September 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6455 

Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. 

LIEBERMAN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. REED, Mr. SESSIONS, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Mr. WARNER, Mr. WEBB, Mr. 

WYDEN, and Mr. MENENDEZ): 

S. Res. 566. A resolution designating September 29, 2012, as ‘‘National Estuaries Day’’; 

considered and agreed to. 

By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and 

Mrs. MURRAY): 

S. Res. 567. A resolution honoring the life 

and career of George Hickman; considered 

and agreed to. 

By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. 

CORNYN, Mr. REID, Mr. BEGICH, Mrs. 

MURRAY, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. 

UDALL of New Mexico, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, Mr. HELLER, Mr. ENZI, 

Mr. CRAPO, Mr. NELSON of Florida, 

Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. BENNET, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mrs. BOXER, 

Mr. DURBIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. COONS, 

Mr. LAUTENBERG, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN): 

S. Res. 568. A resolution designating the 

week beginning September 16, 2012, as ‘‘National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week’’; 

considered and agreed to. 

By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. 

LEVIN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. ENZI, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. BLUNT, Ms. LANDRIEU, and 

Ms. STABENOW): 

S. Res. 569. A resolution designating the 

week beginning October 21, 2012, as ‘‘National Character Counts Week’’; considered 

and agreed to. 

By Mr. BLUNT (for himself and Mrs. 

MURRAY): 

S. Res. 570. A resolution designating November 8, 2012, as ‘‘National Parents as 

Teachers Day’’; considered and agreed to. 

f 

ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS 

S. 65

At the request of Mr. AKAKA, his 

name was added as a cosponsor of S. 65, 

a bill to reauthorize the programs of 

the Department of Housing and Urban 

Development for housing assistance for 

Native Hawaiians. 

S. 202

At the request of Mr. PAUL, the name 

of the Senator from Alabama (Mr. SESSIONS) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

202, a bill to require a full audit of the 

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve 

banks by the Comptroller General of 

the United States before the end of 

2012, and for other purposes. 

At the request of Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts, his name was added as a cosponsor of S. 202, supra. 

S. 227

At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the 

name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. 

BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

227, a bill to amend title XVIII of the 

Social Security Act to ensure more 

timely access to home health services 

for Medicare beneficiaries under the 

Medicare program. 

S. 274

At the request of Mrs. HAGAN, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 274, a bill to amend title 

XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to medication therapy 

management services under the Medicare prescription drug program. 

S. 339

At the request of Mr. BAUCUS, the 

name of the Senator from California 

(Mrs. BOXER) was added as a cosponsor 

of S. 339, a bill to amend the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the special rule for contributions 

of qualified conservation contributions. 

S. 563

At the request of Mrs. BOXER, the 

name of the Senator from New York 

(Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a cosponsor of S. 563, a bill to provide for 

equal access to COBRA continuation 

coverage. 

S. 751

At the request of Mr. BROWN of Ohio, 

the name of the Senator from Illinois 

(Mr. DURBIN) was added as a cosponsor 

of S. 751, a bill to require the Secretary 

of Commerce to develop a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy, 

and for other purposes. 

S. 810

At the request of Ms. CANTWELL, the 

name of the Senator from Rhode Island 

(Mr. REED) was added as a cosponsor of 

S. 810, a bill to prohibit the conducting 

of invasive research on great apes, and 

for other purposes. 

S. 811

At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the 

name of the Senator from Virginia (Mr. 

WARNER) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

811, a bill to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

S. 821

At the request of Mr. LEAHY, the 

names of the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. REED) and the Senator from 

Maine (Ms. COLLINS) were added as cosponsors of S. 821, a bill to amend the 

Immigration and Nationality Act to 

eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent 

partners of United States citizens and 

lawful permanent residents to obtain 

lawful permanent resident status in 

the same manner as spouses of citizens 

and lawful permanent residents and to 

penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships. 

S. 891

At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the 

name of the Senator from New Mexico 

(Mr. UDALL) was added as a cosponsor 

of S. 891, a bill to amend title XVIII of 

the Social Security Act to provide for 

the recognition of attending physician 

assistants as attending physicians to 

serve hospice patients. 

