November 20, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10757 

press Iran on this case at every opportunity and at every level—something I 

think the U.S. Government is beginning to do. Also, this resolution thanks 

the Swiss for their continued assistance in the case. It furthermore expresses appreciation for the efforts of 

Iranian officials who have ensured the 

safety of the family during their visit 

of December of last year. This resolution also expresses sympathy to the 

Levinson family during this trying period. This is a wife and seven children 

of a missing former FBI agent in the 

country of Iran, missing now since the 

early part of 2007. 

In this year, on July 28, the President 

of Iran stated during an interview with 

NBC that Iranian officials were willing 

to cooperate with the FBI on this case. 

Why is the FBI involved? The FBI is involved because he is a former FBI 

agent. This resolution calls upon the 

Tehran government to make this meeting happen as soon as possible to discuss the evidence the Iranians have uncovered about Mr. Levinson’s disappearance. 

Now, I wish to underscore that because on July 28 of this year the President of Iran stated in an NBC interview 

that Iranian officials were willing to 

cooperate with the FBI on this case. 

They have not. 

I wish to be blunt. We obviously have 

serious disagreements with Iran on its 

nuclear program and a whole range of 

other issues. I haven’t hesitated over 

the years, as a member of the Senate 

Armed Services Committee, the Senate 

Intelligence Committee, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to 

express my opposition to a number of 

Tehran’s policies—and I will continue 

to press for change in Iran’s positions 

and activities—but I am calling on the 

Government of Iran out of human compassion and humanitarian assistance to 

a family of a wife and seven children to 

come forth and cooperate in trying to 

find and get evidence of the whereabouts of Bob Levinson. 

We want to see an Iran where individuals are respected, not locked up in 

Evin Prison—we want to see an Iran 

that is respected—for signing a petition calling for women’s rights. We 

want to see an Iran that champions the 

Middle East peace process rather than 

supporting terrorist groups such as 

Hamas and Hezbollah. We want to see 

an Iran whose leaders do not make despicable threats to ‘‘wipe Israel off the 

map.’’ 

We clearly have our differences with 

Iran, and those differences, especially 

under a new administration, can start 

to be bridged with Iran stepping forth 

with discussions regarding the safe return of an American citizen whose family desperately wishes to be reunited 

with him, that American citizen being 

former FBI agent Bob Levinson. 

So this resolution calls upon the U.S. 

Government and our friends and allies 

to engage with Iranian officials to raise 

Mr. Levinson’s case at every opportunity and at every level. I understand 

many of our allies already have raised 

Mr. Levinson’s case on our behalf, and 

I wish to encourage them to continue 

to do so. This Senator has done it as 

well, both publicly and privately, and I 

will continue to do so. 

The resolution I have filed additionally commends the Swiss for their ongoing assistance to the U.S. Government and to the family of the 

Levinsons. The assistance of the Swiss 

Ambassador and his staff at the American Interests Section in Tehran was 

essential during Mrs. Levinson’s visits 

in the past, and will be, I think, to her 

visits in the future. 

I wish to express—the word ‘‘sympathy’’ does not conjure up what I am 

trying to express to Christine Levinson 

and to her family. No one should have 

to experience what they have been 

through. I have met with her on a number of occasions. She is a loving mother. She is clearly an eloquent advocate. 

She is a tough fighter on behalf of her 

husband. She is relentless. She is not 

going to give up, nor should she. I deem 

it a great privilege that I may in some 

little way try to assist her and her 

family. 

I want to bring more of our colleagues into this issue of trying to find 

Bob Levinson in Iran and get the 

world’s attention focused on this missing American. I am going to ask Mrs. 

Levinson to come back in January 

when we reconvene, and I want some of 

our colleagues to meet her. 

Remember, Senators, that as representatives of the American people, 

that means we have to help individual 

American citizens in distress. This is 

clearly a family who is in distress. We 

cannot—and I believe I can speak for 

the Senate—we are not going to forget 

Bob Levinson and his family. 

f 

AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND 

PROPOSED 

SA 5696. Mr. MARTINEZ submitted an 

amendment intended to be proposed by him 

to the bill H.R. 6867, to provide for additional 

emergency unemployment compensation; 

which was ordered to lie on the table. 

SA 5697. Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. 

MARTINEZ) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 

6867, supra; which was ordered to lie on the 

table. 

SA 5698. Mr. DORGAN (for Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mrs. HUTCHISON, and Mr. 

DORGAN)) proposed an amendment to the bill 

S. 3663, to require the Federal Communications Commission to provide for a short-term 

extension of the analog television broadcasting authority so that essential public 

safety announcements and digital television 

transition information may be provided for a 

short time during the transition to digital 

television broadcasting. 

f 

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS 

SA 5696. Mr. MARTINEZ submitted 

an amendment intended to be proposed 

by him to the bill H.R. 6867, to provide 

for additional emergency unemployment compensation; which was ordered 

to lie on the table; as follows: 

At the appropriate place, insert the following: 

SEC. lll. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF LOAN 

LIMIT INCREASE. 

(a) FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC.—Section 201(a) of the Economic Stimulus Act of 

2008 (Public Law 110–185, 122 Stat. 619) is 

amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2008’’ and 

inserting ‘‘December 31, 2009’’. 

(b) FHA LOANS.—Section 202(a) of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (Public Law 110- 

185, 122 Stat. 620) is amended by striking 

‘‘December 31, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2009’’. 

SA 5697. Mr. DODD (for himself and 

Mr. MARTINEZ) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him 

to the bill H.R. 6867, to provide for additional emergency unemployment 

compensation; which was ordered to lie 

on the table; as follows: 

At the appropriate place, insert the following: 

SEC. ll. MANDATORY LOAN GUARANTEES AND 

CREDIT ENHANCEMENT EFFORTS. 

Section 109(a) of the Emergency Economic 

Stabilization Act of 2008 (division A of Public 

Law 110-343) is amended— 

(1) by striking the last sentence; 

(2) by striking ‘‘To the extent’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) LOAN GUARANTEES AND CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS REQUIRED.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to actions 

required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

shall, not later than 15 days after the date of 

enactment of this paragraph, designate the 

Corporation, on a reimbursable basis, to design and carry out a plan to use loan guarantees or credit enhancements to facilitate 

loan modifications to prevent avoidable foreclosures. 

‘‘(B) AGGREGATE AMOUNTS.—The Secretary 

shall make and fund guarantees and credit 

enhancements developed under this paragraph in amounts of— 

‘‘(i) $10,000,000,000 in aggregate estimated 

subsidy costs, and amounts specified under 

paragraph (2) of section 115(a) shall be reduced by the subsidy cost of any guarantees 

or credit enhancements funded by the Secretary under this clause; and 

‘‘(ii) an additional $15,000,000,000, in aggregate estimated subsidy costs, and amounts 

specified under paragraph (3) of section 115(a) 

shall be reduced by the subsidy cost of any 

guarantees or credit enhancements funded 

by the Secretary under this clause. 

‘‘(C) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—In carrying 

out this paragraph, the Corporation may use 

its contracting authority under section 9 of 

the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.’’. 

SA 5698. Mr. DORGAN (for Mr. 

ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, and Mr. DORGAN)) proposed 

an amendment to the bill S. 3663, to require the Federal Communications 

Commission to provide for a short-term 

extension of the analog television 

broadcasting authority so that essential public safety announcements and 

digital television transition information may be provided for a short time 

during the transition to digital television broadcasting.; as follows: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and 

insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Short-term 

Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness 

Act’’. 


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S10758 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 20, 2008 

SEC. 2. COMMISSION ACTION REQUIRED. 

(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, the Federal Communications Commission shall, not later 

than January 15, 2009, develop and implement a program to encourage and permit, to 

the extent technically feasible and subject to 

such limitations as the Commission finds to 

be consistent with the public interest and 

the requirements of this Act, the broadcasting in the analog television service of 

only the public safety information and digital transition information specified in subsection (b) during the 30-day period beginning on the day after the date established by 

law under section 3002(b) of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 

2005 for termination of all licenses for fullpower television stations in the analog television service and the cessation of broadcasting by full-power stations in the analog 

television service. 

(b) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—The program 

required by subsection (a) shall provide for 

the broadcast of— 

(1) emergency information, including critical details regarding the emergency, as 

broadcast or required to be broadcast by fullpower stations in the digital television service; 

(2) information, in both English and Spanish, and accessible to persons with disabilities, concerning— 

(A) the digital television transition, including the fact that a transition has taken 

place and that additional action is required 

to continue receiving television service, including emergency notifications; and 

(B) the steps required to enable viewers to 

receive such emergency information via the 

digital television service and to convert to 

receiving digital television service, including 

a phone number and Internet address by 

which help with such transition may be obtained in both English and Spanish; and 

(3) such other information related to consumer education about the digital television 

transition or public health and safety or 

emergencies as the Commission may find to 

be consistent with the public interest. 

SEC. 3. LIMITATIONS. 

In designing the program required by this 

Act, the Commission shall— 

(1) take into account market-by-market 

needs, based upon factors such as channel 

and transmitter availability; 

(2) ensure that broadcasting of the program specified in section 2(b) will not cause 

harmful interference with signals in the digital television service; 

(3) not require the analog television service signals broadcast under this Act to be retransmitted or otherwise carried pursuant to 

section 325(b), 338, 339, 340, 614, or 615 of the 

Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 325(b), 

338, 339, 340, 614, or 615); 

(4) take into consideration broadcasters’ 

digital power levels and transition and coordination plans that already have been 

adopted with respect to cable systems and 

satellite carriers’ systems; 

(5) prohibit any broadcast of analog television service signals under section 2(b) on 

any spectrum that is approved or pending approval by the Commission to be used for public safety radio services, including television 

channels 14-20; and 

(6) not include the analog spectrum between channels 52 and 69, inclusive (between 

frequencies 698 and 806 megahertz, inclusive) 

reclaimed from analog television broadcasting pursuant to section 309(j) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)). 

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

As used in this Act, the term ‘‘emergency 

information’’ has the meaning such term has 

under part 79 of the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (47 C.F.R. 

h 

part 79). 

FOREIGN TRAVEL FINANCIAL REPORTS 

In accordance with the appropriate provisions of law, the Secretary of the Senate herewith submits the following reports for standing committees of the Senate, certain joint committees of the Congress, delegations and groups, and select 

and special committees of the Senate, relating to expenses incurred in the performance of authorized foreign travel: 

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL BY MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. SENATE, UNDER AUTHORITY OF SEC. 22, P.L. 95–384—22 

U.S.C. 1754(b), COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY FOR TRAVEL FROM JULY 1 TO SEPT. 30, 2008 

Name and country Name of currency 

Per diem Transportation Miscellaneous Total 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Stephanie Mercier: Switzerland ............................................................................................... Franc .................................................... .................... 2,975.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 2,975.00 United States ............................................................................................ Dollar .................................................... .................... .................... .................... 7,514.00 .................... .................... .................... 7,514.00 

Hayden Milberg: Switzerland ............................................................................................... Franc .................................................... .................... 6,840.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 6,840.00 United States ............................................................................................ Dollar .................................................... .................... .................... .................... 7,519.63 .................... .................... .................... 7,519.63 

Total ..................................................................................................... ............................................................... .................... 9,815.00 .................... 15,033.63 .................... .................... .................... 24,848.63 

SENATOR TOM HARKIN,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Sept. 26, 2008. 

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL BY MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. SENATE, UNDER AUTHORITY OF SEC. 22, P.L. 95–384—22 

U.S.C. 1754(b), COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FOR TRAVEL FROM JULY 1 TO SEPT. 30, 2008 

Name and country Name of currency 

Per diem Transportation Miscellaneous Total 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Foreign 

currency 

U.S. dollar 

equivalent 

or U.S. 

currency 

Katherine Eltrich: China ........................................................................................................ Yuan ..................................................... .................... 290.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 290.00 Korea, North .............................................................................................. Dollar .................................................... .................... 1,284.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 1,284.00 

Mongolia ................................................................................................... Tugrik ................................................... .................... 309.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 309.00 Korea, South ............................................................................................. Won ....................................................... .................... 340.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 340.00 Japan ........................................................................................................ Yen ....................................................... .................... 860.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 860.00 United States ............................................................................................ Dollar .................................................... .................... .................... .................... 12,597.38 .................... .................... .................... 12,597.38 Paul Grove: China ........................................................................................................ Yuan ..................................................... .................... 290.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 290.00 Korea, North .............................................................................................. Dollar .................................................... .................... 1,284.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 1,284.00 

Mongolia ................................................................................................... Tugrik ................................................... .................... 309.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 309.00 Korea, South ............................................................................................. Won ....................................................... .................... 340.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 340.00 Japan ........................................................................................................ Yen ....................................................... .................... 860.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 860.00 United States ............................................................................................ Dollar .................................................... .................... .................... .................... 12,567.38 .................... .................... .................... 12,567.38 

Michele Wymer: China ........................................................................................................ Yuan ..................................................... .................... 290.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 290.00 Korea, North .............................................................................................. Dollar .................................................... .................... 1,284.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 1,284.00 

Mongolia ................................................................................................... Tugrik ................................................... .................... 309.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 309.00 Korea, South ............................................................................................. Won ....................................................... .................... 340.00 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 340.00 United States ............................................................................................ Dollar .................................................... .................... .................... .................... 10,107.34 .................... .................... .................... 10,107.34 

Senator Judd Gregg: 

United Kingdom ........................................................................................ Pound ................................................... .................... 5,561.60 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 5,561.60 

Senator Richard Shelby: 

United Kingdom ........................................................................................ Pound ................................................... .................... 5,561.60 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 5,561.60 

Brian Potts: 

United Kingdom ........................................................................................ Pound ................................................... .................... 5,561.60 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 5,561.60 

Bruce Evans: 

United Kingdom ........................................................................................ Pound ................................................... .................... 5,561.60 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 5,561.60 

Anne Caldwell: 

United Kingdom ........................................................................................ Pound ................................................... .................... 5,561.60 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... 5,561.60 


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