S6286 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 12, 2012 

I would like to begin by telling you a 

little bit about this dedicated public 

servant, someone with a unique and 

distinguished biography. 

Born and raised in Piedmont CA, Ambassador Stevens graduated from Piedmont High School before receiving his 

undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkley in 1982 and 

a J.D. from the University of California’s Hastings College of Law in 1989. 

Before he joined the Foreign Service 

in 1991, he was an international trade 

lawyer in Washington, DC, and from 

1983 to 1985 he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. 

His overseas postings were consequential and showed he was an effective Foreign Service officer. He served 

as the deputy principal officer and political section chief in Jerusalem, a political officer in Damascus, a consular/ 

political officer in Cairo, and a consular/economic officer in Riyadh. 

In addition to his service abroad, 

Ambassador Stevens was the director 

of the Office of Multilateral Nuclear 

and Security Affairs, a Pearson Fellow 

with the Senate Foreign Relations 

Committee, special assistant to the 

Under Secretary for Political Affairs, 

Iran desk officer, and staff assistant in 

the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. 

He also served twice in Libya before 

becoming Ambassador: as deputy chief 

of mission at our Embassy in Tripoli 

from 2007 to 2009 and special representative to the Libyan Transitional Council from March 2011 to November 2011. 

In May 2012, he became the first U.S. 

Ambassador to Libya following the fall 

of Qadhafi. 

As you can see, he had a long and distinguished career as one of our top diplomats, someone who learned the language and culture of a region of the 

world critical to U.S. national security 

interests. 

Clearly, this was someone who was 

committed to helping the Libyan people achieve their goal of a free and 

democratic country after decades of 

brutal dictatorship. 

As Ambassador, he immediately went 

to work to help Libya build a new future, engaging government officials, 

academics, businessmen, and civil society leaders on a daily basis. 

Sadly, his term as Ambassador and 

his service to his country ended far too 

soon. 

This attack and the assault on our 

Embassy in Cairo serve as sobering reminders that we must continue to pay 

attention to the events in the countries involved in the Arab Spring. 

While in some countries like Egypt 

and Libya autocrats have fallen and 

the people have elected new leadership, 

tensions remain high and uncertainty 

about the future abounds. 

There is still a lot of work to be done 

to ensure that these countries fully 

embrace democracy, human rights, and 

the rule of law. 

It is critical that those responsible 

for these acts are brought to justice. 

And I call on the Governments of Libya 

and Egypt to work closely with the administration to ensure that this does 

not happen again. 

Ambassador Stevens was one of our 

best. He will be sorely missed. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be 

agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, 

the motions to reconsider be laid upon 

the table, with no intervening action 

or debate, that all Senators be added as 

cosponsors to the resolution, and all 

statements related to the resolution be 

printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 551) was 

agreed to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 551 

Whereas on September 11, 2012, 4 American 

public servants, including United States Ambassador to Libya, John Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, were killed in a reprehensible and vicious attack on the United 

States consulate in Benghazi, Libya; 

Whereas Ambassador Stevens— 

(1) was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States; 

(2) had spent 21 years in the Foreign Service; 

(3) was deeply passionate about representing the United States through his diplomatic service; and 

(4) was an ardent friend of the Libyan people; 

Whereas Ambassador Stevens served as 

Special Envoy to the Libyan Transitional 

National Council in Benghazi during the 2011 

Libyan revolution; 

Whereas Ambassador Stevens was a dear 

friend of the Senate, having served on the 

staff of the Committee on Foreign Relations 

of the Senate in 2006 and 2007 as a distinguished Pearson Fellow; 

Whereas Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith— 

(1) was a husband and a father of 2 children; 

(2) joined the Department of State 10 years 

ago; and 

(3) had served in the Foreign Service, before arriving in Benghazi, in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and The Hague; 

Whereas the 2 other individuals from Ambassador Stevens’ team who perished in the 

attack made great sacrifices and showed 

bravery in taking on a difficult post in 

Libya; 

Whereas the violence in Benghazi coincided with an attack on the United States 

Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, which was also 

swarmed by an angry mob of protesters on 

September 11, 2012; 

Whereas on a daily basis, United States 

diplomats, military personnel, and other 

public servants risk their lives to serve the 

American people; and 

Whereas throughout this Nation’s history, 

thousands of Americans have sacrificed their 

lives for the ideals of freedom, democracy, 

and partnership with nations and people 

around the globe. 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) recognizes the dedicated service and 

deep commitment of the 4 American public 

servants, including Ambassador John Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith, in assisting 

the Libyan people as they navigate the complex currents of democratic transition 

marked in this case by profound instability; 

(2) praises Ambassador Stevens, who represented the highest tradition of American 

public service, for his extraordinary record 

of dedication to the United States’ interests 

in some of the most difficult and dangerous 

posts around the globe; 

(3) sends its deepest condolences to the 

families of those American public servants 

killed in Benghazi; 

(4) commends the bravery of Foreign Service Officers, United States Armed Forces, 

and public servants serving in harm’s way 

around the globe and recognizes the deep 

sacrifices made by their families; and 

(5) condemns, in the strongest possible 

terms, the despicable attacks on American 

diplomats and public servants in Benghazi 

and calls for the perpetrators of such attacks 

to be brought to justice. 

f 

NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH 

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

to S. Res. 552. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the resolution by 

title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 552) recognizing the 

month of October 2012 as ‘‘National Principals Month.’’ 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the resolution. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the resolution be agreed to, the 

preamble be agreed to, the motions to 

reconsider be laid upon the table, with 

no intervening action or debate, and 

any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 552) was 

agreed to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 552 

Whereas the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the National 

Association of Elementary School Principals 

have declared the month of October 2012 to 

be ‘‘National Principals Month’’; 

Whereas principals are educational visionaries, instructional and assessment leaders, 

disciplinarians, community builders, budget 

analysts, facilities managers, and administrators of legal and contractual obligations; 

Whereas principals work collaboratively 

with teachers and parents to develop and implement a clear mission, high curriculum 

standards, and performance goals; 

Whereas principals create school environments that facilitate great teaching and 

learning and continuous school improvement; 

Whereas the vision, actions, and dedication 

of principals provide the mobilizing force behind any school reform effort; and 

Whereas the celebration of National Principals Month would honor elementary 

school, middle school, and high school principals, and recognize the importance of principals in ensuring that every child has access 

to a high-quality education: Now, therefore, 

be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) recognizes the month of October 2012 as 

‘‘National Principals Month’’; and 

(2) honors the contribution of principals in 

the elementary schools, middle schools, and 

high schools of the United States by supporting the goals and ideals of National 

Principals Month. 

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September 12, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6287 

NATIONAL FALLS PREVENTION 

AWARENESS DAY 

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

Res. 553, submitted earlier today. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report the resolution by 

title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 533) designating September 22, 2012, as ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness and 

encourage the prevention of falls among 

older adults. 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to the resolution. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the resolution be agreed to, the 

preamble be agreed to, and the motions 

to reconsider be laid upon the table, 

with no intervening action or debate, 

and any related statements be printed 

in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 533) was 

agreed to. 

The preamble was agreed to. 

The resolution, with its preamble, 

reads as follows: 

S. RES. 553 

Whereas older adults, 65 years of age and 

older, are the fastest-growing segment of the 

population in the United States, and the 

number of older adults in the United States 

will increase from 35,000,000 in 2000 to 

72,100,000 in 2030; 

Whereas 1 out of 3 older adults in the 

United States falls each year; 

Whereas falls are the leading cause of injury, death, and hospital admissions for 

traumatic injuries among older adults; 

Whereas, in 2010, approximately 2,300,000 

older adults were treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related injuries, 

and more than 650,000 were subsequently hospitalized; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008, more 

than 20,000 older adults died from injuries related to unintentional falls; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total cost 

of fall-related injuries for older adults is 

$80,900,000,000, including more than 

$28,300,000,000 in direct medical costs; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention estimate that if the rate of 

increase in falls is not slowed, the annual 

cost under the Medicare program will reach 

$59,600,000,000 by 2020; and 

Whereas evidence-based programs show 

promise in reducing falls and facilitating 

cost-effective interventions, such as comprehensive clinical assessments, exercise 

programs to improve balance and health, 

management of medications, correction of 

vision, and reduction of home hazards: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) designates September 22, 2012, as ‘‘National Falls Prevention Awareness Day’’; 

(2) commends the Falls Free Coalition and 

the falls prevention coalitions in 43 States 

and the District of Columbia for their efforts 

to work together to increase education and 

awareness about the prevention of falls 

among older adults; 

(3) encourages businesses, individuals, Federal, State, and local governments, the public health community, and health care providers to work together to promote the 

awareness of falls in an effort to reduce the 

incidence of falls among older adults in the 

United States; 

(4) urges the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention to continue developing and 

evaluating strategies to prevent falls among 

older adults that will translate into effective 

fall prevention interventions, including community-based programs; 

(5) encourages State health departments, 

which provide significant leadership in reducing injuries and injury-related health 

care costs by collaborating with colleagues 

and a variety of organizations and individuals, to reduce falls among older adults; and 

(6) recognizes proven, cost-effective falls 

prevention programs and policies and encourages experts in the field to share their 

best practices so that their success can be 

replicated by others. 

f 

ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 

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

completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, September 13, 2012; that following 

the prayer and pledge, the Journal of 

proceedings be approved to date, the 

morning hour be deemed expired, and 

the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; 

that I be recognized and the first hour 

be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling 

the first half and the Republicans the 

final half. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

PROGRAM 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, this 

evening I filed cloture on the substitute amendment to S. 3457, the Veterans Jobs Corps Act and on the underlying bill. As a result, the filing deadline for first-degree amendments to the 

substitute amendment and S. 3457 is 1 

p.m. tomorrow. 

Under the rule, the cloture votes in 

relation to the Veterans Jobs Corps 

Act will occur on Friday. I talked 

about it earlier this evening, and we 

will decide what time we are going to 

do that tomorrow. We hope we can 

reach an agreement to have the vote or 

votes tomorrow. If not, if all time is 

used, we will be voting this weekend, 

including tomorrow, late at night. 

f 

ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. 

TOMORROW 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, if there is 

no further business to come before the 

Senate, I ask unanimous consent that 

it adjourn under the previous order. 

There being no objection, the Senate, 

at 9:38 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, 

September 13, 2012, at 10 a.m. 

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