S. 961

At the request of Mr. KERRY, the 

name of the Senator from New York 

(Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a cosponsor of S. 961, a bill to create the income security conditions and family 

supports needed to ensure permanency 

for the Nation’s unaccompanied youth, 

and for other purposes. 

S. 996

At the request of Mr. ROCKEFELLER, 

the name of the Senator from Maine 

(Ms. COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor 

of S. 996, a bill to amend the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the new 

markets tax credit through 2016, and 

for other purposes. 

S. 1171

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

names of the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. REED) and the Senator from 

Delaware (Mr. COONS) were added as cosponsors of S. 1171, a bill to amend the 

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend 

the exclusion from gross income for 

employer-provided health coverage for 

employees’ spouses and dependent children to coverage provided to other eligible dependent beneficiaries of employees. 

S. 1309

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

name of the Senator from Michigan 

(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1309, a bill to amend title XIX 

of the Social Security Act to cover 

physician services delivered by 

podiatric physicians to ensure access 

by Medicaid beneficiaries to appropriate quality foot and ankle care. 

S. 1391

At the request of Mr. TESTER, the 

name of the Senator from Louisiana 

(Ms. LANDRIEU) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1391, a bill to amend title 38, 

United States Code, to improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic 

stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. 

S. 1450

At the request of Ms. SNOWE, the 

name of the Senator from Minnesota 

(Mr. FRANKEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1450, a bill to amend title 23, 

United States Code, to provide for the 

establishment of a commercial truck 

safety program, and for other purposes. 

S. 1454

At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the 

name of the Senator from Michigan 

(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1454, a bill to amend title 

XVIII of the Social Security Act to 

provide for extended months of Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive 

drugs for kidney transplant patients 

and other renal dialysis provisions. 

S. 1461

At the request of Mr. NELSON of Florida, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Mr. HELLER) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1461, a bill to amend the 

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 

to clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s jurisdiction over certain tobacco products, and to protect jobs and 

small businesses involved in the sale, 

manufacturing and distribution of traditional and premium cigars. 

S. 1782

At the request of Mr. LAUTENBERG, 

the name of the Senator from New 

York (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a 

cosponsor of S. 1782, a bill to provide 


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S6456 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 19, 2012 

for the reduction in unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and the promotion of healthy relationships, and 

for other purposes. 

S. 1862

At the request of Mr. LAUTENBERG, 

the name of the Senator from Michigan 

(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1862, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the 

health of children and reduce the occurrence of sudden unexpected infant 

death and to enhance public health activities related to stillbirth. 

S. 1872

At the request of Mr. CASEY, the 

names of the Senator from Delaware 

(Mr. COONS) and the Senator from 

Vermont (Mr. LEAHY) were added as cosponsors of S. 1872, a bill to amend the 

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the tax treatment of ABLE accounts established under State programs for the care of family members 

with disabilities, and for other purposes. 

S. 1910

At the request of Mr. LIEBERMAN, the 

names of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. 

BROWN) and the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. REED) were added as cosponsors of S. 1910, a bill to provide benefits 

to domestic partners of Federal employees. 

S. 2032

At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the 

name of the Senator from New Jersey 

(Mr. LAUTENBERG) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2032, a bill to amend the 

Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding 

proprietary institutions of higher education in order to protect students and 

taxpayers. 

S. 2047

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

name of the Senator from Michigan 

(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2047, a bill to authorize the 

Secretary of Education to make demonstration grants to eligible local educational agencies for the purpose of reducing the student-to-school nurse 

ratio in public elementary schools and 

secondary schools. 

S. 2057

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2057, a bill to amend title 

XVIII of the Social Security Act to 

allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists 

to supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac, 

and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. 

S. 2088

At the request of Mr. ROCKEFELLER, 

the name of the Senator from New 

York (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a 

cosponsor of S. 2088, a bill to amend the 

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently double the amount of startup expenses entrepreneurs can deduct 

from their taxes. 

S. 2123

At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the 

name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. 

WYDEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

2123, a bill to amend title V of the Social Security Act to extend funding for 

family-to-family health information 

centers to help families of children 

with disabilities or special health care 

needs make informed choices about 

health care for their children. 

S. 2189

At the request of Mr. HARKIN, the 

name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. 

MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor 

of S. 2189, a bill to amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 

and other laws to clarify appropriate 

standards for Federal antidiscrimination and antiretaliation claims, and for 

other purposes. 

