Jim Talent

Mr. TALENT

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Judicial and Executive Nominations on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, at 3 p.m. in Senate Dirksen Building Room 226. Panel I: Members of Congress, TBA. Panel II: Michael A. Chagares to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit; Gary Hampton Miller to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas; Sharee M. Freeman to be Director, Community Relations Service, U.S. Department of Justice; Jeffrey L. Sedgwick to be Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations be authorized to meet on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 9:30 a.m., for a hearing entitled ``GSA Contractors Who Cheat On Their Taxes and What Should Be Done About It.''

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 14, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed business meeting.

Mr. TALENT

Mr. TALENT. I ask unanimous consent that Dan Brintzinghoffer of my office be permitted the privilege of the floor during the duration of his service with my office.

Mr. TALENT

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, today I wish to salute Captain Thomas M. Jackson and Sergeant Stacey Murley, Missourians who have valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strive every day to make their community safer from this drug menace. I commend each of them for their exemplary service, and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring them for their efforts. Sergeant Murley, under the command of Captain Jackson, has run a chemical diversion task force that has disrupted the precursor market for meth cooks throughout the country. In the past 4 years alone, the task force has accounted for the seizure of over 300,000 cold tablets that were undoubtedly going to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. These cases have led to nearly a thousand arrests and hundreds of State and Federal cases. The members of the task force work daily to identify meth cooks as they shop at hundreds of stores throughout St. Louis County for common household items used to manufacture meth. Because of their dedication, these officers have been able to locate hundreds of clandestine labs in Missouri and Illinois. Mr. President, the efforts of Captain Jackson and Sergeant Murley have been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share their accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish them all the best for the future. Sheriff John J. Jordan Mr. President, I also salute Sheriff John J. Jordan, a Missourian who has valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strives every day to make his community safer from this drug menace. I commend him for his exemplary service and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring him for his efforts. In 2000, Sheriff Jordan worked to establish the Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine Relief Team, MOSMART, in cooperation with Missouri sheriffs and regional task forces to fight the growing problem of methamphetamine in Missouri. The project continues to offer vital assistance to sheriffs and rural drug task forces in their fight against clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. This program has helped to hire officers throughout the State and train them to investigate and dismantle thousands of labs across Missouri. Sheriff Jordan's advocacy has been instrumental in providing rural sheriffs' departments and local task forces with the resources they need to tackle the meth problem. Mr. President, the efforts of Sheriff Jordan has been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share his accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish him all the best for the future. Captain Kevin M. O'Sullivan Mr. President, I now salute Captain Kevin M. O'Sullivan, a Missourian who has valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strives every day to make his community safer from this drug menace. I commend him for his exemplary service and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring him for his efforts. Captain O'Sullivan is the head of the Metro Meth Task Force, one of the oldest methamphetamine lab task forces in the State. This task force has been working meth labs for over a decade and has been a leader for other task forces in the State. The Metro Meth Task Force has formed great partnerships with numerous State and local agencies in Missouri and has worked with the State of Kansas in tracking meth lab operators across State lines. The Metro Meth Task Force is a shining example of cooperation in the fight against meth labs. Mr. President, the efforts of Captain O'Sullivan has been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share his accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish him all the best for the future. Chief Bradley W. Harris Mr. President, I also salute Unit Chief Bradley W. Harris, a Missourian who has valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strives every day to make his community safer from this drug menace. I commend him for his exemplary service and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring him for his efforts. In order to address concerns from multiple law enforcement agencies around the State about the problems associated with cleaning up meth labs, Chief Harris developed a State meth lab cleanup program that has developed into a national model. After securing funding from the EPA, Chief Harris established a program to ensure that the State of Missouri safely and legally removes and destroys the hazardous waste removed from meth labs. This program allows State and local officers who have received training to safely transport hazardous waste to 1 of 20 containers in the State that are operated by local fire and law enforcement officials and maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Since the first container was opened in October 1998, the 20 containers have processed meth lab waste from 9,525 labs across the State. This accounts for 378,491 pounds of hazardous waste and has saved the State approximately $22 million over conventional waste handling. Mr. President, the efforts of Chief Harris has been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share his accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish him all the best for the future. Sergeant Jason J. Grellner Mr. President, I wish to salute SGT Jason J. Grellner, a Missourian who has valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strives every day to make his community safer from this drug menace. I commend him for his exemplary service and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring him for his efforts. Sergeant Grellner, in his work for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit, has been influential in efforts to curb meth production. His unit within the sheriff's department has implemented many local and statewide programs aimed at stopping meth labs as well as ending and preventing addiction to substance abuse. These programs include CHEM, Companies Helping Eliminate Meth; PARTY, Peers Acting Responsibly in Teenage Years; the Franklin County Families in Transition Program; and the Anhydrous Ammonia Tank Lock Program. Sergeant Grellner has contributed to the vigilant enforcement of meth laws in Franklin County, leading to the investigation and seizure of over 650 labs. As part of several State task forces and State and national coalitions, he has helped to bring together prevention, rehabilitation, and law enforcement experts to fight to keep Missouri safe from meth labs. Mr. President, the efforts of Sergeant Grellner has been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share his accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish him all the best for the future. Sergeant Sonya Zimmerle Mr. President, I salute SGT Sonya Zimmerle, a Missourian who has valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strives every day to make her community safer from this drug menace. I commend her for her exemplary service and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring her for his efforts. In her current assignment with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, Sergeant Zimmerle has assisted in the creation and maintenance of the Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force and Drug Endangered Children Task Force, which have served as vital resources for numerous law enforcement and government officials in Missouri. Additionally, Sergeant Zimmerle has been an integral component of a multistate working group that has sought to address the proliferation of methamphetamine throughout the country and is responsible for disseminating significant information shared by the group's members and maintaining cohesiveness as the membership continues to grow. Mr. President, the efforts of Sergeant Zimmerle has been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share her accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish her all the best for the future. Major James F. Keathley Captain Ronald K. Replogle Mr. President, I also wish to salute MAJ James F. Keathley and CPT Ronald K. Replogle, Missourians who have valiantly fought against the meth epidemic and who strive every day to make their communities safer from this drug menace. I commend each of them for their exemplary service and join the Office of National Drug Control Policy in honoring them for their efforts. As the current and past directors of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control, Major Keathley and Captain Replogle have been instrumental in bringing much needed training to State and local officers regarding the safe investigation and handling of hazardous materials involved with methamphetamine labs. Through a partnership with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has been able to provide clandestine methamphetamine lab training to over 800 law enforcement officers throughout the country. They have been instrumental in securing funding to help fund local multijurisdictional task forces throughout the State. As members of State and Federal narcotics agents' coalitions, they represent officers throughout the country who have been on the front lines of the meth battle for over a decade. Through this involvement, they have influenced the national debate on comprehensive methamphetamine legislation and assisted in passing the Combat Meth Act. Mr. President, the efforts of Major Keathley and Captain Replogle have been essential in fighting the proliferation of methamphetamine in Missouri and throughout the United States. I am honored to share their accomplishments with my colleagues, and I wish them all the best for the future.

