Gordon Smith

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr President, I rise today to speak about the recent violence in Tibet. I am deeply saddened and angered by the events which have unfolded this past month between ethnic Tibetans and China. In March, China's decades of repression of Tibet exploded into widespread riots, both in the Tibetan autonomous region and ethnic Tibetan areas of China. The Chinese Government responded by imposing a near-total media blackout, and by deploying an overwhelming number of police and military personnel. Within that darkness, dozens of people were killed. It is still unclear who did the killing, or who was killed. It is unclear what set off the violence. It is even unclear how many people were killed. The Chinese Government claims 22 deaths; independent Tibetan sources say between 79 and 140. There have been a similarly disputed number of people arrested. One of government's primary functions is to enforce law and order within its borders. But the unrest and violence in Tibet is the direct result of over 50 years of Chinese oppression of Tibetan ethnic, cultural, and political rights. It is the result of China's repression of Tibetan Buddhism and a stream of personal insults against the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama, whom I am greatly honored to have met, is honored for his commitment to peace and reconciliation. I cannot think of a time when such a message is more welcome than it is today. China, on the other hand, offers no similar message of tolerance and peace. Just this morning, there was an article in the Washington Post, in which a human rights lawyer and convert to Christianity lives under constant police surveillance. He is intermittently beaten and harassed by police, who sometimes prohibit him from attending church. For ethnic Tibetans, Chinese human rights violations can be much worse. China's efforts over the past half century to repress Tibetan rights are unacceptable, outrageous and in violation of China's own laws. I know that many of my fellow Americans stand with me in this belief. As such, I was proud to introduce with my colleague from California a resolution calling on China to ensure the protection of Tibetan rights and culture. The resolution demands that China allow a full and transparent accounting of the recent violence. China must cease the political reeducation of monks, and allow them to possess pictures of the Dalai Lama. It must also release peaceful protestors, and allow independent journalists free access throughout China. In addition, the resolution calls on the U.S. State Department to fully implement the 2002 Tibet Policy Act, particularly the establishment of a U.S. consulate in Lhasa. I was exceptionally pleased to note that my resolution was unanimously agreed to last night. I believe these measures would go a long way toward safeguarding Tibetan rights, easing the suffering of ethnic Tibetans, and preventing the outbreak of any further violence.

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 of July 15, 2007, Miranda Greer, an openly lesbian woman, was brutally attacked in a Jackson, TN, bar. Greer had been dancing when a man approached her and, using a homophobic slur, asked her to leave. The man had apparently mistaken Greer for a gay male. When she clarified that she was a lesbian, the man punched her in the face. He then used the bottom of a beer bottle to jab her left eye, and broke it over the back of her head. Greer ended up with a blind spot in her left eye after the attack. Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Tyler Mansfield, who was identified as a suspect according to the Jackson Police Department. 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, today I highlight the importance of acknowledging and celebrating extraordinary efforts by ordinary Americans who have led the way in protecting and preserving America's natural resources. I am honored to congratulate two inspiring ``natural resource heroes'' in my State of Oregon, Jack and Jan McGowan. Jack and Jan McGowan have served as the executive director and associate director respectively of an organization called SOLV, which stands for Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism. Jack and Jan's 18-year career with SOLV has seen many changes to the organization. Founded in 1969 by Oregon Governor Tom McCall, SOLV has focused on bringing together government agencies, businesses and Oregon citizens to work together on programs and projects that were meant to enhance the livability of our State. When Jack and Jan assumed leadership of SOLV in 1990, they worked out of their home and operated a very small organization of volunteers. Today, SOLV is the largest volunteer non-profit agency in the Northwest and has provided inspiration to similar organizations around the country and the world. Oregonians pride themselves in doing their part to protect and conserve the State's treasures and natural resources. The first beach cleanup in the United States was held in Oregon in 1984. Since then, annual beach cleanups now occur all along the west and east coasts of our country and in over 100 countries around the world. Just last month, SOLV organized Oregon's 24th annual spring beach cleanup. All 362 miles of Oregon's coastline were canvassed by almost 4,000 volunteers who accumulated over 110,000 pounds of trash. As a young Boy Scout, I was taught that one's duty was to respect and protect the world around you. I believe that we have a responsibility to encourage efforts in conserving our natural resources by responsibly using them, not abusing them. Jack and Jan McGowan have made major contributions to a proud Oregon pioneering spirit of innovation and conservation. What they have given back to their community is invaluable, for they have taught us that everyone doing their small part can achieve huge successes. I wish Jack and Jan well as they pursue future endeavors in their retirement.