S. 2192

At the request of Mr. PRYOR, the 

name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. 

BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

2192, a bill to amend the Public Health 

Service Act to provide for the participation of optometrists in the National 

Health Service Corps scholarship and 

loan repayment programs, and for 

other purposes. 

S. 2250

At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the 

names of the Senator from Arkansas 

(Mr. PRYOR) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) were added 

as cosponsors of S. 2250, a bill to prevent homeowners from being forced to 

pay taxes on forgiven mortgage loan 

debt. 

S. 2347

At the request of Mr. CARDIN, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2347, a bill to amend title 

XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure the continued access of Medicare 

beneficiaries to diagnostic imaging 

services. 

S. 2472

At the request of Mr. CASEY, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2472, a bill to provide for 

the issuance and sale of a semipostal 

by the United States Postal Service for 

research and demonstration projects 

relating to autism spectrum disorders. 

S. 2620

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

name of the Senator from Michigan 

(Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2620, a bill to amend title 

XVIII of the Social Security Act to 

provide for an extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program and the increased payments 

under the Medicare low-volume hospital program. 

S. 3227

At the request of Mr. NELSON of Florida, the name of the Senator from 

Pennsylvania (Mr. CASEY) was added as 

a cosponsor of S. 3227, a bill to enable 

concrete masonry products manufacturers and importers to establish, finance, and carry out a coordinated program of research, education, and promotion to improve, maintain, and develop markets for concrete masonry 

products. 

S. 3239

At the request of Mrs. FEINSTEIN, the 

names of the Senator from Louisiana 

(Ms. LANDRIEU) and the Senator from 

Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) were added as 

cosponsors of S. 3239, a bill to provide 

for a uniform national standard for the 

housing and treatment of egg-laying 

hens, and for other purposes. 

S. 3289

At the request of Mr. KERRY, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3289, a bill to expand the 

Medicaid home and community-based 

services waiver to include young individuals who are in need of services that 

would otherwise be required to be provided through a psychiatric residential 

treatment facility, and to change references in Federal law to mental retardation to references to an intellectual 

disability. 

S. 3310

At the request of Mr. LUGAR, the 

name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. 

RUBIO) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

3310, a bill to direct the President, in 

consultation with the Department of 

State, United States Agency for International Development, Millennium 

Challenge Corporation, and the Department of Defense, to establish guidelines for United States foreign assistance programs, and for other purposes. 

S. 3325

At the request of Mr. BEGICH, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3325, a bill to authorize 

the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to carry out a 5- 

year demonstration program to fund 

mental health first aid training programs at 10 institutions of higher education to improve student mental 

health. 

S. 3331

At the request of Mr. DURBIN, his 

name was added as a cosponsor of S. 

3331, a bill to provide for universal 

intercountry adoption accreditation 

standards, and for other purposes. 

S. 3347

At the request of Mr. BROWN of Ohio, 

the names of the Senator from Hawaii 

(Mr. AKAKA) and the Senator from Iowa 

(Mr. HARKIN) were added as cosponsors 

of S. 3347, a bill to require reports on 

countries with which the United States 

negotiates trade agreements, to establish terms for future trade agreements, 

and to enhance the promotion of exports of United States goods and services, and for other purposes. 

S. 3391

At the request of Ms. KLOBUCHAR, the 

names of the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. BURR) and the Senator from 

Ohio (Mr. BROWN) were added as cosponsors of S. 3391, a bill to amend section 353 of the Public Health Service 


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September 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6457 

Act with respect to suspension, revocation, and limitation of laboratory certification. 

S. 3394

At the request of Mr. JOHNSON of 

South Dakota, the names of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. KERRY), 

the Senator from Montana (Mr. BAUCUS), the Senator from Virginia (Mr. 

WARNER), the Senator from Wyoming 

(Mr. ENZI), the Senator from Nebraska 

(Mr. NELSON) and the Senator from 

Colorado (Mr. BENNET) were added as 

cosponsors of S. 3394, a bill to address 

fee disclosure requirements under the 

Electronic Fund Transfer Act, to 

amend the Federal Deposit Insurance 

Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and for other purposes. 

