Mark Udall

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today, as I have been every day, to urge my colleagues to work with me and to work with the Presiding Officer to extend the production tax credit for wind. The PTC, as it is known, has broad economic effects, positive effects all across our great country. I am going to talk today, as I have each day, about an individual State that is known for its wind resources, and today that is the great State of Kansas. Kansas is already known as a national leader in both wind manufacturing and production. In fact, Kansas has the most wind projects under construction, as we sit here today, and is on track to almost double their installed wind energy capacity. We can see from this map of Kansas that there is a lot of activity. For example, there is construction currently underway in what will be the largest wind farm in Kansas, which is located just southwest of Wichita, in south central Kansas. The Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm will cover about 66,000 acres, and it should be up and running by the end of the year. The two companies running the project--BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power--have invested over $800 million and have employed 500 construction workers. Those are impressive numbers wherever you might find them. But that is not all. Once this project is done and operating, the local community should receive over $1 million annually in tax payments from the project. There are some 200 property owners who own the land under the turbines, and they will receive a similar amount in royalty payments. That is real money for real Americans, all thanks to wind energy and the production tax credit. These are jobs and investments that are created here at home, and they create good-paying jobs in Kansas, helping the local economy and providing critical income for rural communities. I have to say this is especially important as the drought takes a steep toll on farmers across the Midwest this year. Wind power, if you think about it, is a cash crop that always ripens and always returns the investment in the marketplace. This is just one project in Kansas that isn't even completed yet, so let me talk about the overall effect of wind energy in Kansas. The wind energy industry in Kansas supports 3,000 jobs, it results in $3.7 million in property taxes from wind projects that go to local communities, and 8 percent of Kansas's power comes from wind. Those are impressive numbers, and they would only grow as Kansas invests. There are thousands of Kansas wind energy jobs supporting millions of dollars of local tax revenue and, as I pointed out here, almost one- tenth of Kansas's total power needs. This harnessing of the wind has truly become an economic driver, and it presents enormous opportunity for this important Midwestern State. I would like to focus on one county. Lane County's economic development operation is headed up by Dan Hartman. Dan moved to western Kansas 5 years ago, in large part because he wanted to live in the heart of rural America, but he also wanted to help create a better, more secure energy future for America, with Kansas playing a central role. Since then, Dan has been working with counties, farmers, and landowners to bring as much wind energy as possible to western Kansas, and I think those possibilities are almost unlimited because there is enough potential wind power in Kansas to meet the needs of Kansas some 90 times over. That brings me to the point I wish to make today, and it is why I keep coming to the floor. The uncertainty we have created by failing to extend the wind production tax credit, unfortunately, has sidelined roughly $3.5 billion in wind energy investments. That just defies common sense. Back home in my State of Colorado, I keep hearing from my fellow Coloradans: Why the heck aren't you in Congress working to save wind energy jobs right now? To Dan Hartman, the solution seems simple, and I want to quote him. He said: I look at the wind energy industry as a matter of survival and our future in Kansas. If we don't extend the PTC, we're throwing away our future. We need it badly. If you really look at the money, the PTC cost is dwarfed by the capital investment it encourages. Dan has it right, and we should listen here in the Congress. If we refuse to develop our wind energy resources, there are a lot of countries that are willing to outcompete us--take China, for example. We have to work to keep these jobs and that investment here in the United States, and that is why the Congress must extend the production tax credit as soon as possible. Mr. President, you also know we have bipartisan support. This isn't solely a Republican or a Democratic issue. Senator Moran from Kansas, my good friend, has joined me and others to make this happen. We have offered an amendment to the bipartisan small business lending bill that would extend the PTC by 2 years, until the end of 2014. We need the PTC. It equals jobs. We need to pass it as soon as possible. I want to ask my colleagues again, as I have every day, to join Senator Moran, Senator Udall of New Mexico, Senator Thune, and others to help pass this much needed, commonsense, bipartisan amendment or find another way to extend the PTC to ensure that more investment and more jobs in States such as Kansas, Colorado, and others all across our country will be the result. Mr. President, I thank the Chair, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I would be happy to yield.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I am here on the floor, as I have been for a succession of morning speeches, to talk about the importance of extending the tax credit for wind power. If you look in every corner of our great country, the production tax credit has resulted in good-paying jobs for Americans--jobs, I might add, that can't be exported overseas. I have taken a tour of the country. This morning I wish to highlight the beautiful State of South Carolina. South Carolina is one of the few States that do not have installed onshore wind power, but that has not stopped South Carolina from attracting literally dozens of manufacturers that support 1,000 good-paying wind energy jobs across the State. As we look at this chart of the State of South Carolina, we can see that the green circles acknowledge the manufacturing facilities that built components for wind turbines. Nearly every component in a wind turbine is built in South Carolina. I wish to highlight Greenville, up here in the northwestern part of South Carolina. GE has a facility there, and they have designed the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine that is a hallmark of GE. That facility supports more than a dozen suppliers and hundreds of jobs across the State. One of the most exciting ventures outside of manufacturing that is going on in South Carolina is the massive investment that has been made in innovation. In 2009 Clemson University won a $45 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Department of Energy for the construction of a brandnew facility that will be the largest wind turbine testing facility in the world. In that facility, they will test cutting-edge drivetrain technologies for the next generation of wind turbines. Now, South Carolina has doubled down on that support of wind innovation. The university donors and other partners have joined Clemson and have come up with another $53 million to supplement the $45 million that came through the Recovery Act. That is $98 million that will be an investment in South Carolina's economy and in our wind energy future. So not only will there be good-paying jobs created at this wind turbine drivetrain testing facility, but this facility will be a global leader in developing wind turbines capable of 3 to 10 times as much power as wind turbines today. I was under the impression that wind turbine technology had matured and that we had wrung out every electron possible. I have been told we can increase the yields by 3 to 10 times through this kind of research. This facility will focus on onshore and offshore wind turbines. So this is crucial research. We know in Colorado that the presence of top-notch research and development institutions attracts incredibly talented individuals and often results in the creation of new companies that commercialize the new and innovative technologies developed in these R&D facilities. I know that in the Presiding Officer's State, that is a formula for success. When we make the investments such as South Carolina, Colorado, and New York are making, we draw top-notch resources that are able to exploit in a responsible way natural resources. The grant I mentioned combined with the research dollars that have come from the private sector represent an enormous opportunity for South Carolina and for our country in turn. We already see millions of dollars that have been attracted into South Carolina from global investors because they see the potential of what is going to happen at Clemson. The point