and construction trades. Further, the council advocates for safe working conditions and ensuring Americans are trained workers to meet our country's 21st century needs. I am very proud to stand on the Senate floor today and commemorate the men and women of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council. Those of us from frontier states are born with the knowledge that we stand on the edge of wilderness. Since the time of the Oregon Trail, we have known civilization to rest on the shoulders of skilled craftsmen like the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades. And now, like then, we owe them our debt of gratitude.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I wish to congratulate Mike Geisen for winning the National Teacher of the Year Award. The National Teacher of the Year Program was founded in 1952 by the Council of Chief State School Officers. By rewarding teachers who have affected their students and communities positively, the program focuses public attention on some of the philosophies, methods, and wisdom behind successful teaching. It has been delightful to learn of Mike's contributions, and I am thrilled that he will be traveling around the world to share his insights as Teacher of the Year. Mike Geisen teaches seventh grade science at Crook County Middle School in Prineville, OR, but his colleagues and students would call that an understatement. Crook County Middle School principal Rocky Miner observed that before Mike assumed chairmanship of the school's science department, students' science test scores had stagnated, with about 55 percent of students meeting or exceeding State standards. Less than 2 years after Mike took the job, 72 percent of Crook County students were meeting or exceeding State standards. It is clear that other educators have noticed Mike's successes and are starting to seek his advice. In October of last year, Oregon State superintendent Susan Castillo presented him with the Oregon Teacher of the Year Award. A month later, Mike spoke at the Oregon School Boards Association Conference in Portland about the need for schools to shift their attention to skills--such as collaboration, innovation, and adaptability that are more relevant in a globalized economy. There is no question that Mike can teach and that he can raise test scores, but his focus is not directed at the statistical indications of success as a teacher. In his application for the National Teacher award, Mike wrote the following about America's youth: ``These young people are our equals. They are not simply numbers, conglomerations of hormones, or future products. All the latest programs, fads, and statistics are meaningless to a child who isn't cared for on a deeper level. Whether you are a teacher or parent, businessperson or retired, young or old: reach deep down into each child with humor, love, and compassion and they will learn from you. They will learn much more than just how to read and write; they will learn they are wonderfully human.'' Mike Geisen, or Mr. G, I thank you for your unique contributions. You are truly an inspiration to us all. As Henry Brooks Adams once remarked, ``A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.'' Mr. G, your influence will no doubt continue for generations.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, on behalf of Senators Conrad and Kohl, I introduce the Incentives for Older Workers Act of 2008. The United States is about to experience an unprecedented demographic shift with the aging of the baby boomer generation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1980, individuals age 50 and older represented 26 percent of the population. By 2050, this is expected to rise to 37 percent. In my home State of Oregon, residents age 65 and older are expected to comprise 25 percent of the State population by 2025. This will make Oregon the fourth oldest State in the country. The aging of our population will have a significant impact on many aspects of our society, including our labor market. A 2007 Conference Board study reports that current retirement trends could create a U.S. labor shortage of 4.8 million workers in 10 years. According to Dr. Preston Pulliams of Portland Community College, 53 percent of Oregon businesses report that it is extremely or very likely that their organization will face a shortage of qualified workers during the next 5 years as a result of the retirement of baby boomers. The Incentives for Older Workers Act will help mitigate the effects of our aging workforce by providing incentives to older Americans to stay in the workforce longer, encouraging employers to recruit and retain older workers, and eliminating barriers to working longer. For example, the current Work Opportunity Tax Credit allows employers credits against wages for hiring individuals from one or more of nine targeted groups, such as recipients of public assistance and high risk youth. Our bill would extend that credit for employers that hire older workers. In addition, Social Security benefits are increased if retirement is delayed beyond full retirement age. Increases based on delaying retirement no longer apply when people reach age 70, even if they continue to delay taking benefits. Our bill would allow people to earn delayed retirement credits up until age 72, instead of age 70. To collect, organize and disseminate information on older worker issues, the bill also would create a National Resource Center on Aging and the Workforce within the U.S. Department of Labor. This center would act as a national information clearinghouse on workforce issues, challenges and solutions for older workers. The bipartisan Incentives for Older Workers Act will provide seniors with the flexibility and opportunity to continue working in retirement if they choose to. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact these important reforms. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, on behalf of Senators Conrad and Kohl, I introduce the Incentives for Older Workers Act of 2008. The United States is about to experience an unprecedented demographic shift with the aging of the baby boomer generation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1980, individuals age 50 and older represented 26 percent of the population. By 2050, this is expected to rise to 37 percent. In my home State of Oregon, residents age 65 and older are expected to comprise 25 percent of the State population by 2025. This will make Oregon the fourth oldest State in the country. The aging of our population will have a significant impact on many aspects of our society, including our labor market. A 2007 Conference Board study reports that current retirement trends could create a U.S. labor shortage of 4.8 million workers in 10 years. According to Dr. Preston Pulliams of Portland Community College, 53 percent of Oregon businesses report that it is extremely or very likely that their organization will face a shortage of qualified workers during the next 5 years as a result of the retirement of baby boomers. The Incentives for Older Workers Act will help mitigate the effects of our aging workforce by providing incentives to older Americans to stay in the workforce longer, encouraging employers to recruit and retain older workers, and eliminating barriers to working longer. For example, the current Work Opportunity Tax Credit allows employers credits against wages for hiring individuals from one or more of nine targeted groups, such as recipients of public assistance and high risk youth. Our bill would extend that credit for employers that hire older workers. In addition, Social Security benefits are increased if retirement is delayed beyond full retirement age. Increases based on delaying retirement no longer apply when people reach age 70, even if they continue to delay taking benefits. Our bill would allow people to earn delayed retirement credits up until age 72, instead of age 70. To collect, organize and disseminate information on older worker issues, the bill also would create a National Resource Center on Aging and the Workforce within the U.S. Department of Labor. This center would act as a national information clearinghouse on workforce issues, challenges and solutions for older workers. The bipartisan Incentives for Older Workers Act will provide seniors with the flexibility and opportunity to continue working in retirement if they choose to. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact these important reforms. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I highlight the importance of acknowledging and celebrating extraordinary efforts by Americans who have led the way in protecting and preserving America's natural resources. I am honored to congratulate three educational institutions in my State of Oregon, Columbia Gorge Community College, Lane Community College and the Oregon Institute of Technology. Recently, Columbia Gorge Community College received $1.6 million to support the college's community-based job training program to develop skilled technicians for renewable energy facilities such as wind, solar, hydropower and biofuels production. The funding is part of the Department of Labor's Community-Based Job Training Grant Initiative to help community colleges provide area students and workers with the skills needed to stay competitive in up-and-coming industries. The program is the only one of its kind on the west coast. Just in the Pacific Northwest, developers of wind energy facilities will need 300- 500 additional workers in the next decade. Since the fall of 2007, Columbia Gorge Community College has offered a 1-year certificate and a 2-year associate of applied science degree in renewable energy technology. Lane Community College in Eugene, OR, was recently commended for their certificate and 2-year degree programs which train students in energy management and renewable energy. Graduates of the program are in high demand by renewable energy companies. Lane Community College is quickly gaining recognition as a national leader in sustainability and has won five awards in the past 2 years, including the Campus Sustainability Leadership Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and the Outstanding College Recycling Program Award from the National Recycling Coalition. The Oregon Institute of Technology, OIT, also has earned distinction for offering the Nation's first 4-year undergraduate degree program in renewable energy. The institute is on track to graduate the first class of students this year. Graduating students can seek employment in variety of fields including design, engineering, installation, auditing and programming within the renewable energy sector. Additionally, OIT is working to become the only college campus in the world to be completely powered by geothermal energy. I believe that we have a responsibility to encourage efforts to increase the availability of renewable energy and conserve our natural resources. Oregon continues to build on a long history of innovation in environmental policy and practice. These community colleges are leading the way in educating these workers and providing highly skilled workers to the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector in our State and the Nation. I commend them for their efforts and pledge my full support as they move forward.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I highlight the importance of acknowledging and celebrating extraordinary efforts by Americans who have led the way in protecting and preserving America's natural resources. I am honored to congratulate three educational institutions in my State of Oregon, Columbia Gorge Community College, Lane Community College and the Oregon Institute of Technology. Recently, Columbia Gorge Community College received $1.6 million to support the college's community-based job training program to develop skilled technicians for renewable energy facilities such as wind, solar, hydropower and biofuels production. The funding is part of the Department of Labor's Community-Based Job Training Grant Initiative to help community colleges provide area students and workers with the skills needed to stay competitive in up-and-coming industries. The program is the only one of its kind on the west coast. Just in the Pacific Northwest, developers of wind energy facilities will need 300- 500 additional workers in the next decade. Since the fall of 2007, Columbia Gorge Community College has offered a 1-year Certificate and a 2-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Renewable Energy