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I thank Senator Kerry, my colleague from Massachusetts, for his kind words. We come to the floor today as Republicans and Democrats trying to work out a bill that will make a difference on the central plank of the current economic slowdown. It is a time, frankly, to note we are finally working in a way that will make a difference and make progress for the American people. Tuesday evening, I went home and TiVo'd the news. I saw Senator Reid and Senator McConnell standing together before the cameras. Behind them were Senators Dodd and Shelby, as well as Senator Baucus and Senator Grassley from the Finance Committee, who have worked with Senator Kerry. When I saw these Senators together in a joint press conference, I thought I also heard a collective sigh of relief from the American people that finally the Senate was proceeding in a way they expect. I, for one, was breathing a sigh of relief that there was agreement and that we are here productively engaged in finding a solution. I also thank Senator Kerry. He and I have been at this amendment now for months. I have had the privilege of working with him on many issues over a long time. I am currently on the Finance Committee, and this amendment we actually got approved in the Finance Committee in the last stimulus package. I wish it had survived that process because it would already be making a difference. But with the help of leaders on the Finance Committee and the approval of the Banking Committee, it has now been included in the underlying bill. I thank all of them for this. As I noted back in January, we offered this legislation as an amendment. The committee approved our amendment with an overwhelming 20-to-1 bipartisan vote. Again, we were not able to keep it in the package, but it is in the package today. Across the country, rising interest rates and slumping home values are creating the perfect financial storm for many American families. The legislation Senator Kerry and I authored is aimed at stemming this tide and providing homeowners an option to avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. Under current law, State and local governments are permitted to issue tax-exempt bonds, called qualified mortgage bonds, to finance new mortgage loans to first-time home buyers. What our legislation does is temporarily expand the use of this program to include refinancing of existing subprime loans. It would also provide a $10 billion increase in tax-exempt bond authority which could be used to provide these refinancing loans, issue new mortgages for first-time home buyers, and, finally, invest in multifamily rental housing. Our proposal would also exempt mortgage revenue bonds from the alternative minimum tax to make them more attractive to investors and to cut home- buyer mortgage costs further. For Oregon, the increased bond cap will translate to roughly $122 million in new bond authority to address the State's housing needs. Our neighbors in Washington State will receive roughly $210 million in new bonding authority, enough to produce more than 1,300 loans. In Arizona, where the delinquency rate has jumped from 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005 to 5.45 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, an estimated 1,400 new mortgage loans will be generated by this bill. Michigan, which had a delinquency rate of 8.9 percent at the end of the fourth quarter of last year, will have its bond cap increased by more than $332 million, enough to generate more than 3,300 new home loans or refinancing. Another example, Arkansas, with a delinquency rate of 6.6 percent as of last December, will receive more than $92 million in increased bonding authority which would lead to more than 1,100 new loans. Nationwide it is estimated our proposal would lead to roughly 80,000 new loans. To anyone who questions whether addressing the housing crisis is economic stimulus, I would say each one of these new home loans is projected to produce almost two full-time jobs; $75,000 in additional wages and salaries; $41,000 in new Federal, State, and local revenues; and an average of $3,700 in new spending on appliances, furnishings, and property alterations. Our proposal is not going to solve all that ails the housing economy, but it is an important and good start, and it will provide real relief to working families at risk of losing their homes. This relief is targeted, not a bailout to investors who were looking to cash in on the housing boom. The new housing bond authority will be subject to the program's income and purchase price requirements. In 2006, mortgage revenue bond borrowers had an average income of $45,000 and bought first-time homes with an average purchase price of $137,000. I wish to say, again, how pleased I am the Senate is finally moving to debate on this housing package. If we are serious about stimulating the economy, we need to take a look at the root causes of this slowdown. First among those is housing. There are a number of important items in the bill we are debating. I was disappointed, however, the AMT exemption for the low-income housing tax credit was not included in the base bill. This is something Senator Cantwell and I have been advocating and will continue to work this week to see if we can add to the bill. I hope we can work quickly, though, as Americans, as Republicans and Democrats, to get this bill to the President, a bill he can sign, so we can, through common sense and common ground, achieve some common good for the American people. I yield the floor.