I want to make is that if we don't extend the wind tax credit, the PTC, then these wind manufacturers may not have the wherewithal, frankly, to team up with Clemson, to commercialize the new technologies that will be developed in South Carolina, and then the jobs that follow won't be created. That just doesn't make sense. South Carolina and Clemson are going to be global leaders in the development of these new technologies. The question is, Where will these new turbines be built? I know, for one, that the Chinese would be happy to step in and take away our manufacturing jobs. But if we get our act together and extend the PTC, then these wind turbines will be built here in America. They will be built in South Carolina, they will be built in Colorado, and they will be built in Pennsylvania. They will be built all over our country in literally every corner. But if we let the PTC expire, we risk shipping this industry and our good-paying jobs overseas. Coloradans keep telling me--and I know in the Presiding Officer's home State as well--that there is no reason to outsource these jobs. There is no reason to outsource energy production, and there is no reason to handicap a growing industry that has helped make us and our country more energy independent. Let's pass the extension of the PTC today. Let's create jobs today. Let's build this clean energy economy. Let's pursue an all-of-the-above strategy. Let's do it here in the United States, and let's do it now. Madam President, thank you for your attention and your interest. I yield the floor.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I am here on the Senate floor to highlight our country's clean energy future.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, from June 25 to June 29, 2012, I was unable to vote on Senate rollcall votes due to personal family reasons, as well as the devastating wildfires that were burning in many parts of Colorado. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on vote Nos. 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, and 172.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise once again to discuss the production tax credit for wind energy, and I wish to urge all my colleagues to extend it as soon as possible. I have been coming to the Senate floor on an ongoing basis to highlight the tremendous growth of the wind energy industry from Colorado, to Texas, to Pennsylvania. Today I would like to talk about the future of clean energy jobs in the great State of Rhode Island. If we look around our country, we find success stories everywhere, and wind energy is a bright spot for communities across America that supports good manufacturing jobs in places such as the United States and Rhode Island, and this is despite the great recession. Rhode Island has dedicated itself to building a clean energy future, a key part of which is offshore wind energy. The entire eastern seaboard has massive offshore wind potential, and Rhode Island is one of the first States to begin construction on a project off of its coast. If we look at the chart I have here, we can see the potential for job creation, and we also see that Rhode Island is on track to meet 75 percent of its energy needs through offshore wind development. Rhode Island has been the beneficiary of a number of companies locating themselves there, but one in particular I wish to call attention to is TPI Composites. It has been manufacturing wind turbine blades at its facilities in Warren, RI, for years. The decision to move to Warren was a good one for TPI because Rhode Island is known for its manufacturing acumen. And good-paying jobs have been the result of TPI's locating itself in Warren, RI. In fact, I might also mention that President Obama just paid a visit to a TPI facility in Iowa last month. TPI has also opened a facility just across the Rhode Island State line in Fall River, MA. They will also focus on the development and manufacturing of wind blades for offshore wind turbines. But I want to return to the reason I am coming to the floor of the Senate on a daily basis. With the looming expiration of the production tax credit, orders for new wind blades have dropped and TPI has been forced to cut its Rhode Island workforce by 15 percent. In fact, its new facility in Fall River sits empty and idle as new wind blade development has been put on hold. This is why I keep coming to the floor--because we need to pass an extension of the wind production tax credit. It equals jobs. We need to pass it as soon as possible. It is a travesty that we have not extended the wind production tax credit, particularly at a time when we still need to create more jobs. I know the two Senators from Rhode Island agree with me. Communities such as Warren, RI, have benefited from the growth in the wind energy industry, but they are still hurting because of the great recession. Our failure to act is making things worse. We face a stark choice: We can let the PTC expire and continue to lose good-paying Rhode Island jobs or we can invest in America's future and take advantage of a manufacturing sector that is poised to expand. The development of offshore wind is coming to the eastern seaboard, and the opportunities for American manufacturers such as TPI to grow their business and beat our international competitors are right there within our grasp. There is simply so much more economic growth possible if we would just simply extend the PTC. Our inaction is stunting the growth of this important industry today. That is why I urge my colleagues to join us in extending the wind PTC as soon as possible. I am pleased my colleagues from Rhode Island--who of course know their home State better than I could ever hope to--have joined me, Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse. They know the difficult economic challenges their State has faced and they know how important the production tax credit is to jobs in their State. They have spent their public service careers fighting for the middle class, fighting for policies that create good-paying, American-based jobs. I am very much interested in hearing what they have to say on this important subject. So as my colleagues have come to expect, I will be back on the floor tomorrow talking about the wind PTC every day, until we pass the extension of it. I look forward to hearing from my colleagues from the State of Rhode Island.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the distinguished Aspen Center for Physics, located in Aspen, CO, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. I offer these congratulations on behalf of Senator Bennet of Colorado as well. We would like to commend the Aspen Center for Physics for their dedication and excellence in the field of theoretical physics. Since the 1960s the Center has been one of the world's foremost research centers for the pursuit of basic scientific understanding on topics ranging from cosmology to biophysics. With Federal funding primarily from the National Science Foundation and the support of dozens of corporate, institutional, and individual sponsors, the Aspen Center for Physics has become an international hub for revolutionary physics research. More than 10,000 scientists, representing 65 countries and including 52 Nobel Laureates, have participated in Center programs. They come to Aspen to converse with their peers, conduct groundbreaking research, and explore uncharted areas in theoretical physics. The atmosphere created by the Aspen Center for Physics is unique. While surrounded by beautiful landscapes, researchers are encouraged to participate in informal dialogue and pursue creative and novel paths in their research, both individually and in collaborative groups. The unstructured environment has been key to the exchange of ideas among the world's best theoretical physicists, and it has led to impressive results: more than 10,000 scientific papers and books have cited the Center's influence. The Center is also a good neighbor. For more than 25 years, the Center has offered free public lectures on cutting-edge science to the community. It offers informative and interactive programs designed to engage children in learning and get them excited about science. Physicists from the Center also visit local schools and serve as mentors for students. Colorado is fortunate to be home to the Aspen Center for Physics. Senator Bennet and I would like to congratulate them for an impressive first 50 years and wish them continued success for the next 50 years.