S. 3402

At the request of Mr. CASEY, the 

name of the Senator from Vermont 

(Mr. SANDERS) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3402, a bill to require the Secretary of Labor to maintain a publicly 

available list of all employers that relocate a call center overseas, to make 

such companies ineligible for Federal 

grants or guaranteed loans, and to require disclosure of the physical location of business agents engaging in customer service communications, and for 

other purposes. 

S. 3407

At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the 

names of the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. 

INOUYE) and the Senator from North 

Dakota (Mr. CONRAD) were added as cosponsors of S. 3407, a bill to amend the 

Public Health Service Act to increase 

the number of permanent faculty in 

palliative care at accredited allopathic 

and osteopathic medical schools, nursing schools, and other programs, to 

promote education in palliative care 

and hospice, and to support the development of faculty careers in academic 

palliative medicine. 

S. 3430

At the request of Mrs. SHAHEEN, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3430, a bill to amend the 

Public Health Service Act to foster 

more effective implementation and coordination of clinical care for people 

with pre-diabetes and diabetes. 

S. 3461

At the request of Mr. BROWN of Ohio, 

the names of the Senator from Missouri (Mr. BLUNT) and the Senator from 

Iowa (Mr. GRASSLEY) were added as cosponsors of S. 3461, a bill to amend title 

IV of the Public Health Service Act to 

provide for a National Pediatric Research Network, including with respect 

to pediatric rare diseases or conditions. 

S. 3463

At the request of Mr. FRANKEN, the 

names of the Senator from New Jersey 

(Mr. LAUTENBERG), the Senator from 

Hawaii (Mr. INOUYE) and the Senator 

from Minnesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) were 

added as cosponsors of S. 3463, a bill to 

amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce the incidence of diabetes among Medicare beneficiaries. 

S. 3494

At the request of Mr. FRANKEN, the 

name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. 

SNOWE) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

3494, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to qualify formerly 

homeless individuals who are full-time 

students for purposes of low income 

housing tax credit. 

S. 3500

At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the 

name of the Senator from Wyoming 

(Mr. ENZI) was added as a cosponsor of 

S. 3500, a bill to amend the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973 to establish a procedure for approval of certain settlements. 

S. 3512

At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the 

names of the Senator from Oklahoma 

(Mr. INHOFE) and the Senator from 

Kansas (Mr. ROBERTS) were added as 

cosponsors of S. 3512, a bill to amend 

subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal 

Act to facilitate recovery and beneficial use, and provide for the proper 

management and disposal, of materials 

generated by the combustion of coal 

and other fossil fuels. 

S. 3522

At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the 

names of the Senator from Michigan 

(Mr. LEVIN) and the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. AKAKA) were added as cosponsors of S. 3522, a bill to provide for the 

expansion of affordable refinancing of 

mortgages held by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. 

S. 3523

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

name of the Senator from Minnesota 

(Ms. KLOBUCHAR) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3523, a bill to amend title 

17, United States Code, to extend protection to fashion design, and for other 

purposes. 

S. 3525

At the request of Mr. TESTER, the 

names of the Senator from Arkansas 

(Mr. PRYOR), the Senator from New 

Hampshire (Mrs. SHAHEEN) and the 

Senator from Nebraska (Mr. NELSON) 

were added as cosponsors of S. 3525, a 

bill to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, 

and shooting, and for other purposes. 

S. 3527

At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the 

name of the Senator from Alabama 

(Mr. SESSIONS) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3527, a bill to provide for enhanced criminal penalties for individuals who file a SEVP certification petition under false pretenses, to prohibit 

certain schools from accessing SEVIS 

or participating in the SEVP and for 

other purposes. 

S. 3536

At the request of Mr. BLUMENTHAL, 

the name of the Senator from Oregon 

(Mr. MERKLEY) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3536, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the 

work opportunity credit for hiring veterans, and for other purposes. 

S. 3539

At the request of Mr. KERRY, the 

name of the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. ROCKEFELLER) was added as 

a cosponsor of S. 3539, a bill to encourage the adoption and use of certified 

electronic health record technology by 

safety net providers and clinics. 

S. 3546

At the request of Mr. JOHNSON of 

South Dakota, the names of the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. INOUYE) and the 

Senator from Washington (Ms. CANTWELL) were added as cosponsors of S. 

