Ken Salazar

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 161 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 159 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to consider S. Res. 139.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, if there is no further business today, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 28, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 117, H.R. 1003.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 88, just received from the House and at the desk.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 158, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 19; that on Thursday, following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that there then be a period for the transaction of morning business for 60 minutes, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the first 30 minutes controlled by the Republican leader or his designee and the final 30 minutes under the control of the majority leader or his designee; that at the close of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 378, the court security bill; and that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived with respect to the cloture motion filed on S. 378.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I thank our Parliamentarians, who always keep us in order in this Chamber, for their great work. They do a wonderful job.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 156, submitted earlier today.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the question currently before the Senate regarding whether to allow Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Let me start out my remarks, first, by acknowledging Senator Harkin and the great work he has done in this field. It is beyond a doubt that he is an expert on embryonic stem cell research, one of our national leading experts in terms of health care, and having been an advocate in that area, he is recognized across this country. I admire his work on this legislation, as well as the work that has been put into this legislation by a number of colleagues, including many on the Republican side of the aisle who have joined this bipartisan coalition to make stem cell research a reality for the people of America. At the end of the day, S. 5 is about hope--about hope for over 1 million Americans who today suffer from the trembling caused by Parkinson's disease. It is about hope for the over 1 million people in America who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. It is about hope for the 17 million Americans who suffer from diabetes, including the hope that we should be giving to those young people who are suffering from juvenile diabetes and have to look at a life of dealing with the difficulties of that illness. It is about hope for the more than 64 million Americans who today suffer from one or more forms of heart disease. So the debate on the floor today is, in fact, about the hope and aspirations of all Americans, including people, many of whom are related to Members in this Chamber today. Scientists in America agree that, without a doubt, embryonic stem cell research holds great potential for curing these and other diseases. It is remarkable that against the conclusive determination of the scientific community, we have the Federal Government in a position where it is actively withholding the financial support that is needed to carry on this very important research for America. That is not the American way. The American way is to open new doors of hope. We ought to be opening new doors of hope as well with the passage of this legislation later today. The reason that scientists are so excited about the potential of embryonic stem cell research--and the reason that this kind of research may hold the cure for a whole host of diseases--is that embryonic stem cells have the potential to become virtually any kind of cell in the human body, such as brain cells, heart cells, or cells that produce insulin. The difficult part of embryonic stem cell research for scientists is controlling the process by which embryonic stem cells become other, more specialized kinds of cells. Much more research into that process is needed. To quote a document prepared by the National Institutes of Health, ``the promise of stem cell therapies is an exciting one, but significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research.'' The Federal funding this legislation authorizes will provide a critical boost to that effort. Mr. President, like millions of other American families, my family has been touched by the ache of loss brought about by Alzheimer's disease. My father died of complications related to the disease only a few years ago. At the end of his life, I wanted nothing more than to be able to help ease his suffering. Now, as I reflect on that difficult time, I think of the families that are currently enduring the same pain mine did, and I want to help them. I trust the vast majority of the scientific community that believes embryonic stem cell research may hold the key to the cures these families are seeking. I also believe that our Government can work to promote this science responsibly by paving the way for treatments that will save millions of lives without destroying others. Toward that end, I believe the legislation passed by Congress last year and before the Senate today represents a measured, responsible step toward tapping into the vast potential that embryonic stem cell research has with respect to finding cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and a wide range of other devastating diseases. In millions of cases, this legislation could mean the difference between a normal life and one of pain and suffering. In millions of other cases, it could mean the difference between life and death. And by authorizing Federal funding only for research on embryonic stem cells that will never become human life and that are donated willingly, it achieves its objectives without destroying the potential for life. To be sure, support from private funds for this research has been welcome. But it is simply not enough. I have heard from scores of scientists in my home State of Colorado--working in university labs as we speak, trying to find cures for our most devastating diseases--who tell me that the Federal funding this legislation would authorize would boost their capabilities exponentially. In addition to the practical impact on American laboratories, however, there is something else to consider. I can think of no other Nation that should lead this research with strict guidelines than the United States. Throughout our Nation's history, America has been the leader in making monumental scientific strides that have made life easier and better for people in our country and all over the world. In a field with such great promise, and at a time where American competitiveness is at the forefront of the Congressional agenda, I believe we must once again be the global leader. Mr. President, I want to be clear that I also believe we should promote alternative methods of creating embryonic stem cells. For that reason, I strongly support the other proposal that is currently before the Senate, S. 30, which would intensify research into these alternative methods. I yield the floor.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to make the health of American children and families a top priority with the Healthy Children and Families Act of 2007, which I introduced earlier today with Senator Specter. I am honored that Senator Specter has co-sponsored this important legislation, and I thank Senator Specter for his leadership and commitment to children's health and to empowering families to lead healthy lives. The Children's Health Insurance Program has successfully improved the health of over six million low-income children, allowing them to grow, learn and reach their fullest potential. In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Finance Committee to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program so that it continues to fulfill its promise to provide quality health care to all low-income children. The reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program provides us with an opportunity to strengthen and improve it. The Healthy Children and Families Act does just that by allowing states to offer nurse home visitation services in their Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance programs. The Healthy Children and Families Act models nurse home visitation services after the Nurse Family Partnership program. The Nurse Family Partnership program provides low-income pregnant women with trained, registered nurses who counsel their clients in their homes on prenatal care, child health and development, proper nutrition, life-coping strategies and skills, healthy family relationships, educational development and opportunities, employment training, family planning information, family support mechanisms and a variety of other services that children and families need to maintain healthy, economically stable lives. Nurse home visitation programs empower women and children to transform their lives, families and communities. The nurses provide the education and tools for pregnant women and their families to improve their health by getting early prenatal care, preventative healthcare and proper nutrition. In addition, the nurses provide help for pregnant women and families to change risky behaviors such as substance abuse, and also teach pregnant women parenting skills so that they can welcome their babies into households that are prepared to raise physically and mentally healthy children. Nurses in the program also help mothers continue their own education and obtain employment so that the family is able to be economically stable. We all recognize that the most critical time for childhood development begins in infancy. Nurse home visitation programs nurture the cognitive development of children during those critical early years so that children are equipped to learn. The success of nurse home visitation services is nothing short of inspiring. Statistics from multiple, controlled studies prove that mothers and children served by nurse visitation services have a: 79 percent reduction in preterm delivery; 48 percent reduction in child abuse and neglect; 59 percent reduction in child arrests; 61 percent fewer arrests of the mother; 72 percent fewer conviction for the mother; 46 percent increase in father presence in household; 32 percent fewer subsequent pregnancies; 50 percent reduction in language delays of child age 21 months; 67 percent reduction in childhood behavioral problems at age 6. With these amazing, life-altering results, it is no surprise that nurse visitation programs have been found to save taxpayer dollars. The Rand Corporation conducted a cost-benefit analysis and found that for every dollar spent on Nurse Family Partnership services, a savings of $5.70 is yielded in diminished health care costs and governmental and social costs associated with child abuse and neglect, unwanted pregnancy, childhood developmental delays, and criminal justice costs. The life transforming impact of nurse home visitation programs led the Brookings Institute to recently publish a report in which it identified nurse home visitation services as one of the most cost- effective returns on investment for children. The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence has identified nurse home visitation services such as Nurse Family Partnership as a ``blueprint'' for violence prevention. At a time when youth violence is on the rise, these programs hold the key to reducing violent conduct. The Healthy Children and Families Act will allow states to offer nurse home visitation services to over half a million pregnant women annually. The Act will empower mothers and children to live healthy and economically stable lives that enrich their communities. Moreover, the Act will save scarce resources by improving prenatal health, birth outcomes, increasing intervals between first and subsequent births, reducing early childhood injuries and hospitalizations, reducing child abuse and neglect, reducing involvement in the criminal justice system, and improving maternal employment and economic self-sufficiency of families. I encourage my colleagues to support the Healthy Children and Families Act as cost effective, smart legislation that will transform the health and lives of children and families.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to make the health of American children and families a top priority with the Healthy Children and Families Act of 2007, which I introduced earlier today with Senator Specter. I am honored that Senator Specter has co-sponsored this important legislation, and I thank Senator Specter for his leadership and commitment to children's health and to empowering families to lead healthy lives. The Children's Health Insurance Program has successfully improved the health of over six million low-income children, allowing them to grow, learn and reach their fullest potential. In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Finance Committee to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program so that it continues to fulfill its promise to provide quality health care to all low-income children. The reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program provides us with an opportunity to strengthen and improve it. The Healthy Children and Families Act does just that by allowing states to offer nurse home visitation services in their Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance programs. The Healthy Children and Families Act models nurse home visitation services after the Nurse Family Partnership program. The Nurse Family Partnership program provides low-income pregnant women with trained, registered nurses who counsel their clients in their homes on prenatal care, child health and development, proper nutrition, life-coping strategies and skills, healthy family relationships, educational development and opportunities, employment training, family planning information, family support mechanisms and a variety of other services that children and families need to maintain healthy, economically stable lives. Nurse home visitation programs empower women and children to transform their lives, families and communities. The nurses provide the education and tools for pregnant women and their families to improve their health by getting early prenatal care, preventative healthcare and proper nutrition. In addition, the nurses provide help for pregnant women and families to change risky behaviors such as substance abuse, and also teach pregnant women parenting skills so that they can welcome their babies into households that are prepared to raise physically and mentally healthy children. Nurses in the program also help mothers continue their own education and obtain employment so that the family is able to be economically stable. We all recognize that the most critical time for childhood development begins in infancy. Nurse home visitation programs nurture the cognitive development of children during those critical early years so that children are equipped to learn. The success of nurse home visitation services is nothing short of inspiring. Statistics from multiple, controlled studies prove that mothers and children served by nurse visitation services have a: 79 percent reduction in preterm delivery; 48 percent reduction in child abuse and neglect; 59 percent reduction in child arrests; 61 percent fewer arrests of the mother; 72 percent fewer conviction for the mother; 46 percent increase in father presence in household; 32 percent fewer subsequent pregnancies; 50 percent reduction in language delays of child age 21 months; 67 percent reduction in childhood behavioral problems at age 6. With these amazing, life-altering results, it is no surprise that nurse visitation programs have been found to save taxpayer dollars. The Rand Corporation conducted a cost-benefit analysis and found that for every dollar spent on Nurse Family Partnership services, a savings of $5.70 is yielded in diminished health care costs and governmental and social costs associated with child abuse and neglect, unwanted pregnancy, childhood developmental delays, and criminal justice costs. The life transforming impact of nurse home visitation programs led the Brookings Institute to recently publish a report in which it identified nurse home visitation services as one of the most cost- effective returns on investment for children. The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence has identified nurse home visitation services such as Nurse Family Partnership as a ``blueprint'' for violence prevention. At a time when youth violence is on the rise, these programs hold the key to reducing violent conduct. The Healthy Children and Families Act will allow states to offer nurse home visitation services to over half a million pregnant women annually. The Act will empower mothers and children to live healthy and economically stable lives that enrich their communities. Moreover, the Act will save scarce resources by improving prenatal health, birth outcomes, increasing intervals between first and subsequent births, reducing early childhood injuries and hospitalizations, reducing child abuse and neglect, reducing involvement in the criminal justice system, and improving maternal employment and economic self-sufficiency of families. I encourage my colleagues to support the Healthy Children and Families Act as cost effective, smart legislation that will transform the health and lives of children and families.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have an additional 5 minutes to speak about another amendment, No. 657, which has been offered by the Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to speak in opposition to amendment No. 648 offered by my friend from Oklahoma. I commend the Senator from Minnesota for her comments and standing tall for security for the national Republican Convention in Minneapolis, and I am here to stand tall in support of that Republican Convention in Minneapolis as well as to say we have to do the same thing in Denver, CO, where we will have the national Democratic Convention in November 2008. Why is this money important, and why is it important at this point in time? We are living in a new world, as everybody in this Chamber recognizes. In these days after 9/11, we have to realize targets in America are vulnerable areas that would likely be hit by those who wish to do our Nation harm. If you are one of the bad people and you say, where am I going to do the most harm in this Nation, you would want to focus on those places where you have the national leadership assembled. In the conventions for both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party in these two cities, you will have the President of the United States, you will have the Vice President of the United States, you will have 100 Members, I am sure, of the Senate, and you will have 435 Members of the House of Representatives, as well as the national leadership all located in one place. Therefore, it makes sense to have these events designated as security events, as Secretary Chertoff has already done on March 5 when he said these are security events we ought to provide funding for so we can provide the kind of security that will protect the Americans who will be attending these events. I wish to look back at what has happened in the past, in terms of what happened in Boston and New York, and I will make a couple of points. The first is for those conventions, back in 2004, when President George Bush was elected to be President of the United States, this Congress provided emergency funding to take care of the security needs in both Boston and New York. We did that in an emergency supplemental attached to the Department of Defense appropriations bill back in 2004. If it was good enough to do it in 2004, it ought to be good enough to do it in 2008. Secondly, there is an enormous amount of planning that is required when you put on these kinds of events where you have hundreds of thousands of people who are watching and coming to these events in both of these cities. As the former attorney general for the State of Colorado, and having been involved with local, State, and Federal law enforcement, and planning for these kinds of events in the past, I can tell you the enormity of planning that has to take place is something that boggles the mind. We are not that far away from these national conventions. These national conventions are going to happen in August of 2008. That is a little more than a year away. How can we provide the security needs for these two conventions, how can we provide the security needs that are required to protect this country and the leadership of America, unless we provide the funding now? It is necessary for law and order to be able to take every precaution and to provide security at these events. Third, I say to my friend from Oklahoma, who has said we can do this in the normal course of the appropriations cycle, if we look at what happened in 2006, there was a failure of the appropriations cycle in this Congress. If that were to occur again in this Congress, which I dearly hope does not happen under this leadership, but if it were to occur again, that we are not able to get to the normal appropriations cycle, we simply would not have the resources and the time to be able to put together the kind of security plan for the 2008 conventions in Minneapolis and Denver. It is important to this country that these two historic events, which will ultimately lead to the election of the next President of the United States in 2008, have the kind of security that is required to make sure all of the people in the communities which are hosting these conventions have the kind of security we can all be proud of. I ask my colleagues in this Chamber to join me in opposition to amendment No. 648, the amendment that is offered by my friend from Oklahoma. Mr. President, may I inquire as to the time remaining for myself?