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, good morning to you. Good morning to my colleagues. PTC for Wind Energy I am here again on the Senate floor to urge all of my colleagues to vote for an extension of the production tax credit for wind energy, otherwise known as the PTC. Today, as I have been doing, I will focus on an individual State. I am going to look at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and show all of us the promise it holds as a wind energy manufacturing hub, as well as the negative effects that will occur if we do not extend the production tax credit. Pennsylvania has a strong blue-collar background and an extraordinary number of highly skilled workers. With those factors, those positive elements in Pennsylvania, it has seamlessly transitioned into a wind energy powerhouse. Look at this map I have in the Chamber of the State of Pennsylvania. You will see, from Philadelphia to Rockwood, from Pittsburgh to Scranton, there are wind projects all over the State. Those wind projects have created good-paying jobs and stability for Pennsylvania families. Pennsylvania, as I have alluded to, has long been a center of manufacturing in the United States, and the wind industry has taken note. You can see these green circles on this map. Each one of those indicates a manufacturing facility that makes parts for wind turbines in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. That represents over 20 plants and hundreds of employees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I would suggest that the State of Pennsylvania is only beginning to realize its potential when it comes to the wind energy industry. My colleagues know I have been on the Senate floor talking about the economic benefits of wind energy. I want to highlight what has happened in Pennsylvania. If we look at this chart, in Pennsylvania, the wind energy industry supports 4,000 jobs. There are 180,000 homes that are powered by wind, and there is a conservative $1.4 million in property taxes from wind projects that go to local communities. So this is an important set of numbers. It is money, particularly on the tax side, that helps local communities pay for basic services, and it is critical in this time of decreasing local and State budgets. If we think about it, all of these figures--the jobs, the revenues, the investments--are prime for significant growth going forward. But that future and that growth are going to be threatened unless we act, unless the Congress acts to extend the production tax credit. Just last week, Gamesa--which is a global leader in the manufacturing of wind turbines--announced it is ending the development of the Shaffer Mountain Wind Farm, which is in northeastern Somerset County. This project would have ultimately ended up with 30 new wind turbines, and it was planned to come online in 2013. That is just 6 months from now. But because of the uncertainty tied to Federal policies, such as the production tax credit, Gamesa has sidelined this project. In short, our inaction is costing this community jobs, this Commonwealth of Pennsylvania jobs. It does not make any sense in the current economic environment we now face and as our Nation is desperately focused on becoming more energy independent. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette made the point that this is the third wind project under development that has been stopped--all in the last month--just because of the uncertainty we have created here by not extending the PTC. These are on-the-ground examples of how congressional inaction is costing American jobs and investment. I know the Acting President pro tempore knows this is not a partisan or regional issue. There is strong bipartisan support for extending the production tax credit, and the wind industry has a presence in almost every single State in our country. So if we look at the overall picture, this is not the time for companies such as Gamesa to grow, reluctant to invest in the future. So we have to expand the PTC. It will incent this industry to continue its rapid growth, and it will build a strong foundation for a 21st-century clean energy economy. So I am again on the floor urging my colleagues to work with me to extend the wind production tax credit as soon as possible. As I close, I want to highlight an event that is on Capitol Hill today where Members, staff, and others can learn more about the potential of wind energy, as well as other types of renewable and energy-efficient technology. That event is the 15th Annual Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO. It is underway all day in the Cannon Caucus Room on the House side. The bipartisan Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, which I cochair along with Senators Lieberman and Crapo, is an honorary cohost of the event. I encourage all of us to go over there, look at the technologies. They are awe inspiring. They are awesome. They are truly the future. When we implement policies that will help these technologies penetrate all of these various markets, we are going to continue to be a leader in the clean energy economy. So I will be back next week to talk about the wind production tax credit. I will be here every day until we pass it and extend it. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Brown of Ohio.) The clerk will call the roll.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Oklahoma. I rise in support of this important amendment. I would also like to note that this provision is included in a larger bill I introduced this week to reform our Presidential public financing system. I would welcome support for that broader initiative. This is a bipartisan short-term step we can take to preserve more money for publicly funded candidates who are running for President instead of using that money to fund what we know now as expensive parties in our conventions. So I would urge a ``yes'' vote. This is a way to get our fiscal house in order. It is a small step, but it is an important step. I thank the Senator from Oklahoma for his leadership in this matter.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to oppose S.J. Res. 37, a resolution of disapproval of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, offered by Senator Inhofe. The Senator from Oklahoma is a powerful advocate for his point of view, but I respectfully disagree that we do not need to control the emission of mercury and other toxics into our air. This vote is one in a continuous drumbeat of attacks on environmental rules we have seen of late. It is unfortunate that some of my colleagues are attacking clean air and water rules with such fervor, especially in the name of economic recovery. When it comes to putting America back on firm economic footing, we should be working towards a comprehensive budget solution that shows the American people and the world that Congress can still function in the face of major challenges rather than with attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet so often we hear vague, catch-all criticisms that upcoming EPA rules--real or imagined--will create uncertainty in the regulated community, impeding economic recovery. The irony is that attacks that seek to delay or remand EPA rules only exacerbate and prolong regulatory uncertainty. Also, recall that Congress directed EPA in the Clean Air Act more than 20 years ago to develop many of the rules the agency is currently working on. That is the case with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Many other rules are coming about as a result of court orders. So, put simply, EPA is doing its job. To be sure, Congress also has a job to do when it comes to oversight of administration rules. For instance, I have been and will continue to work with EPA to make sure EPA actions respect the realities of life in rural and arid communities. This is especially important when it comes to regulations impacting Colorado water users and our farmers and ranchers. However, wholesale assault on an agency whose mission is to protect human health and the environment is neither a recipe for economic recovery nor a path to fostering healthier communities within which our families and neighbors live. Let me turn specifically to the resolution of disapproval offered by Senator Inhofe. Many of my colleagues have described on the Senate floor the various health benefits of the rule. I would like to associate myself with their remarks, because the health benefits of controlling mercury emissions are remarkable: as many as 11,000 fewer premature deaths each year; 130,000 fewer cases of childhood asthma each year; and 4,700 fewer heart attacks each year just to name a few. But I want to add two other aspects to the debate. One, clean air and water are good for our economy. In Colorado, for example, outdoor recreation and tourism make up the second largest sector of our economy. Coloradans enjoy skiing, hiking, hunting, angling, camping, boating and many other outdoor activities, and many Americans come to Colorado for these experiences. Our outdoor recreation economy contributes $10 billion a year to the State's economy and supports over 100,000 Colorado jobs. This isn't limited to Colorado. Nationally, the outdoor recreation economy is worth $646 billion, supporting 6.1 million jobs. Clean air and water are an integral part of the national outdoor recreation system. It can not function if our children are too sick to come outside to play or our waters are too polluted to fish. Two, investing in our infrastructure through modern pollution controls is how we ensure long-term economic recovery. ADA-Environmental Solutions is a company in Highlands Ranch, CO. ADA- Environmental Solutions is the leading producer of mercury control equipment for utilities across the country. Part of their mission is to ``sustain the viability of coal'' through the development of technologies that ``reduce emissions, increase efficiency and improve the competitive position'' of their customers. As the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards go into effect, many utilities will upgrade their facilities with modern pollution controls. It may surprise some of my constituents in Colorado to learn that some of these plants have been operating without pollution controls for 40 years or more. Those upgrades will be installed by Americans and provided by companies like ADA-Environmental Solutions. Those upgrades represent an investment in American jobs and a modern utility infrastructure. In summary, clean air and water do not come at the expense of our economy. Rather, a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand- in-hand. Putting safeguards in place on the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States is long overdue. That is why I will be opposing S.J. Res. 37 today, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 2295.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I have offered this amendment with my colleague Senator Thune from South Dakota. This is a commonsense amendment that would increase resources to land managers to address insect and disease epidemics spreading across our forests, while maintaining the farm bill's more than $23 billion in mandatory savings, and that is important. This bark beetle epidemic, which is in many States, has left dangerous dead and dying stands of trees that worsen the threat from forest fires. This is particularly evident to Coloradans because, today, we have an 86- square-mile fire, and more than 1,600 brave firefighters are challenging this blaze, which is already the most destructive fire in Colorado's history. We don't expect to fully defeat this fire or bring it to ground for several weeks. The Forest Service has set a goal of doubling the number of acres treated to address beetle kill and prevent forest fires. This amendment would help them reach that goal. If we don't pass the amendment, they will not have the wherewithal and resources to do so. I ask my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Massachusetts for generously yielding to me. Wind PTC Mr. President, I am on the Senate floor today to continue urging this body to extend the production tax credit for wind. I intend to return to the floor every morning until the PTC has been extended, and I am going to talk about the economic and jobs effect on the nonextension in each State, and I am going to press my colleagues for an immediate extension. Today I want to focus on a wind giant in our country--Texas. Texas leads the Nation in wind energy production. The Lone Star State has more turbines than all but five countries. As you can see, this chart I have in the Chamber outlines all the installed wind projects in Texas. You can see that across the State-- from the south to the west, from El Paso to Galveston, from the Panhandle to southern Texas--the wind industry has created thousands of jobs and it has helped boost the manufacturing and construction sectors with good-paying American jobs. For example, Sweetwater, a town of 11,000 people, has become the new Spindletop: You drive past it on the interstate and there is a forest of giant wind turbines. Among the cotton fields of this west Texas rural community, Sweetwater is home to one of the largest wind farms in Texas. And the wind industry, using Sweetwater's open spaces, constant winds, and transmission capacity, has helped revitalize this rural community--and really all of Nolan County. Even oil-rich Houston has become something of a wind power capital in Texas--thanks to developers such as EDP Renewables Pattern Energy, and Iberdrola Renewables, as well as BP and Shell. They say everything is bigger in Texas--and that certainly applies when it comes to their vast energy resources. Texas has it all, from traditional sources, like oil and gas, to renewable energy, like hydro and wind. Texas' success in harnessing wind energy is no accident. Thanks to smart State policies, including a renewable portfolio standard, which passed in 1999, and was later amended in 2005, as well as strong Federal support from the wind PTC, the Texas wind industry has grown dramatically. Texas has an all-of-the-above energy strategy. The Senator from Massachusetts supports that kind of strategy. I support that kind of a strategy. Texas embodies this. They have shown great promise when it comes to renewable resources--growing and coexisting with traditional energy sources. So if you look at what is happening in Texas, Texas' wind energy industry supports almost 7,000 jobs. With more energy from wind than any other State in our country, wind powers over 2.7 million Texas homes, and almost 7 percent of Texas' overall electric power comes from wind. It was the first State to reach 10,000 megawatts of wind installations, and that wind power has helped avoid greenhouse gas emissions in the equivalence of 3,725,500 passenger cars. As well, the supply chain of the manufacturing opportunities in Texas stands out. It is home to wind turbine manufacturers such as DeWind and Alstom, five major tower manufacturers, blade manufacturer Molded Fiber Glass, and many component suppliers. This is an example of why we have to act, why we have to extend the PTC. Without certainty, wind energy companies are not able to grow, and they, frankly, will shed jobs and whole projects. In the Senate, we have a bipartisan coalition. Senators Grassley, Boozman, Scott Brown, Hoeven, Moran, and Thune have engaged with many of us on this side to extend the wind PTC. Let me end by quoting Karl Rove, who is known as a proud Texan and former senior adviser to President George W. Bush. He explains the wind PTC as follows: It is a market mechanism, you don't get paid unless you produce the power, and we're not picking winners and losers, we're simply saying for some period of time we will provide this incentive. Let's extend the PTC now. The solution is simple. We have to act. It will help American jobs. It will help the American economy. It will help our energy security efforts. So, Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Massachusetts again, and I yield the floor.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise again to continue the fight for our effort to extend the production tax credit for wind. I am going to continue to return to the floor every morning until we get the PTC extended. It has a positive economic effect on each and every one of our States and we ought to immediately extend it. If we do not, there are tremendous risks because there will be uncertainty. There will be 37,000 jobs at risk, per the estimate of the American Wind Energy Association, in 2013, if we let this important, crucial tax credit expire. On the other hand, looking at this prohibitively, a recent study by Navigant concludes that a stable tax policy would allow the wind industry to create and save 54,000 jobs. That is a clear choice. Do we want to lose 37,000 jobs or do we want to create and save 54,000 more? Over the last number of years in tough economic times, the wind industry has been a bright spot. We have seen growth in the wind industry on the manufacturing side, and these are good-paying jobs. But we are at a make-or-break moment for wind energy. If we let the wind PTC expire, we will lose thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment. We also run the real risk of losing our position in the global economic race for clean energy technology. Other countries are taking note. While we are dithering in the Congress, our foreign competitors are literally eating our lunch. I am about to attend a hearing in the Energy Committee on our competitiveness in the clean energy sector. We are going to be discussing how China is outpacing us in the clean energy economy. The witnesses, I know, will emphasize--because I have seen their testimony--that we have to improve and maximize domestic manufacturing capacity or we risk losing these jobs to overseas competitors. I wish to give an example this morning. In North Carolina, there is a company, PPG Industries. It is a fiberglass company, hundreds of employees. They have been threatened by foreign competition in the last few years. Fiberglass is a primary component of wind turbine blades. The company has found new buyers in the wind industry. I wish to quote the manager, Cheryl Richards, of this factory. She has urged us to act. She said: That's investment in the U.S. That's investment in jobs, in technology, in the future, in clean energy. If we're not doing it, there are people across the ocean who will. And they'll be happy to sell their products here. So while we cannot get our act