S6012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2012 

Whereas the Central Military Commission 

in China also announced the deployment of a 

garrison of soldiers to this area; and 

Whereas these steps are contrary to agreed 

upon principles with regard to resolving disputes and impede a peaceful resolution of the 

sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) reaffirms the strong support of the 

United States for the 2002 declaration of conduct of parties in the South China Sea 

among the member states of ASEAN and the 

People’s Republic of China; 

(2) supports the member states of ASEAN, 

and the Government of the People’s Republic 

of China, as they seek to adopt a legally 

binding code of conduct of parties in the 

South China Sea, and urges all countries to 

substantively support ASEAN in its efforts 

in this regard; 

(3) strongly urges that, pending adoption of 

a code of conduct, all parties, consistent 

with commitments under the declaration of 

conduct, ‘‘exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or 

escalate disputes and stability, including, 

among others, refraining from action of inhabiting presently uninhabited islands, reefs, 

shoals and other features and to handle their 

differences in a constructive manner’’; 

(4) supports a collaborative diplomatic 

process by all claimants for resolving outstanding territorial and jurisdictional disputes, allowing parties to peacefully settle 

claims and disputes using international law; 

(5) reaffirms the United States commitment— 

(A) to assist the nations of Southeast Asia 

to remain strong and independent; 

(B) to help ensure each nation enjoys peace 

and stability; 

(C) to broaden and deepen economic, political, diplomatic, security, social, and cultural partnership with ASEAN and its member states; and 

(D) to promote the institutions of emerging regional architecture and prosperity; and 

(6) supports enhanced operations by the 

United States armed forces in the Western 

Pacific, including in the South China Sea, 

including in partnership with the armed 

forces of others countries in the region, in 

support of freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for 

international law, including the peaceful resolution of issues of sovereignty, and 

unimpeded lawful commerce. 

f 

RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed 

en bloc to the following resolutions: S. 

Res. 544, S. Res. 545, S. Res. 546, and S. 

Res. 547. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the resolutions 

en bloc. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the resolutions be agreed to, the 

preambles be agreed to, the motions to 

reconsider be laid upon the table en 

bloc, with no intervening action or debate and any statements relating to 

the resolutions be printed in the 

RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolutions were agreed to. 

The preambles were agreed to. 

The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows: 

S. RES. 544 

(Congratulating the Navy Dental Corps on 

its 100th anniversary) 

Whereas on August 22, 1912, Congress 

passed an Act recognizing Navy dentistry as 

a distinct branch among naval medical professions; 

Whereas in the last century, the Navy Dental Corps has supported the Navy by sustaining Sailor and Marine readiness and providing routine and emergency dental care, 

ashore and afloat, in peace and in war; 

Whereas the Navy Dental Corps works continuously to improve the health of Sailors, 

Marines, and their families by supporting individual and community prevention initiatives, good oral hygiene practices, and treatment; 

Whereas the Navy Dental Corps endeavors 

to improve oral health worldwide by participating in the spectrum of military combat, 

peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations 

and exercises; 

Whereas the Navy Dental Corps, in collaboration with national and international dental organizations, promotes dental professionalism and quality of care; 

Whereas the Navy Dental Corps supports 

the mission of the Federal dental research 

program and endorses improved dental technologies and therapies through research and 

adherence to sound scientific principles; and 

Whereas the Navy Dental Corps recognizes 

the importance of continuing professional 

dental education, requiring and supporting 

specialty dental education and postgraduate 

residencies and fellowships for its members: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) congratulates the Navy Dental Corps on 

its 100th anniversary; 

(2) commends the Navy Dental Corps for 

working to sustain the dental readiness and 

the oral health of a superb fighting force; 

and 

(3) recognizes the thousands of dentists 

who have served in the Navy Dental Corps 

over the last 100 years, providing dental care 

to millions of members of the Armed Forces 

and their families. 

S. RES. 545 

(Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of 

Air Force Weather) 

Whereas the United States Army Air Corps 

assumed responsibility for military weather 

services on July 1, 1937, beginning a legacy of 

superior service to Army and Air Force commanders for the next 75 years; 

Whereas the United States Army Air 

Forces activated the Weather Wing on April 

14, 1943, in time to provide General Dwight D. 

Eisenhower with reports and forecasts vital 

to the success of Operation Overlord, the reentry of the Allies into Europe against resistance from German occupation forces, and 

subsequent operations in Europe and the Pacific; 

Whereas 68 personnel from the Weather 

Wing lost their lives in World War II; 

Whereas the Weather Wing was redesignated as the Army Air Forces Weather Service in 1945, and the Air Weather Service in 

1946; 

Whereas, in July of 1947, the Air Weather 

Service became a part of the newly formed 

United States Air Force with a mission to 

support both the Army and Air Force; 

Whereas, in 1948, the Air Weather Service 

issued its first tornado warning; 

Whereas the Air Weather Service provided 

critical reports and forecasts to commanders, planners, and aircrews in support 

of the Berlin Airlift, enabling the successful 

efforts to stare down Premier of the Soviet 

Union Joseph Stalin in the first major confrontation of the Cold War; 

Whereas the Air Weather Service has participated in every military operation from 

operations in Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan; 

Whereas the Air Weather Service was reorganized into a field operating agency on 

April 1, 1991, reporting directly to the Air 

Staff; 

Whereas, on October 15, 1997, the Air 

Weather Service was redesignated as the Air 

Force Weather Agency and subsequently 

headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; 

Whereas, in June 2008, construction was 

completed on a new 188,000-square-foot headquarters building for the Air Force Weather 

Agency at Offutt Air Force Base; 

Whereas the civilian community surrounding Offutt Air Force Base fully recognizes the tremendous dedication and contributions of the personnel stationed at 

Offutt Air Force Base to the global fighting 

force, and likewise, base personnel express 

constant praise and appreciation to the civilian community for its outstanding support; 

Whereas, in close cooperation with the National Weather Service, Air Force Weather 

has supported a wide variety of missions 

from its base in Nebraska, including space 

launches and solar observation; and 

Whereas Air Force Weather has continued 

to produce timely, accurate, and continuous 

weather information to locate targets in any 

battle around the world or in space: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of Air 

Force Weather and its prominent role in national security; 

(2) remembers the immeasurable contributions of Air Force Weather in protecting the 

lives of members of the Armed Forces and 

citizens of the United States through timely 

and accurate reporting and forecasting; and 

(3) honors the 1,200 personnel who currently serve within Air Force Weather and 

those who have carried on its tradition of excellence through their continued service at 

Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. 

S. RES. 546 

(Designating the week of September 10, 2012, 

as ‘‘National Adult Education and Family 

Literacy Week’’) 

Whereas the National Assessment of Adult 

Literacy reports that 90,000,000 adults lack 

the literacy, numeracy, or English-language 

skills necessary to succeed at home, in the 

workplace, and in society; 

Whereas the literacy of the people of the 

United States is essential for the economic 

and societal well-being of the United States; 

Whereas the United States reaps the economic benefits of individuals who improve 

their literacy, numeracy, and English-language skills; 

Whereas literacy and educational skills are 

necessary for individuals to fully benefit 

from the range of opportunities available in 

the United States; 

Whereas the United States’ economy and 

position in the world marketplace depend on 

having a literate, skilled population; 

Whereas the unemployment rate in the 

United States is highest among those without a high school diploma or an equivalent 

credential, demonstrating that education is 

important to economic recovery; 

Whereas the educational skills of a child’s 

parents and the practice of reading to a child 

have a direct impact on the educational success of the child; 

Whereas parental involvement in a child’s 

education is a key predictor of a child’s success, and the level of parental involvement 

in a child’s education increases as the educational level of the parent increases; 


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August 2, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6013 

Whereas parents who participate in family 

literacy programs become more involved in 

their children’s education and gain the tools 

necessary to obtain a job or find better employment; 

Whereas, as a result of family literacy programs, the lives of children become more 

stable, and their success in the classroom 

and in future endeavors becomes more likely; 

Whereas adults need to be part of a longterm solution to the educational challenges 

of the United States; 

Whereas many older people in the United 

States lack the reading, math, or English 

skills necessary to read a prescription and 

follow medical instructions, which endangers 

their lives and the lives of their loved ones; 

Whereas many individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or receive public assistance lack the literacy skills necessary to 

obtain and keep a job to provide for their 

families, to continue their education, or to 

participate in job training programs; 

Whereas many high school dropouts do not 

have the literacy skills necessary to complete their education, transition to postsecondary education or career and technical 

training, or obtain a job; 

Whereas a large portion of individuals in 

prison have low educational skills, and prisoners without educational skills are more 

likely to return to prison once released; 

Whereas many immigrants in the United 

States do not have the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the United States; and 

Whereas National Adult Education and 

Family Literacy Week highlights the need to 

ensure each and every citizen has the literacy skills necessary to succeed at home, at 

work, and in society: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) designates the week of September 10, 

2012 as ‘‘National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week’’ to raise public awareness 

about the importance of adult education, 

workforce skills, and family literacy; 

(2) encourages people across the United 

States to support programs to assist those in 

need of adult education, workforce skills, 

and family literacy programs; 

(3) recognizes the importance of adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy 

programs; and 

(4) calls upon public, private, and nonprofit 

entities to support increased access to adult 

education and family literacy programs to 

ensure a literate society. 

S. RES. 547 

(Honoring the life of pioneering astronaut 

Dr. Sally Ride and expressing the condolences of the Senate on her death) 

Whereas Dr. Sally Ride was born on May 

26, 1951, in Los Angeles, California; 

Whereas Dr. Ride graduated high school 

from Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles in 1968, and received from Stanford University a Bachelor of Science in Physics and 

a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1973, a Master of Science in 1975, and a doctorate degree 

in physics in 1978; 

Whereas the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘NASA’’) selected Dr. Ride as an 

astronaut candidate in January of 1978; 

Whereas Dr. Ride worked on the ground as 

a communications officer for the second and 

third NASA space shuttle missions (STS-2 

and STS-3) and helped develop the robot arm 

used by shuttle crews; 

Whereas, on June 18, 1983, Dr. Ride became 

the first woman from the United States to 

travel in space when she served as a mission 

specialist for space shuttle mission STS-7; 

Whereas Dr. Ride also served as a mission 

specialist on space shuttle mission STS 41-G, 

which launched into space from the Kennedy 

Space Center in Florida, on October 5, 1984; 

Whereas, in June of 1985, Dr. Ride was assigned to the crew of STS 61-M for which 

mission training terminated in January of 

1986, following the space shuttle Challenger 

accident; 

Whereas Dr. Ride served as a member of 

the Presidential Commission investigating 

the space shuttle Challenger accident and, 

upon completing that investigation, was assigned to NASA Headquarters as a Special 

Assistant to the Administrator for longrange and strategic planning; 

Whereas, in 1989, Dr. Ride joined the faculty at the University of California, San 

Diego, as a Professor of Physics and Director 

of the California Space Institute, a research 

unit at the University of California; 

Whereas, following her passion of motivating girls and young women to pursue careers in science, math, and technology, Dr. 

Ride founded her own company, known as 

Sally Ride Science, in 2001, to create entertaining science programs and publications 

for upper elementary and middle school students, as well as their parents and teachers; 

Whereas, as a long-time advocate for improved science education, Dr. Ride initiated 

and directed education projects designed to 

fuel the fascination of middle school students with science and wrote 5 science books 

for children, entitled: To Space and Back, The 

Mystery of Mars, Voyager: An Adventure to the 

Edge of the Solar System, Exploring Our Solar 

System, and The Third Planet: Exploring the 

Earth from Space; 

Whereas Dr. Ride served as a member of 

the President’s Counsel of Advisors on 

Science and Technology, the Space Studies 

Board, and the Pacific Council on International Policy; 

Whereas Dr. Ride was a fellow of the American Physical Society and also served on the 

boards of the Office of Technology Assessment, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, the National Collegiate Athletic Association Foundation, the Aerospace Corporation, and the California Institute of 

Technology; 

Whereas Dr. Ride was the only person to 

have served on commissions investigating 

both the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia accidents; and 

Whereas Dr. Ride has received numerous 

honors and awards, including induction into 

the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the 

Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Jefferson Award 

for Public Service, the Wernher von Braun 

Memorial Award of the National Space Society, the Lindbergh Eagle Award, the Theodore Roosevelt Award of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and 2 NASA 

Space Flight Medals: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) expresses its deepest condolences to the 

family and friends of Dr. Sally Ride on her 

death; 

(2) mourns the loss of Dr. Ride, a trailblazing pioneer who inspired millions of individuals, especially women and girls, to reach 

for the stars; and 

(3) appreciates all of the contributions of 

Dr. Ride to science, physics, education, and 

human spaceflight. 

f 

AUTHORIZING USE OF THE 

CAPITOL ROTUNDA 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 135. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. 

The assistant legislative clerk read 

as follows: 

A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 135) 

authorizing the use of the rotunda of the 

Capitol for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 

in recognition of her leadership and perseverance in the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the concurrent 

resolution. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the concurrent resolution be 

agreed to and the motion to reconsider 

be laid upon the table. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The concurrent resolution (H. Con. 

Res. 135) was agreed to. 

f 

PROVIDING FOR A CONDITIONAL 

ADJOURNMENT OR RECESS OF 

THE SENATE AND AN ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 59. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. 

The assistant legislative clerk read 

as follows: 

A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 59) 

providing for a conditional adjournment or 

recess of the Senate and an adjournment of 

the House of Representatives. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the concurrent 

resolution. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the concurrent resolution be 

agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 

laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the concurrent resolution be printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The concurrent resolution (S. Con. 

Res. 59) was agreed to, as follows: 

S. CON. RES. 59 

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That when the Senate recesses or adjourns on any day from 

Thursday, August 2, 2012, through Tuesday, 

August 7, 2012, on a motion offered pursuant 

to this concurrent resolution by its Majority 

Leader or his designee, it stand recessed or 

adjourned until 12:00 noon on Monday, September 10, 2012, or such other time on that 

day as may be specified by its Majority 

Leader or his designee in the motion to recess or adjourn, or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first; 

and that when the House adjourns on any 

legislative day from Thursday, August 2, 

2012, through Tuesday, August 7, 2012, on a 

motion offered pursuant to this concurrent 

resolution by its Majority Leader or his designee, it stand adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on 

Monday, September 10, 2012, or until the 

time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 

of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first. 

SEC. 2. The Majority Leader of the Senate 

and the Speaker of the House, or their respective designees, acting jointly after consultation with the Minority Leader of the 

Senate and the Minority Leader of the 


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