Technology. Lane Community College in Eugene, OR was recently commended for their certificate and 2-year degree programs which train students in energy management and renewable energy. Graduates of the program are in high demand by renewable energy companies. Lane Community College is quickly gaining recognition as a national leader in sustainability and has won five awards in the past 2 years, including the Campus Sustainability Leadership Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and the Outstanding College Recycling Program Award from the National Recycling Coalition. The Oregon Institute of Technology, OIT, also has earned distinction for offering the Nation's first 4-year undergraduate degree program in renewable energy. The Institute is on track to graduate the first class of students this year. Graduating students can seek employment in variety of fields including design, engineering, installation, auditing and programming within the renewable energy sector. Additionally, OIT is working to become the only college campus in the world to be completely powered by geothermal energy. I believe that we have a responsibility to encourage efforts to increase the availability of renewable energy and conserve our natural resources. Oregon continues to build on a long history of innovation in environmental policy and practice. These community colleges are leading the way in educating these workers and providing highly skilled workers to the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector in our State and the Nation. I commend them for their efforts and pledge my full support as they move forward.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. On the night of March 7, 2008, Lance Neve was with his boyfriend at a bar in Spencerport, NY. Neve told police that a man at the bar had been yelling anti-gay slurs at him and his boyfriend and continued to harass them using derogatory comments throughout the night. The aggressor then allegedly asked to shake Neve's hand, explaining that he had never shaken hands with a gay man. When Neve refused, he says the man attacked him and continued to beat him after he had fallen to the ground, knocking him unconscious. Neve was hospitalized with a fractured skull, nose, left eye socket, and jaw as a result of the attack. Police have arrested 24-year-old Jesse D. Parsons of Spencerport, NY, and charged him with second-degree assault designated as a hate crime in connection with the attack. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President. ``To live fully,'' wrote Oliver Wendell Holmes, ``is to be engaged in the passions of one's time.'' I rise today to pay tribute to Phil Bladine, a remarkable Oregonian, who passed away last week at the age of 89. There can be no doubt that Phil Bladine lived a very full life, as he devoted much of it to making a positive difference in the issues of his time. A native of Iowa, Phil first arrived in McMinnville, OR, as a 14- year-old, when his father purchased a community newspaper. After graduating from high school and college, Phil did as did so many others of the ``Greatest Generation''--he wore the uniform of our country. Phil joined the Navy in 1940, and eventually would become an Executive Officer of an LST, a 228-foot ship that carried U.S. Marines and landing crafts in the Pacific Theater. After the war, Phil would return to McMinnville, where he would spend much of the next half century at the helm of the McMinnville News- Register. Under his commonsense leadership, the News-Register became a positive and respected force for progress in Yamhill County and all of Oregon. Phil was a natural leader who lent his time and talent to countless organizations and worthy causes, including the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, the Republican Party, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce, Associated Oregon Industries, and the Oregon Economic Development Commission. I am just one of many elected officials who, over the years, counted on Phil for advise and counsel. I always knew that instead of telling me what I wanted to hear, he would tell me what I needed to hear. Mr. President, I extend my condolences to Phil's wife Margaret ``Meg'' Bladine; his daughter Pam; his son Jeb; and all the members of the Bladine family. May they find solace in the words of the Greek poet, Sophocles, who wrote, ``One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.'' I am confident that in the evening of his time on earth, Phil Bladine could look back at a life filled with family and friends, a life filled with making a difference for his country, his state, and his community, and he could say, ``The day has indeed been splendid.''

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Madam President, I rise today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. Early in the morning of September 9, 2007, a gay man was walking home when he was attacked near the Georgetown University campus. According to the victim, two men at a college party began following him while yelling homophobic slurs. As the victim turned a corner, one of the men began punching him in the head, resulting in cuts and bruises to his face, and a broken thumb. The victim immediately reported the incident to the Georgetown campus police. The attack was investigated as a bias- related crime based on the victim's sexual orientation and the circumstances of the attack. However, the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department has charged Philip Cooney, a 19-year-old Georgetown sophomore, with simple assault. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today, on World Social Work Day, to introduce the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues Senator Barbara Mikulski and Senator Debbie Stabenow in supporting this important legislation to help ensure the sustainability of the social work field. I look forward to continuing our collaboration on this bill and other efforts to support the tremendous work of our nation's social workers as they ensure the safety and welfare of our citizens in need of guidance and protection. Social workers in America face an array of issues that impact their ability to stay in the profession. We know that as the U.S. population increases and ages, caseworkers' caseloads continue to increase, causing greater pressure to perform with ever decreasing resources. Further, relatively low wages make it difficult for social workers to stay in their profession long-term. These are just a few of the many challenges they face. Those in the social work field need our support in creating innovative ways to keep them in the profession they love and therefore help the people in our communities who need their expertise and compassion. Unfortunately, my home State of Oregon is not immune to these problems. We all know of the wonderful work that social workers do to protect children from abuse and neglect. Particularly in parts of Oregon where Methamphetamine abuse has caused widespread suffering, social workers have risen to the occasion to ensure children get the help that they need. However, less recognized is the work that they do on behalf of our elderly. About 13 percent of Oregon's population is persons over the age of 65, which is above the national average of about 12.4 percent. This number is expected to increase dramatically in coming years as our population continues to age, our seniors live longer and we see more of our elderly with multiple chronic conditions. Many of these elderly will depend on the help and guidance of social workers to ensure their well being. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me, Senator Mikulski and Senator Stabenow in championing this legislation to support the needs of our social workers. I look forward to its swift passage.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today, on World Social Work Day, to introduce the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues Senator Barbara Mikulski and Senator Debbie Stabenow in supporting this important legislation to help ensure the sustainability of the social work field. I look forward to continuing our collaboration on this bill and other efforts to support the tremendous work of our nation's social workers as they ensure the safety and welfare of our citizens in need of guidance and protection. Social workers in America face an array of issues that impact their ability to stay in the profession. We know that as the U.S. population increases and ages, caseworkers' caseloads continue to increase, causing greater pressure to perform with ever decreasing resources. Further, relatively low wages make it difficult for social workers to stay in their profession long-term. These are just a few of the many challenges they face. Those in the social work field need our support in creating innovative ways to keep them in the profession they love and therefore help the people in our communities who need their expertise and compassion. Unfortunately, my home State of Oregon is not immune to these problems. We all know of the wonderful work that social workers do to protect children from abuse and neglect. Particularly in parts of Oregon where Methamphetamine abuse has caused widespread suffering, social workers have risen to the occasion to ensure children get the help that they need. However, less recognized is the work that they do on behalf of our elderly. About 13 percent of Oregon's population is persons over the age of 65, which is above the national average of about 12.4 percent. This number is expected to increase dramatically in coming years as our population continues to age, our seniors live longer and we see more of our elderly with multiple chronic conditions. Many of these elderly will depend on the help and guidance of social workers to ensure their well being. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me, Senator Mikulski and Senator Stabenow in championing this legislation to support the needs of our social workers. I look forward to its swift passage.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Madam President, I wish today to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. Early in the morning of September 9, 2007, police in Antioch, CA, responded to a call regarding a fight that had broken out at a party. According to witnesses, Phillip Hale, 18, and a 17-year-old accomplice were mocking and attempting to provoke a group of deaf partygoers by mimicking their hand movements. The two teens were asked to leave, but came back sometime later with a stick, a hoe, and a brick. Witnesses say a fight ensued upon their return. When police arrived on the scene, they found a substantial amount of blood. One deaf victim suffered a minor head injury, and Hale suffered a head injury as well, for which he was treated at John Muir Medical Center. According to jail records, Hale was booked at Contra County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and committing a hate crime. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I wish to speak about the need for hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate crimes legislation that would strengthen and add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country. Early in the morning of September 3, 2007, Andrew Geske and a friend were walking home in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle, WA, when a black BMW pulled up alongside of them. According to Geske, he and his friend stopped walking when the car slowed down, assuming it was an acquaintance of theirs. When the car came to a halt, the driver burst out of the car, hurling anti-gay epithets at Geske and punching him in the face repeatedly. Reeling from the attack, Geske's arm fell through the passenger side window, where another attacker grabbed onto it. The driver then got back in the car and sped off with Geske's arm still trapped. The victim was dragged several blocks before he broke free, suffering scrapes and sprained fingers in the process. The attack is being investigated as a bias crime and the assailants are still at large. I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to defend them against the harms that come out of hate. Federal laws intended to protect individuals from heinous and violent crimes motivated by hate are woefully inadequate. This legislation would better equip the Government to fulfill its most important obligation by protecting new groups of people as well as better protecting citizens already covered under deficient laws. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.