together in Congress to pass the wind PTC, our economic competitors in Europe and Asia have moved ahead. They have developed robust manufacturing capacity to serve both their domestic demands, and now they are beginning to sell all over the world. To emphasize how real this threat is, I wish to show all of the viewers and my colleagues what has happened in the past when the PTC has expired. Look back in 2000. There was a 93-percent drop. There was a 73-percent drop from 2001 to 2002. It does not make sense. I hear this from Coloradans. I hear this from Americans. Wind project developers in the United States and American manufacturers are not receiving orders. We could see another boom-and- bust cycle, where we get a 73-percent or 93-percent drop in installations. Our economy does not need that, especially right now. So there is a time for leadership. It is time to show the American people we can bridge partisan divides in the Congress, we can act, and we can take urgent action. Let's get the wind PTC reauthorized as soon as possible. It is within our power to stop sending jobs overseas, to prevent falling behind major economies such as China, Germany, India, and to stop harming domestic industries and manufacturing. Again, look at this chart. This tells the story. We have to stand and do the right thing. Let's start by passing the wind PTC extension now. We can do it today. I am going to continue coming back to the floor of the Senate until we get the wind PTC extended. Tribute to Tejal Shah As my time begins to expire, I wished to take a moment of personal privilege and note that Tejal Shah, who has been working in my office as a fellow from the State Department, is leaving my office this week. She is returning to the State Department to continue doing her work there. I wish to thank her for the phenomenal support she has given me, for the knowledge and skill she has brought to my office. I wish her well in her efforts at the State Department. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

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

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, earlier this week I came to the Senate floor to speak about the importance of the forestry title in what is a bipartisan farm bill we are considering right now as I speak. In my previous remarks, I spoke about a growing emergency in our Nation's forests caused by the largest bark beetle outbreak in our recorded history--an outbreak that is projected to kill nearly every lodgepole pine in Colorado. I know the Presiding Officer from the neighboring State of New Mexico is experiencing these same conditions in his State. The Forest Service has estimated that 100,000 dead trees are falling in our forests every day. Hard to imagine, but their estimates are such: 100,000 trees every day. That means our landscapes are littered with tinder ready to burn, which, combined with the hot dry summer we are already experiencing, is a recipe for a disastrous fire season. Mother Nature bats last, which means much of what we face is out of our control. But we can act, and we must act, in order to manage the magnitude of the crisis in our home States. In some ways--I know the Presiding Officer sees this the same way I do--the forests in Colorado are the canaries in the coal mine that tie us into and identify the effects of a changing climate. Warmer temperatures and drought conditions have exacerbated beetle infestations in our forests, and we are now dealing with an unprecedented combination of explosive fire season events. There is a raging Colorado wildfire today, as I stand here, in Larimer County--the High Park Fire--and it continues to grow. It has consumed over 46,000 acres. It has claimed the life of a local homeowner, and it is causing devastating effects in the surrounding communities. As of first thing this morning, only 10 percent of the fire had been contained. We have made sure, though, that all available resources are dedicated to this effort. I am told we now have over 1,000 firefighters on site, which is good news. We will not know the true costs of the fire for some time, but it, undoubtedly, will have a lasting effect on my State. I want to assure Coloradans that I will continue to closely monitor the High Park Fire to ensure that firefighters on the ground have all the resources they need to beat back this devastating blaze. I also urge my fellow Coloradans to heed the warnings and follow the evacuation guidance of the firefighters who are tasked with keeping us safe. Most importantly, I ask that we keep these brave public servants in mind as they work to protect lives and personal property--especially as what is a very unpredictable fire progresses. Again, I know the Presiding Officer has had a series of fires in his State, and he knows the capricious nature of wildfire. I want to also, in giving a little more background, point out that the High Park Fire is burning predominantly on private land. But it is moving rapidly into a beetle-infested national forest. This is a reminder of exactly why we need flexibility to treat hazardous beetle-killed trees and to engage the public in the active and collaborative management of our Nation's forests. We cannot reverse the tragic loss of life and property that the High Park Fire and many other fires have caused, but it is essential that we take steps to understand what can be done in the future to better prevent, prepare, and respond to wildfires. We must learn more about the conditions that make those fires catastrophic. Let me start by talking about homeowners. Homeowners can create what we know in our States is called defensible space, depth space. That involves clearing brush, moving woodpiles, and looking at other actions through which we can protect structures. Those actions have been proven to be the hallmark of what has saved such properties in past fires. These are important takeaways we have learned in my State of Colorado in the wake of catastrophic fires, and they are also the result of subsequent stories and studies that I have called for to inform the public about what they can do to protect their homes and property. The same studies have also taught us that Federal forest management policies must prioritize tree removal around communities to protect homes, roads, and infrastructure--something I have fought to provide resources for over the last decade. The added benefit to these efforts is that they create local jobs and support the critically important timber industry in our States. But that is not all. We must also advance new policies that will actually help prepare our firefighters to combat these raging fires. A recent example of this is action the Senate took to pass a bill I cosponsored to expedite the purchase of much needed air tankers to fight wildfires. Our Nation's tanker fleet has aged and dwindled dramatically in recent years. Without sufficient air tankers, we are ill-prepared to respond to catastrophic fires--especially multiple fires at once. I am pleased the Congress passed this bill, and I understand the President is prepared to act quickly to sign the air tanker legislation into law. Still, we need to and we can do more. We need more flexibility to treat forests more comprehensively. I believe, as I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, the forestry title of the farm bill is a good start. However, I believe it does not go far enough to authorize adequate resources to treat forests that have been affected by bark beetle infestations. The Forest Service's bark beetle strategy calls for doubling the number of acres it has been able to treat in past years. In other words, the Forest Service is saying: Look, we want to double what we have been doing. We believe we have the expertise to do that. What else do they need, though? They need money. In fiscal year 2011, the Forest Service allocated $110 million to treating acres affected by bark beetles in the Western United States. But if we are going to double that acreage, we are going to need more Federal support. A year ago I fought to increase the amount of funding the Forest Service had available to treat hazardous trees. I worked with the administration and strongly supported a reprogramming request that would have allowed the Forest Service to use extra money to treat problem areas in the West. The Senate supported this commonsense request. But, I have to tell you, unfortunately, the House Appropriations Committee stood in the way of getting these critical funds into the forests where it was and is still needed most. So that inaction meant that thousands of acres of beetle-killed trees were not treated--areas that are potentially now worsening the High Park Fire as we speak. In the new farm bill, the Agriculture Committee has authorized $100 million for designated treatment areas affected by beetle infestation, which is less money than last year, and certainly not enough to double the number of acres that were targeted for fire prevention and tree removal. At the current authorization level of $100 million, the Forest Service simply will be unable to meet its goal. To help remedy this, I have filed a bipartisan amendment, No. 2295, with Senator Thune of South Dakota, which would increase the authorization for funding to $200 million to authorize adequate resources in order for the Forest Service to address these looming and immediate emergencies. I have been a strong advocate for finding ways to ensure we are prudent in how we spend taxpayer dollars, but the need to address this crisis is immediate and the threat to public health, safety, and our economy will only get worse, causing us to pay more later. Another way to put it is it is less expensive to prevent fires, to prepare for fires, than it is to fight fires and then be involved in the rehabilitation of those landscapes after those devastating fires are finally put out. In addition to the amendment I have filed with Senator Thune that would provide increased authorization for the funding of tree removal, I have also filed amendment No. 2294 that would extend Colorado's good neighbor authority. Good neighbor authority gives the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management the capability and the power to enter into cooperative agreements with State foresters to plan and implement forest health projects on more acres more efficiently. This would give my State and other States the opportunity to collaborate with Federal agencies to perform forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services--actions that a study I requested after the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County, CO, found firsthand helps agencies and homeowners better prepare to reduce the risk of damage and loss of life from wildfires. Lest viewers and those who are interested in wildfires think they are an aberration, wildfires are actually a fact of life in the West and in forests in general, and they will continue to occur over and over again in Colorado. But I am committed to doing everything possible to learn from every fire and take whatever precautionary measures we can, with the hope of saving more lives, property, and communities in the future. As I have said before--and we all know--wildfires can easily become a multimillion-dollar effort affecting every level of government. As the bark beetle epidemic continues to present a significant threat to our economy, critical infrastructure, and important natural resources, we must allocate resources to address this epidemic up front in a commonsense way. Again, I know the Presiding Officer has faced these challenges head on in his State. Some may see this as just solely a western problem, but I urge my colleagues to support bipartisan efforts to ensure that we manage our forests to reduce fire risk, protect water supplies, and bolster our economy. Forests all over our country are susceptible and vulnerable to fires. We can work together in the Senate to ensure that we have the tools to protect our forests and protect the communities and the people who live in those communities. I look forward to the Senate taking up these two important amendments in the near future as we hopefully move the farm bill to passage in the Senate and to the President's desk. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I yield the floor.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. I thank Senator Conrad. He is always gracious and compelling, and I appreciate the strong case he made for his point of view. I rise as I did yesterday, and I will continue to do so, to highlight why it is so important that we extend the production of the tax credits, or PTC as it is known, for wind energy. Senator Bennet from Colorado joins me, feeling the urgency of the moment. Members of both parties have agreed that the PTC is vital for continued economic growth in our country. Put simply, the PTC means good-paying American jobs. The longer we wait, the more American jobs we can expect to be lost in the coming months and weeks ahead. When I go home, Coloradoans say to me it does not make any sense that we would not extend the production tax credit. So over the next couple of weeks I am going to come to the floor every day to talk about how the wind production tax credit affects each State across the country, to drive home the point that real American jobs will be lost if we do not take this commonsense step. The PTC has meant economic growth in Colorado. We have a favorable business climate in Colorado, and we have tremendous wind resources. In fact, if we harness the wind potential that is there, similar to the wind potential that is off the shores of the State of the Presiding Officer, there is enough wind power to go way beyond our needs. In Colorado's case, 25 times over the State's electricity needs could be met if we harness and harvest that wind. That is an amazing statistic. It is generated by the National Renewable Energy Lab, which we are happy to host in Colorado, a flagship of energy research, development, and innovation. I hope I will not have to say too many days in the future what I said yesterday: The strong growth in the wind sector is at risk. Thousands of jobs, as you can see in this chart of Colorado, have been created across my State, all the way from Pueblo in the south central portion of the State, to Greeley, Fort Morgan up in the northeast, to Yuma County way out in the eastern part of the State. These are quality jobs. These jobs support families and communities. I want to put a face on these families and these communities. I want to talk about Derek Palmer. He lives in Greeley, up here in the northeastern part of the State. He has three children and a wife. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011 with a degree in business management, and he has worked at the Windsor manufacturing plant--it is a Vestas plant that manufactures wind blades--for the past 9 months. He left an excellent managerial job in the service industry and joined Vestas, in large part because of the strong benefits package that is there for his wife and kids. He loves working there. He is patriotic, and he is helping our country become energy independent. Because of our inaction, thousands of jobs like Derek's are in jeopardy. This industry deserves some certainty, some stability, and so do countless families like Derek's in Colorado and all over the country. So if we don't act, I fear dire consequences. The CEO of Vestas--I think you have met him, Mr. President--says that he expects the wind market in the United States to fall by 80 percent if the PTC isn't extended. Eighty percent is a huge number. That is 80 percent fewer jobs, 80 percent fewer families pulling themselves out of this recession, and 80 percent less investment than we have today, all because we are not active, all because we are not taking the right steps for it. As I close, this is not a partisan issue. Both Democrats and Republicans, Senators and House Members, agree that we need to extend this commonsense tax credit. There are bipartisan bills to extend it. I led an effort with six Democrats and six Republicans here earlier urging us to extend the PTC. The solution is simple. We just need to extend the PTC ASAP. We need to do it. Let's do it as soon as possible. I yield the floor.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, as every one of our colleagues will attest, the work we do in this Chamber is made possible by many exceptional people who do not carry an election certificate. I am speaking of the dedicated staffers who work on committees and in our personal offices. Many of the staff members we interact with every day go on to build their own careers in political life, while others use the skills they developed here to work in rewarding ways for the private sector. Others continue in public service with nonprofit organizations or other kinds of government service. A few will make their contribution to public service by staying here as employees of the House of Representatives or the Senate. A smaller and more distinct group will develop such broad expertise in the legislative branch that they might as well carry an election certificate of their own because of the respect, esteem, and high regard in which they are held. These are the men and women whom other congressional staffers seek for their wisdom and guidance. These are the wise people whom Senators and Congressmen look upon as peers, not only because of their good counsel and uniquely honed years of experience but also because they often know more about the legislative process than legislators themselves. Among this more and most distinct group of staff members, there is a standout, my friend Stan Sloss. I know the Presiding Officer knows Stan Sloss. Stan is marking his 14th year of service in my office but also 37 total years of work in Congress. A native of Glenwood Springs, CO, Stan is a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School. He came to Washington, DC, in the late 1960s, working first in the General Counsel's Office of the