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 January 21, 2008, in Charleston, SC, Adolphus Simmons was shot to death on the steps of his apartment. According to reports, Simmons had been dressed as a woman when the attack occurred. Friends say that Simmons, an 18-year-old transgender person, often dressed in women's clothes. Sadly, the suspect charged with Simmons' murder is only 15 years old. Baffled by this seemingly unprovoked attack, investigators are not ruling out that Simmons may have been targeted based on his sexual orientation. 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, today, as a proud Oregonian, I congratulate the Portland State University men's basketball team on a stellar performance last night. The PSU Vikings capped a five-game winning streak by soundly defeating the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks 67 to 51 to win the Big Sky Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. This achievement marks the Vikings' first trip to the ``Big Dance,'' and an important moment to recognize their collective talents. I think I speak for all Oregonians when I say that we are greatly impressed by the hard work these young men and their coaches have put into achieve this victory. I congratulate this team not only for their athletic achievement, but also for putting Oregon's largest university on the map of collegiate sports. I know the PSU Vikings, who have lost only twice in 2008, will be an excellent representative of our home State in the national tournament. Certainly this victory is just the beginning for the members of this team. I look forward to hearing of their successes not only in athletics but in any endeavor they choose to take on in the future. Mr. President, allow me to specifically mention the names of all the coaches and players who have made my State so very proud: Julius Thomas, Deonte Huff, Andre Murray, Mickey Polis, Jeremiah Dominguez, Dominic Waters, Brian Curtis, Tyrell Mara, Kyle Coston, Dupree Lucas, Phil Nelson, Justynn Hammond, J.R. Moore, Alex Tiefanthaler, Scott Morrison, Ken Bone, Tyler Geving, Eric Harper, Curtis Allen, and Tyler Coston. I heartily congratulate each and every one of you. I look forward to cheering you on in the NCAA Tournament this month.

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. On the morning of February 23, 2008, Melbourne Brunner and his partner were eating at the Floridian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, FL, when they were verbally and physically assaulted. According to Brunner, a man at the restaurant began calling the couple antigay slurs, threatening to break their necks and kill them. After a few moments of suffering the man's insults, Brunner and his partner decided to leave. When Brunner attempted to enter his car, the man came from behind him, blocked his path, and struck Brunner in the face, causing him to hit his head on the pavement. The assailant then reportedly walked back to his car, covered up the license plate with his shirt so that his tags would not be identified, and sped away. The owner of the Floridian restaurant is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the capture of this suspect. Brunner was treated at a local hospital for severe bruising around his eyes. 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 congratulate an inspiring young man, Brian McCarthy. Brian is a student at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon, and was this year's third place finalist in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. He was selected from over 1600 students and is the recipient of a $50,000 scholarship. The Science Talent Search is lauded as the ``junior Nobel Prize'' and America's oldest and most prestigious research competition for high school seniors. Brian's award winning chemistry project focused on solar cells. During his lab work, Brian synthesized extremely thin and fragile films of plant-like materials found in nature. What he discovered is a polymer that could potentially act as a less expensive option to today's silicon-based solar cell technology. It is no surprise that Brian is first in his class of 293. However, his interests and abilities span a wide gamut, including being a member of the varsity track and field team, volunteering with the community emergency response team, and studying aviation history. Brian and his peers from the Science Talent Search are an inspiration and give me hope for the future of our country. Congratulations to the McCarthy family. I can only imagine what heights this young Oregonian will reach.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate an inspiring young man, Brian McCarthy. Brian is a student at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon, and was this year's third place finalist in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. He was selected from over 1600 students and is the recipient of a $50,000 scholarship. The Science Talent Search is lauded as the ``junior Nobel Prize'' and America's oldest and most prestigious research competition for high school seniors. Brian's award winning chemistry project focused on solar cells. During his lab work, Brian synthesized extremely thin and fragile films of plant-like materials found in nature. What he discovered is a polymer that could potentially act as a less expensive option to today's silicon-based solar cell technology. It is no surprise that Brian is first in his class of 293. However, his interests and abilities span a wide gamut, including being a member of the varsity track and field team, volunteering with the community emergency response team, and studying aviation history. Brian and his peers from the Science Talent Search are an inspiration and give me hope for the future of our country. Congratulations to the McCarthy family. I can only imagine what heights this young Oregonian will reach.