3546, a bill to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize a provision to ensure the survival 

and continuing vitality of Native 

American languages. 

S. 3547

At the request of Mr. KERRY, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3547, a bill to amend the 

Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to clarify provisions enacted by the Captive 

Wildlife Safety Act, to further the conservation of certain wildlife species, 

and for other purposes. 

S. 3551

At the request of Mr. DEMINT, the 

names of the Senator from Georgia 

(Mr. ISAKSON), the Senator from Utah 

(Mr. LEE), the Senator from Oklahoma 

(Mr. INHOFE), the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. BARRASSO) and the Senator 

from Idaho (Mr. RISCH) were added as 

cosponsors of S. 3551, a bill to require 

investigations into and a report on the 

September 11–13, 2012, attacks on the 

United States missions in Libya, 

Egypt, and Yemen, and for other purposes. 

S.J. RES. 39

At the request of Mr. CARDIN, the 

name of the Senator from New Mexico 

(Mr. BINGAMAN) was added as a cosponsor of S.J. Res. 39, a joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment. 

S.J. RES. 50

At the request of Mr. HATCH, the 

name of the Senator from Utah (Mr. 

LEE) was added as a cosponsor of S.J. 

Res. 50, a joint resolution providing for 

congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of 

the rule submitted by the Office of 

Family Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families of the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services relating to waiver and expenditure authority under section 1115 of 

the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) 

with respect to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. 

S. CON. RES. 46

At the request of Mr. WEBB, the name 

of the Senator from Maine (Ms. SNOWE) 

was added as a cosponsor of S. Con. 

Res. 46, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that an 

appropriate site at the former Navy 


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Dive School at the Washington Navy 

Yard should be provided for the Man in 

the Sea Memorial Monument to honor 

the members of the Armed Forces who 

have served as divers and whose service 

in defense of the United States has 

been carried out beneath the waters of 

the world. 

S. CON. RES. 50

At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the 

names of the Senator from Connecticut 

(Mr. BLUMENTHAL), the Senator from 

Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. COBURN) and 

the Senator from Illinois (Mr. KIRK) 

were added as cosponsors of S. Con. 

Res. 50, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the 

multistakeholder governance model 

under which the Internet has thrived. 

S. RES. 176

At the request of Ms. MIKULSKI, the 

name of the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 176, a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that 

the United States Postal Service 

should issue a semipostal stamp to support medical research relating to Alzheimer’s disease. 

S. RES. 181

At the request of Mr. GRAHAM, the 

name of the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. HOEVEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 181, a resolution designating May 15, 2011, as ‘‘National 

MPS Awareness Day’’. 

S. RES. 232

At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the 

names of the Senator from Iowa (Mr. 

HARKIN) and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. BROWN) were added as cosponsors of S. Res. 232, a resolution 

recognizing the continued persecution 

of Falun Gong practitioners in China 

on the 12th anniversary of the campaign by the Chinese Communist Party 

to suppress the Falun Gong movement, 

recognizing the Tuidang movement 

whereby Chinese citizens renounce 

their ties to the Chinese Communist 

Party and its affiliates, and calling for 

an immediate end to the campaign to 

persecute Falun Gong practitioners. 

S. RES. 434

At the request of Mr. WARNER, the 

names of the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. MANCHIN), the Senator from 

Minnesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) and the 

Senator from Hawaii (Mr. AKAKA) were 

added as cosponsors of S. Res. 434, a 

resolution supporting the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2025, as articulated in the draft National Plan to 

Address Alzheimer’s Disease from the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services. 

S. RES. 466

At the request of Mr. DURBIN, his 

name and the name of the Senator 

from Pennsylvania (Mr. CASEY) were 

added as cosponsors of S. Res. 466, a 

resolution calling for the release from 

prison of former Prime Minister of 

Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko. 

S. RES. 543

At the request of Mrs. BOXER, the 

names of the Senator from Illinois (Mr. 

DURBIN) and the Senator from Rhode 

Island (Mr. REED) were added as cosponsors of S. Res. 543, a resolution to 

express the sense of the Senate on 

international parental child abduction. 

S. RES. 556

At the request of Mr. INHOFE, the 

name of the Senator from Utah (Mr. 

LEE) was added as a cosponsor of S. 