Atomic Energy Commission. Stan's congressional career started in 1975 when he joined the staff of what was then known as the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives. In 1977 Stan became a counsel to the new Subcommittee on General Oversight and Alaska Lands chaired by former Representative John Seiberling, an iconic past Member of the House of Representatives. In this capacity, Stan worked with both Representative Seiberling and my father, Morris Udall, who was chairman of the full Interior Committee. Stan has had many successes, but one that I am most proud of is his work to help draft legislation that became the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act--key legislation setting aside more than 100 million acres of Alaska's most pristine public lands. Stan staffed hearings throughout the lower 48 States and Alaska and was one of the many key professional staff who helped shape the final legislation. The law was a milestone in conservation, protecting an area larger than the State of California and more than doubling the size of the Nation's system of national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness, and wild and scenic rivers. When John Seiberling retired in 1987, Stan remained on the Interior Committee staff, serving under former Representative Bruce Vento, chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. Stan continued to work on many other laws and regulations affecting public lands and natural resources, including the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act sponsored by my father. Stan's expertise was simply indispensable. In 1995 Stan left the Resources Committee to become the legislative director for David Skaggs, a House Member from Colorado, who benefited from Stan's years of experience and expertise with public lands issues. I have a letter from Congressman Skaggs noting all of Stan's accomplishments and service. I ask unanimous consent to have it printed in the Record.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. While Stan was working with Congressman Skaggs, he also dealt with contentious issues related to Rocky Flats, a former nuclear weapons site in Colorado, and the other sites in the U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons complex. Stan was one of the first people I hired following my election to the House of Representatives in November of 1998. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was fortunate to have someone with Stan's experience who also understood issues important to Colorado. While in my House office, Stan was instrumental in developing a number of land and environmental bills that were signed into law, including the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act, which converted this site and a vast expanse of open space into a wildlife habitat asset after it was cleaned up and closed. He also steered into law the James Peak Wilderness and Protection Area Act, one of the last unprotected areas along Colorado's Northern Front Range mountainous backdrop. Stan has also been my expert on fire prevention, developing legislation on forest health and wildfire response and mitigation. But Stan's work has not just been confined to the environmental arena. His keen intellect, common sense, and sharp legal analysis have been invaluable on a wide range of issues and topics that face each and every one of us every day. He has been especially effective in tutoring many of the younger members of my staff on the inner workings of Congress, helping them learn the nuances of legislative drafting, and serving as an example of the highest standard of professionalism for congressional staff. Like any thoughtful and accomplished lawyer, Stan is often fond of saying that he can ``argue it flat or he can argue it round,'' and his objectivity is legendary in our office. Having said that, however, I also know that beneath his always calm demeanor and his capacity to see all sides of the question, there beats the heart of a man who is passionate about doing the right thing. Through many years of working on behalf of the people of Colorado in my House office and now my Senate office, Stan has always been a voice of wisdom, reason, and, above all, integrity. My colleagues in the Colorado congressional delegation have often looked upon Stan as their resource as well. I have never minded sharing him because his advice and guidance carry weight that inevitably makes better whatever bill or policy he has been asked to consider. I think I daresay the Presiding Officer has also had the opportunity to work with Stan and take advantage of his wisdom and insight. Stan is a person of depth and accomplishment beyond his work in Congress. He is one of the best read people I have ever met. He is an expert on gardening, on opera, on history, and the list goes on and on. I have to say parenthetically, as a graduate of Williams College, for me to say that about an Amherst graduate probably has double weight. Stan has an exceptional sense of humor and a dry wit, as demonstrated in the poems he often wrote making wry observations on current events which he would regularly circulate to staff. In short, he has perfected what seems to be the lost art of being polite and courteous to other people even when he disagrees with them. That, of course, is a quality we could always use a bit more of in Congress. Stan is not only a good employee, he is also a good human being. In the rough-and-tumble world of politics, that is perhaps the highest praise to which any of us can aspire. His contributions to my offices, the offices of other Members, the House Resources Committee, and the whole Congress and ultimately the people of the United States serve as an example of a professional life that commands both respect and affection. Just a few months ago, my staff and I celebrated Stan's 70th birthday with him, as we had his 60th and 65th birthdays in past years, and today we are honored to celebrate his retirement. My staff and I will miss Stan, it goes without saying, and we will miss working with him. As a point of personal privilege, I want to make it clear that I know I will continue to seek his advice even after he leaves congressional service. I am excited to see what the next chapter will be for Stan. It will no doubt involve some adventure, some noble pursuits, some deep thought, and some new summits to ascend. So please join me in thanking Stan Sloss for 37 years of exceptional work in the Congress and for his service to our country that he loves so much. We wish him well.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the 125th anniversary of United Way and honor their extraordinary achievements since their founding 125 years ago in Denver, CO. In 1887, a Denver woman, along with local religious leaders, recognized the need for community-based action in order to address the city's growing problem with poverty. In Denver they established the first of what would become a worldwide network of organizations called United Way. Their goal was simple: create a community-based organization that would raise funds in order to provide economic relief and counseling services to neighbors in need. During their first campaign in 1888, this remarkable organization raised today's equivalent of $650,000. Now, 125 years after its founding, United Way has become a celebrated, worldwide organization committed to improving communities from the bottom up, through cooperative action and community support in 41 countries across the globe. United Way forges public-private partnerships with local businesses, labor organizations, and 120 national and global corporations through the Global Corporate Leadership Program and brings an impressive $5 billion to local communities each year. United Way effectively leverages private donations in order to finance innovative programs and initiatives that profoundly impact communities throughout Colorado, the United States, and the world to advance education, income, and health. The success and strength of the partnerships between United Way and America's workers cannot be overstated. Nearly two-thirds of the funds for United Way come from voluntary worker payroll contributions and the Labor Letters of Endorsement Program championed by the AFL CIO encourages affiliates and their members to give their time and resources to United Way campaigns. Just one powerful illustration of this partnership is the National Association of Letter Carriers' National Food Drive, a cooperative effort with the U.S. Postal Service, AFL CIO, and United Way, which has become the world's largest 1-day food drive. United Way has strengthened bonds and built a foundation of collaboration and partnership in our communities. Its founders could never have imagined the ultimate breadth and reach of this group, growing from a local support organization to a globally recognized force for good. United Way is an indispensable part of Colorado's social fabric, and I am proud to recognize and honor this historic anniversary. There are 14 local United Way organizations leaving an indelible mark throughout Colorado. I want to take a moment to recognize each of them for their tremendous role as cornerstones of their communities: Foothills United Way, Boulder; Pikes Peak United Way, Colorado Springs; Moffat County United Way, Craig; Mile High United Way, Inc., Denver; United Way of Southwest Colorado, Durango; United Way of Eagle River Valley, Eagle; United Way of Morgan County, Inc., Fort Morgan; United Way of Mesa County, Grand Junction; United Way of Weld County, Greeley; United Way of Larimer County, Inc., Fort Collins and Loveland; Pueblo County United Way, Inc., Pueblo; United Way of Garfield County, Rifle; Routt County United Way, Steamboat Springs; and Logan County United Way, Sterling. To all of the employees and partners of United Way, I join my Senate colleagues in recognizing and applauding your legacy of inspirational service. This 125th anniversary is a milestone deserving of celebration, and I commend your tireless pursuit to advance the common good.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, before I talk about the production tax credit which brought me to the floor, I wish to associate myself with the leader's remarks. I have the great privilege to sit on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. The leader has put his finger on what should be a singular focus on the part of the Senate. We have been warned about the threats in the cyber domain. It is time to act. There are plans that are concrete, focused, and have great support. We should act as soon as we possibly can. I wish to thank the leader for bringing that to our attention.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise tonight to recognize the 125th anniversary of United Way and honor their extraordinary achievements since their founding 125 years ago in Denver, CO. In 1887, a Denver woman along with local religious leaders recognized the need for community-based action in order to address Denver's growing problem with poverty. In Denver, this group--this initial group--established the first of what would become a worldwide network of organizations called United Way. Their goal was simple: create a community-based organization that would raise funds in order to provide economic relief and counseling services to neighbors in need. During their first campaign in 1888, this remarkable organization raised today's equivalent of $650,000. Now, 125 years after its founding, United Way has become a celebrated worldwide organization committed to improving communities from the bottom up through cooperative action and community support in 41 countries across the globe. United Way forges public-private partnerships with local businesses, labor organizations, and 120 national and global corporations through the Global Corporate Leadership Program that brings an impressive $1 billion to local communities each year. United Way effectively leverages private donations in order to finance innovative programs and initiatives that profoundly affect communities throughout Colorado, the United States and, dare I say, the world. The success and strength of these partnerships between United Way and America's workers cannot be overstated. Nearly two-thirds of the funds for United Way come from voluntary worker payroll contributions, and the Labor Letters of Endorsement Program championed by the AFL CIO encourages affiliates and their members to give their time and resources to United Way campaigns. Just one powerful illustration of this partnership is the National Association of Letter Carriers' National Food Drive, which is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Postal Service, the AFL CIO, and United Way, which has become the world's largest 1-day food drive. United Way has strengthened bonds and built a foundation of collaboration and partnership in our communities. Its founders could never have imagined the ultimate breadth and reach of this group, growing from a local support organization in little Denver, CO, back in 1887 to a globally recognized force for good. United Way is an indispensable part of Colorado's social fabric, and I am proud to recognize and honor this historic anniversary. There are 14 local United Way organizations leaving an indelible mark throughout Colorado. I want to take a moment to recognize each of them for their tremendous role as cornerstones of their communities: Foothills United Way, Boulder; Pikes Peak United Way, Colorado Springs; Moffat County United Way, Craig; Mile High United Way, Inc., Denver; United Way of Southwest Colorado, Durango; United Way of Eagle River Valley, Eagle; United Way of Morgan County, Inc., Fort Morgan; United Way of Mesa County, Grand Junction; United Way of Weld County, Greeley; United Way of Larimer County, Inc., Fort Collins and Loveland; Pueblo County United Way, Inc., Pueblo; United Way of Garfield County, Rifle; Routt County United Way, Steamboat Springs; and Logan County United Way, Sterling. To all of the employees and partners of United Way, I join my Senate colleagues in recognizing and applauding your legacy and inspirational service. This 125th anniversary is a milestone deserving of celebration, and I commend your tireless pursuit to advance the common good.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Mrs. Nanette A. Nadeau, who on June 3, 2012, at Peterson Air Force Base, CO, will retire after over 36 years of Federal civil service. Nanette is the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. She has been an enduring presence and focal point for all congressional matters and our interaction with the commands. Legislative liaisons facilitate communication between their agencies and Congress, effectively bridging our organizational cultures. These professionals require expert, almost insider, knowledge of Congressional procedure, committee structure, and legislative process. My office depends heavily on the rapport we have with military liaisons for timely, transparent dialogue. Nanette has exemplified the best of what we have come to appreciate. Nanette is a native of Jefferson, NH. She attended White Mountain Regional High School where she had the distinction of recruiting the band Aerosmith to play at her senior prom. While her high school accomplishments were legendary, it was on a day she was absent from school that would change her life's course--the day she met a young soldier, Douglas Nadeau. Doug had received a call that day from a young lady who wanted to skip class with a couple friends, but they needed a ride because the school was several miles from town. Nanette was one of the friends. They married in June of 1974 and headed out together as Doug continued to serve our country around the world. In the military, there is an adage that ``home is wherever the service sends you,'' and over the years the Nadeaus called places like Germany, Georgia, and Virginia home. Like other military spouses, Nanette made sacrifices along the way as she bounced from one civil service job to the next, sometimes settling for a lower grade. She started her Federal service career as a General Schedule-2, sorting mail in the Post Office in Giessen, Germany. Finding her niche in legislative affairs, she earned a reputation for excellence and was promoted over time to General Schedule-14 . Despite enduring frequent moves, Nanette found time to earn her bachelor's degree from The College of William & Mary, graduating summa cum laude, and later added an MBA from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, also summa cum laude, all while working full time. After having seen the world, the Nadeaus felt most at home in Colorado. Fort Carson was where Doug was stationed when they were married and they returned in 1987 for Doug's last assignment, eventually deciding to settle in the Colorado Springs area. During her tenure as a legislative liaison, Nanette has prepared countless pages of testimony and led numerous congressional visits. She has orchestrated visits for my staff and me to military installations in the local community, including Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. A pinnacle moment for Nanette was being awarded the well-deserved honor of Civilian of the Year in 2006. Around NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Nanette has become known for her discretion, interpersonal skill, and sharp sense of humor. She enjoys a level of trust with her colleagues that can only be earned over time. Nanette will leave an indelible mark on NORAD and USNORTHCOM and her institutional knowledge and savvy analysis of legislative activity will be hard to replace. However, she can take pride in the knowledge that she leaves her post better than she found it, and be confident that her legacy will endure through those she has mentored over the years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Nanette for her many years of faithful, selfless service and offer warm congratulations on the occasion of her retirement. May she and Doug enjoy a very bright future.