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 February 22, 2008, 17-year-old Simmie Lewis Williams, Jr., was gunned down in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, FL. The shooting occurred on a stretch of road known by police to be frequented by transvestites. Simmie, openly gay, had been dressed as a woman the night of his murder. He was known for being soft-spoken and kind. Witnesses say that Simmie became engaged in a heated argument with two men dressed in dark clothing before the shots were fired. Simmie's mother buried her son a week later. The funeral was, in part, paid for by members of the local gay community. Police are considering the murder as a bias-motivated 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 rise today to introduce a resolution supporting the ideals and goals of World Water Day. I am pleased to have my colleague Senator John Kerry joining me in this cause by serving as the co-sponsor of this resolution. March 22 was established as World Water Day by the United Nations General Assembly to promote awareness of the importance of access to clean water and improved sanitation. Over 1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply and 2.6 billion people lack access to improved sanitation. Activities are planned internationally to further the goals and ideals of World Water Day. In many cities across the United States, UNICEF is sponsoring the Tap Project. Restaurants will offer patrons the opportunity to add at least $1 to their checks during the week of March 16. Each dollar donated will result in a child receiving clean water for 40 days. Thee are currently 16 featured cities, including Portland, OR, and Boston MA. In 2000, the United Nations member States adopted eight millennium development goals as a basis for working cooperatively. To ensure environmental stability, one of the goals established is to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. While some progress has been made, much more remains to be done. The United Nation's 2007 Millennium Development Goals Report reveals that we are on pace to miss the 2015 target for access to basic sanitation by over 600 million. Each day millions of women and girls spend hours traveling miles to transport water to their homes. In many cases, the source is polluted. At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from waterborne diseases. These diseases are the leading cause of death for children under 5. The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 set a goal of providing equal and affordable access to clean and safe water and sanitation in developing countries. This access has long been recognized by the U.S. as a contributing factor to our foreign policy interests. More importantly, access to clean and safe water is basic human right. We urge our colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

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. On the afternoon of December 4, 2007, 30-year-old Gilbert Aguilar was walking to a friend's house in Yucaipa, CA, when he was accosted by four Caucasian men. According to a witness, one of the men called Aguilar a racial slur, and after a brief exchange of words Aguilar continued on his way. Later that night, Aguilar and two friends, Joshua Morales and Ryan Couture, passed by the area where the confrontation had taken place. The four were still there waiting for Aguilar. According to a witness, one of the men in Aguilar's group threw a punch at one of the Caucasian men, provoking Christopher Fulmer to pull out a gun. A witness says Fulmer fired two or three rounds, hitting Couture in the arm and fatally wounding Morales. Fulmer, who has a swastika tattooed on his chest, will stand trial on counts of murder, attempted murder, 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. Madam President, I wish to speak on the latest round of United Nations Security Council sanctions on Iran. This past Monday, the Security Council voted 14 to 0 to increase sanctions on Iran in response to its continued enrichment of uranium. I applaud the United Nations for pursuing the diplomacy necessary to avoid hostilities. The vote was another step on the long diplomatic path toward increasing stability in the Middle East, but more remains to be done. Among other measures, these sanctions are important in restricting the travel and freezing the assets of certain Iranian officials and banks. The U.N. is now following the American lead in taking action against banks like Bank Melli which are deeply involved financially with the Iranian Government and its nuclear program. The near unanimity shown by members of the Security Council, including the five veto-holding countries, was a strong and unmistakable signal of the international community's condemnation of Iranian policies. That signal would be even stronger if the Security Council members--and Russia and China in particular--would take further economic measures, including against Iran's energy sector. These countries need to realize that a nuclear-armed Iran does not just threaten the United States or the West but indeed the entire Middle East, the nuclear nonproliferation regime, and potentially the world. The very idea of a nuclear Iran is chilling. In March of last year, Senator Durbin and I introduced the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act, a bill outlining steps the United States and its allies should take to prevent Iran from continuing its nuclear program. I am pleased that this legislation currently has 69 cosponsors, and the Bush administration has taken many of the measures I suggested. Other nations, particularly our European allies, should follow the United States in using additional sanctions to supplement the actions of the Security Council. The international community particularly needs the cooperation of states which actively do business with Iran to draw down that business, in addition to holding key Iranian leaders personally responsible. Some of the foreign countries which engage Iran economically have been cooperative in reducing the extent of that cooperation, like Germany, which is steadily decreasing the export credits granted to investments in Iran. Others have been far more recalcitrant, especially Russia, which continues to provide nuclear and military assistance to Tehran. This cooperation, under the circumstances, is unacceptable. The diplomacy of the United States and the United Nations must continue to intensify until Iran verifiably agrees to forego its nuclear ambitions. Until that day, and until Iran's political leaders decide they have more to gain from cooperation than from conflict, the sanctions enacted today and others like them will continue.