Res. 556, a resolution expressing the 

sense of the Senate that foreign assistance funding to the Governments of 

Libya and Egypt should be suspended 

until the President certifies to Congress that both governments are providing proper security at United States 

embassies and consulates pursuant to 

the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. 

S. RES. 558

At the request of Mr. HELLER, his 

name was added as a cosponsor of S. 

Res. 558, a resolution congratulating 

the athletes from the State of Nevada 

and throughout the United States who 

participated in the 2012 Olympic and 

Paralympic Games as members of the 

United States Olympic and Paralympic 

Teams. 

f 

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED 

BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS 

By Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself and Mr. BLUMENTHAL): 

S. 3556. A bill to provide penalties for 

email marketing fraud; to the Committee on the Judiciary. 

f 

TELEMARKETING FRAUD 

MODERNIZATION ACT 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I 

rise today to talk about an issue that 

is extremely important to people in 

Rhode Island and across the United 

States: protecting consumers and securing the integrity of Medicare by 

preventing waste and fraud. Individuals 

who commit Medicare fraud are not 

simply stealing from the government, 

they are stealing from the men and 

women who have paid into the system 

their whole lives, they are stealing 

from our Nation’s seniors, and they are 

stealing from the taxpayers. We have 

an obligation to ensure that Medicare 

dollars are spent keeping seniors 

healthy, and not lining the pockets of 

predatory opportunists. 

In March, I held a hearing in Rhode 

Island on efforts at the Federal, State, 

and local levels to identify and reduce 

fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. I 

heard testimony from a representative 

of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as State and 

Federal law enforcement officials, including Rhode Island’s Attorney General, Peter Kilmartin; and the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, Peter 

Neronha. They discussed a number of 

the efforts underway to identify potentially fraudulent claims, recover improper payments, and use state-of-theart analytic software to identify and 

prevent improper payments. 

I was pleased to hear about the steps 

being taken to modernize Medicare’s 

anti-fraud efforts, but there is still 

much that can be done. In particular, I 

believe we must crack down on deceptive and fraudulent telemarketing and 

email schemes that force unwanted and 

unnecessary medical equipment onto 

unsuspecting seniors. I have heard 

from Rhode Islanders concerned about 

these ‘‘too-good-to-be-true’’ offers. 

During my March hearing, I heard testimony about Medicare beneficiaries 

receiving unsolicited phone calls from 

a company called Planned Eldercare, 

which promised to provide them with 

free medical products. If a senior 

agreed to the offer, Planned Eldercare 

would submit as many claims as it 

could to Medicare on that beneficiary’s 

behalf, even if the products for which 

they were submitting claims were not 

medically necessary or even requested 

by the senior. This scheme defrauded 

Medicare out of more than $2.2 million. 

These schemes prey on older Americans and rob Medicare of millions of 

dollars that would otherwise be used to 

improve the health and well-being of 

seniors. We must do more to prevent 

fraud of this kind, which is why I am 

joining with my colleague, Senator 

Blumenthal, in introducing the Telemarketing Fraud Modernization Act. 

This bill would close loopholes in the 

existing telemarketing fraud statute 

and update the law to include Medicare, Medicaid, and health care fraud, 

as well as schemes to fraudulently induce investments—like Ponzi schemes. 

It would also expand existing law to 

apply to schemes perpetrated via 

email, instant messages, and other 

forms of electronic communication. 

Updating the telemarketing fraud statute will give law enforcement agencies 

the tools they need to rein in scam artists, protect our Nation’s seniors, and 

strengthen the integrity of the Medicare program. 

I look forward to continuing to work 

with my colleagues on both sides of the 

aisle on this important issue. 

By Mr. FRANKEN (for himself, 

Mr. HARKIN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. 

DURBIN, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. LEAHY, 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. 

WHITEHOUSE): 

S. 3557. A bill to amend the Higher 

Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education that participate in programs under title IV of 

such Act from including predispute arbitration agreements in enrollment 

contracts; to the Committee on Health, 

Education, Labor, and Pensions. 

Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I rise 

today to talk about a bill I have just 

introduced, the Arbitration Fairness 

for Students Act, and to talk about 

why it is so important to protect our 

Nation’s students. 

Access to higher education is becoming increasingly important in our Nation. In 2018, 70 percent of the jobs in 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE