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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6012-S6013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                      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;

[[Page 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 long-term 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 long-range 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.

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