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak to an important piece of legislation to secure equal care for members of the armed services who suffer from a mental illness. I am pleased to have my colleagues Senators Evan Bayh and Bill Nelson joining me in this cause by serving as original cosponsors of this bill, the Travel Assistance for Family Members of our Troops Act of 2008. There is no greater obligation than caring for those who have served this country through their military service. We would be remiss if we did not ensure that the health care of our heroes in arms is the finest medicine has to offer. What we now refer to as post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, was once described as ``soldier's heart'' in the Civil War, ``shell shock'' in World War I, and ``combat fatigue'' in World War II. Whatever the name, they are serious mental illnesses and deserve equal attention and care as a physical wound. In recent reports, we have heard that 20 to 40 service men and women are evacuated each month from Iraq due to mental health problems. In addition to those who are identified, there are many more who will return home after their service to face readjustment challenges. Some will need appropriate mental heath care to help them adjust back to ``normal'' life, while others will need medical assistance to heal more serious PTSD issues. Yet others will need help to mentally cope with their physical wounds. So many of our veterans from previous conflicts, such as World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, needed similar programs once they returned home. Yet I fear that we didn't do enough to help them. With proper and early support systems in place, including support of their families, we can work to prevent the more serious and chronic mental health issues that come from a lack of intervention. The legislation I am introducing today will provide support for family members of our uniformed service men and women receiving inpatient treatment for serious psychiatric conditions. Right now, the Department of Defense does not classify Active-Duty servicemembers receiving treatment for mental illnesses as ``Very Seriously Ill'' or ``Seriously Ill.'' Therefore, under current policy, family members are not eligible to receive the same travel allowances as patients being treated for physical injuries. This bill will eliminate the current disparity in treatment against our country's men and woman who are bravely serving in the armed services. We have already taken legislative steps through the Defense reauthorization bill to begin to address needed improvements in the quality of health care, both from mental and physical injuries. This bill is another important piece in that process. Travel Assistance for Family Members of our Troops Act of 2008 ensures that patients with serious mental impairments can spend time with their family--the same treatment we currently are providing to patients with physical injuries requiring inpatient care. We urge our colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I thank my colleague, Senator Wyden. Many may wonder why we are down here and talking about this piece of legislation, and it is, in short, because Mount Hood is more than just a mountain in our State, it is the icon of our State. It is a place of remarkable beauty. It is a place where a vast majority of our citizens wish to have the greatest legal protections for its preservation. For this generation and for all time to come, obviously wilderness is the highest form of legal protection for any piece of public land. In the course of coming to this place, Senator Wyden and I have had many meetings with constituents, received countless pieces of mail in support, and have appreciated the intensity of feeling about this from a whole range of interests. This bill is the work of compromise. This bill does not shortchange a vital industry of our State, which obviously I am speaking of timber. Timber production is vital to our country. Timber production is vital to the economy and the jobs of thousands of Oregonians. So we, Senator Wyden and I, have engaged in a lot of give-and-take. We worked with our colleagues in the House, who have similar legislation. We are anxious to get this to them so that this heartfelt demand from our citizens of Oregon can be realized. In saying all of this, I don't expect the citizens of Oregon to understand the arcane rules of the Senate. The fact is, they are rules based upon honor and one's word, and it is a fact that Senator Coburn has indicated to me his objection to this piece of legislation. So out of respect for him, out of honoring both the letter and the rules of the Senate, we are not offering this even though we are disappointed that we cannot offer this. We would not do that with him being absent from the Senate, but we do commit to him to continue working on any substantive objection he may have to try to resolve what those may be. I would note that the Republican side of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously for this piece of legislation. So this is nothing that is extreme. This is something completely unique to Oregon and certainly something within the range of values that Oregonians feel toward the environment. I also note that the Bush administration, as far as I know, is now on board with this piece of legislation. So this has broad support. It is still a work in progress, obviously, with our House colleagues, but we do not offer it tonight out of respect for our colleague from Oklahoma. We simply want to talk about it, to let the people of Oregon know we are working on it, that we are on the job and anxious to get this to a final result so that Mount Hood, which is definitional of the beauty of our State and the values that we put on the environment, can enjoy the legal protection that comes with a wilderness designation. Again, we have included the logging community, we have included the recreation community, we have included the environmental community. This is the work of compromise, which is the essential ingredient to getting anything through the Senate. So we will continue the effort. We will continue to work with our colleague from Oklahoma. And I thank Senator Wyden for his passion on this issue and the way he and I have worked together to resolve, it seems like 100 different little issues, to try and come to this point of compromise that does satisfy the demands of so large a swath of the people of Oregon and provide this level of protection to an icon which is the beauty of Mount Hood. I yield the floor.