Mr. TALENT

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I rise today to engage the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Specter, in a colloquy regarding the intent of the Combat Methamphetamine Act of 2005. Section 701 of the PATRIOT Act of 2005 establishes restrictions on the sales of precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine. As you know, the methamphetamine abuse and trafficking problem is growing in our country, and this legislation will help to combat the epidemic. The methamphetamine control provisions of the act are intended to address those precursor chemicals sold without a prescription. I know that Chairman Specter and I agree that exempting pseudoephedrine products provided via a legitimate prescription is critical. Physicians and other health care providers sometimes prescribe pseudoephedrine products in amounts that could violate the daily and monthly limits included in this legislation. Patients who need more pseudoephedrine than the law would allow need the option of getting pseudoephedrine under a prescription, and Senator Specter and I agree that the methamphetamine provisions should not impede the care of legitimate patients. Our new requirements focus on products purchased outside the current prescription process. We are seeking to stop the bad actors from manufacturing and trafficking methamphetamine and have no desire to prevent proper patient care. Many States that have enacted laws to combat the methamphetamine epidemic have also included this type of exemption. It just makes sense.

Mr. TALENT. I thank the distinguished chairman for this clarification.

Mr. TALENT

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at 4 p.m., in executive session to consider certain pending military nominations.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 1, 2006, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on `` consideration of regulatory relief proposals.''

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 1 at 9:30 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony regarding the state of the economies and fiscal affairs in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to hold an oversight hearing on the status of the Yucca Mountain Project on Wednesday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 3 p.m. for a hearing on ``Fighting the AIDS Epidemic of Today: Reauthorizing the Ryan White CARE Act.''

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing titled ``The Department of Homeland Security's Budget Submission for Fiscal Year 2007.''

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a joint oversight hearing with the House Committee on Resources on the Settlement of Cobell v. Norton.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 2 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. Witness List Panel I: The Honorable Larry Craig, United States Senator, [R-ID]; The Honorable Mike Crapo, United States Senator, [R-ID]. Panel II: Norman Randy Smith to be the United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Patrick Joseph Schlitz to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate for a hearing entitled, ``The Nomination of Eric Thorson to be Inspector General of the Small Business Administration'' on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, beginning at 2 p.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 1, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed briefing.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Airland be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 1, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., in open session to receive testimony on Army transformation and the future combat systems acquisition strategy in review of the Defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007 and the future years Defense program.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction be authorized to meet on March 1, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., on Winter Storms.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 1, 2006, at 9:30 a.m., in open session to receive testimony on Active component, Reserve component, and civilian personnel programs in review of the Defense authorization request for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to review the roll of the Forest Service and other Federal agencies in protection the Health and Welfare of foreign guest workers carrying out tree planting and other service contracts on National Forest System Lands, and to consider related Forest Service guidance and contract modifications issued in recent weeks.

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship be authorized to meet to conduct a joint hearing on ``Federal Strategies to End Border Violence'' on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 9 a.m. in Dirksen 226. Panel I: The Honorable Paul K. Charlton, United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ; David Aguilar, Chief of Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC; and Marcy Forman, Director of Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Panel II: The Honorable Larry A. Dever, Sheriff of Cochise County, AZ; The Honorable Wayne Jernigan, Sheriff of Valverde County, TX; Lavogyer Durham, Manager of El Tule Ranch, Falfurrias, TX; and T.J. Bonner, President of the National Border Patrol Council, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Campo, CA.

Mr. TALENT

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

Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may be permitted to speak for no longer than about 20 minutes as if in morning business and that the time be charged postcloture.

Mr. TALENT. I thank my friend from Wisconsin for letting me have the floor to do this. I am happy to yield back the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.