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate National Peace Corps Week and to recognize the 47th anniversary of this distinguished organization. Since 1961, the Peace Corps has dispatched over 190,000 volunteers to promote a greater understanding between the United States and the rest of the world. As part of National Peace Corps Week, returning volunteers will be visiting Washington for several days of events. Many of them will use this opportunity to share their experiences in local classrooms. I heartily applaud these fine men and women for their initiative in seeking to make the world a better place to live and for the positive impact they have had beyond our borders. Now more than ever, the work of Peace Corps volunteers is an important asset within the diplomatic toolbox of the United States. Their efforts augment official diplomatic acts of our Government and add a personal dimension which could not be duplicated in any other way. When a volunteer travels abroad, they provide others with a glimpse of what it means to be an American and the values we cherish here at home. I encourage all Americans to make the kind of selfless contributions these volunteers provide to the international community. The Peace Corps has proven that individual citizens working together can promote and strengthen the image of the United States. Peace Corps volunteers inspire us all, and I am proud to say that 213 volunteers from the State of Oregon are currently serving in over 50 developing countries. These Oregonians complement the thousands of others who have served in the Peace Corps, and they brighten our hopes for a better tomorrow. Peace Corps volunteers have shown a level of dedication and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary. I invite all Oregonians, and all Americans, to join me this week in commending their efforts.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, 8 years ago, Congress asked the Indian Health Service and the tribes to revise a failed system for allocating facilities funding. The compromise they reached may amount to nothing without this amendment. That is why I feel so strongly about it. It is not only about one region or group of regions; this amendment is about holding true the government-to-government relationship the United States holds with all tribes. I ask my colleagues to support the amendment to ensure that all Native Americans receive the health care they need and deserve. Members should know it is unlikely that Native Americans in their States are receiving construction funding for Indian Health Service facilities. All this does is say to the Indian Health Service: Come up with a formula that is fair. Otherwise, your State, the tribes you represent, will receive nothing.

Mr. SMITH. I ask for the yeas and nays.

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 February 15, 2008, a young man and his friend were passing through Temple University's campus in Philadelphia, PA, when they found themselves in a physical fight with four Temple students. According to reports, the two non-Temple students were standing in front of a traditionally Jewish fraternity house when they were accosted by the four attackers. One of the four allegedly asked the two visitors if they were Jewish. When they replied that they were not, one of the Temple students evidently began to yell, ``We hate Jews! We hate Jews!'' According to police, one of the two victims was seriously injured and suffered a broken nose and fractured right eye socket. Temple released a letter characterizing the incident as a hate crime. The attackers have been suspended pending a University Disciplinary Committee hearing, while Philadelphia police are pursuing criminal charges and have issued warrants for the suspects' arrest. 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 ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in favor of my amendment No. 3897. The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Cantwell, Murray, Crapo, and Wyden. It clarifies section 301(F) of the Indian health bill regarding innovative approaches to funding Indian Health Services facilities construction. The amendment would allow those innovative approaches to include an area distribution fund. Such a fund would allow the IHS to take a portion of facility construction dollars and cede that money to all 12 IHS areas throughout the country. To be clear, my amendment neither creates an area distribution fund nor does it require the IHS to do so; rather, we are simply giving IHS the authority to do what is needed to bring equity to the system. Currently, the vast majority of Federal funding for construction and modernization of tribal health care facilities goes to tribes in less than 10 States. In fact, my home State of Oregon, among many other States, has never received funds to build an Indian Health Services hospital. This is a function of the current flawed construction formula and of the regrettably low levels of funding for IHS, particularly its facilities construction budget. These two wrongs, however, do not make a right. To correct this, it will take a two-part process: one part to increase funding for IHS and its construction budget, but this is an appropriations issue. Another is to amend the language in the Indian health bill to create some level of parity in the way IHS funds construction projects, and that is an authorizing issue. As we debate today about the authorization of health care funding, I stand here to represent all the tribes that do not have access to funding to improve or build health care facilities because of an archaic formula. If tribes do not have access, no amount of appropriations will make a difference. We have to create the access, and my amendment would do just that. Again, it would authorize, not require, the IHS to use an area distribution fund. The amendment would not rob one IHS area to pay for another. It simply allows other tribes across the Nation to also be eligible for funding. This area distribution fund is not the idea of a single Senator or a single region of the country. It is the product of years of work and compromise by the Indian Health Services and tribes after Congress recognized the need to create a more equitable facilities construction system. This approach is supported by tribes and area health boards that cover IHS areas representing over 400 of the 562 federally recognized tribes that are based in 39 States. For Members and staff currently listening to my floor statement, allow me to read a list of the States where IHS areas want the type of flexibility provided by my amendment. To my colleagues in the Senate, if they have the privilege of representing Native Americans, I hope they will listen to find out if their State is mentioned because, right now, if they are mentioned, they are not getting any construction dollars. It is that simple. The Nashville area, which serves 28 States, includes these States: Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Then the Bemidji area which serves three States: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; the Alaska-California areas which serve those States; the Oklahoma area which serves Oklahoma and Kansas; the Portland area which serves Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Additionally, many tribes in Nevada also support this amendment. The State of the Presiding Officer was mentioned, and so was mine. Mr. President, you are getting no construction dollars because of the way this is managed. Last May, during an Indian Affairs Committee meeting, we were doing a markup on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. I filed a much more prescriptive amendment which would have mandated funds for the area distribution fund. I withdrew that amendment in good faith because I wanted to work with the chairman and the vice chair and my other colleagues to find a win-win compromise on this issue. Since then tribes have put in hundreds of hours of work to find a compromise that could benefit all of Indian country. I have since scaled back my original amendment to reflect and recognize this compromise between the majority of the IHS areas. Unfortunately, my efforts to reach a compromise before floor action were not successful. Yet I believe this issue is better left to the Indian Health Services than Members of Congress. That is why my amendment would simply give them the flexibility to work this out on their own in consultation with the tribes. Opposition to my amendment is based on the notion that IHS funds will remain at the slow drip they are now for the foreseeable future. I wish to change that. I want IHS facility funds to grow and to flow to every area that needs them. But then again, that is an appropriations issue and not an authorization issue, the business before us. I have already written to the administration in support of increased IHS funding, and I intend to follow up on that request with the Appropriations Committee. I am hopeful that request will be met and that some of those funds would make their way to the 43 tribes in the Pacific Northwest or to the 25 tribes in the Nashville IHS area or the 40 tribes in the Oklahoma IHS area or the 109 tribes in the California IHS area, among others across the Nation. My amendment preserves that possibility for every State and every Native American in Indian Country. On numerous occasions, Chairman Dorgan has invoked the words of Chief Joseph, who said: ``Good words do not last long unless they amount to something.'' Chief Joseph said those words after being chased by the U.S. Cavalry out of the Wallowa Valley of Oregon, through the States of Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana toward Canada. Chief Joseph also rightfully said: ``I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.'' I feel the same way. Eight years ago, Congress asked IHS and the tribes to revise the failed system for allocating facilities funding. The compromise they reached may amount to nothing without my amendment. That is why I feel so strongly about this issue. It is not just about one region or a group of regions, this amendment is about holding true to the government-to-government relationship the United States holds with all tribes. I ask my fellow colleagues to support this amendment to ensure that all Native American Indians receive the health care they need--the health care they deserve. I yield the floor.

Mr. SMITH

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that David Harrelson, an intern in my office and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde in Oregon, be granted the privilege of the floor for the remainder of the debate on the Indian Health Care Improvement 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 February 12, 2008, Lawrence King, an eighth grader in Ventura County, CA, was shot at school allegedly for being gay. He was known by classmates as an outcast who often came to school in high heels, jewelry, and makeup. He had come out just weeks before the shooting. King was working in a computer lab along with 20 other students that day when, witnesses say, 14-year-old classmate Brandon McInerney approached Lawrence and shot him in the head with a handgun. King was rushed to a local hospital where he was later declared brain dead. Once the victim died, prosecutors charged McInerney with murder as a premeditated hate crime and gun possession. He will be tried as an adult. 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 ask unanimous consent to call up for consideration amendment No. 3897.

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.