January 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S333 

Water Resources Development Act of 

2000. The congressionally mandated 

September 2008 National Academy of 

Sciences report on Everglades restoration called progress on Mod Waters 

‘‘dismal.’’ The report emphasized that 

Mod Waters is critical to restoration, 

especially for Everglades Park, and 

urged the Federal Government to take 

action to move the project along. This 

exchange does precisely that. 

No funds will be needed for this 

inholding acquisition. Since so much 

work has already been done to identify 

the precise lands and interests in land 

to be exchanged and these lands have 

been subject to professional appraisals, 

we expect the park to be able to 

promptly complete the necessary administrative requirements to complete 

the exchange. Time is of the essence in 

order to facilitate Mod Waters and ensure that the exchange is executed so 

taxpayers are spared the multi-million 

dollar costs of purchasing the FPL corridor. 

Prior to executing the land trade, the 

Park Service will prepare the appropriate National Environmental Policy 

Act document to fully understand the 

environmental impacts, if any. It is my 

hope that this exchange will provide a 

wide array of environmental benefits 

to the park. The exchange ensures that 

there will be no electric transmission 

lines constructed on the existing private right-of-way. The bill also provides the Service with the authority to 

relocate the Everglades Park boundary 

to ensure that the lands conveyed to 

FPL are outside of the park. It is intended that the utility corridor, if developed, not be within Everglades 

Park. Because many of the agreements 

have been worked out in advance between FPL and the park, I expect that 

the Park Service will move expeditiously to complete the land exchange 

authorized by this legislation. 

In a similar vein, the Park Service 

must also make a determination that 

the lands and interests along the L 31 

canal and levee on the edge of the park 

are ‘‘suitable’’ for exchange and conveyance to FPL. This ‘‘suitability’’ is 

already widely acknowledged and recognized by both the agency and the 

Congress as these peripheral lands are 

not in the heart of the park and not 

critical for Mod Waters and water flow 

restoration. Accordingly, I expect the 

Park Service to act in a timely manner 

to render the suitability finding. 

I received a letter from Florida Department of Environmental Protection 

Secretary, Mike Sole, expressing his 

support for the land transfer. The exchange is also supported by the Department of the Interior and the Army 

Corps of Engineers. 

I expect the Park Service and FPL to 

move promptly to complete the exchange. Again, the need for action on 

Mod Waters means that time is of the 

essence. 

I wish to thank Chairman BINGAMAN

and Ranking Member MURKOWSKI for 

their efforts to incorporate this important measure in the S. 22 package. We 

must move expeditiously to compete 

Mod Waters and completion of this 

land exchange will help us achieve 

these objectives while ensuring that 

the taxpayers are spared the cost of 

purchasing a very expensive park 

inholding from FPL. 

I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. 

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 

quorum call be rescinded. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

MORNING BUSINESS 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted 

to speak therein for a period of up to 10 

minutes each. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF LULAC 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to 

call the attention of the Senate to the 

80th anniversary of the League of 

United Latin American Citizens, 

LULAC. As a pioneer of the Latino 

civil rights movement, LULAC has 

long fought to better the economic 

condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and 

civil rights of Americans of Latino descent. 

Eighty years ago, three organizations 

in south Texas united to combat the 

rampant discrimination faced by Mexican Americans. After decades of disenfranchisement, the Latino community in south Texas created a movement for equality that has contributed 

greatly to enhancing the livelihood of 

Latinos throughout the United States. 

LULAC’s successes and achievements 

are many—ranging from the desegregation of schools throughout the American Southwest to improving access to 

jobs and government programs. 

Today, as America’s oldest national 

Latino organization, LULAC boasts 

continued service to America’s Latino 

population through more than 48 employment training centers, 16 regional 

centers, and employs its great knowledge of the needs of the Latino community by advising private, nonprofit, and 

public institutions. Moreover, its 

unique charter structure allows this 

organization to disseminate important 

information and provide worthwhile 

services via more than 600 councils 

throughout the United States and 

Puerto Rico. The need for LULAC’s 

services has not subsided through the 

years and a new generation of Latinos 

calls upon the institutional strength 

that this organization can provide. The 

challenges we face as a nation can only 

be resolved by the inclusion of all 

American communities and I value the 

sage voice of LULAC on the strategies 

to empower Latino communities. 

The organization’s early efforts for 

political and social inclusion created a 

strong base which LULAC and other organizations now utilize to improve the 

quality of life for all American 

Latinos. I congratulate and commend 

the League of United Latin American 

Citizens for their long record of service 

to the Latino community and wish 

them continued success. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO BOURBON HEIGHTS 

NURSING HOME 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I 

rise today to honor the Bourbon 

Heights Nursing Home, which was recently recognized as the best nursing 

home in the State in 2008 by the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities, KAHCF. 

Recently, the Bourbon County Citizen in Paris, KY, published a story 

about the Bourbon Heights Nursing 

Home receiving this top honor. 

Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to 

join me in honoring the work of the 

dedicated staff and volunteers at Bourbon Heights, whose continued commitment to the community and to those 

they care for is extraordinary. I further 

ask unanimous consent that the full 

article be printed in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the 

RECORD, as follows: 

[From Bourbon County Citizen, Dec. 19, 2008] 

BOURBON HEIGHTS RECEIVES STATE AWARD

(By Paul Gibson) 

The Bourbon Heights Nursing Home was 

the recipient of the coveted award recognizing them as the best nursing home in the 

state by the Kentucky Association of Health 

Care Facilities (KAHCF). There are 247 nursing homes in the association and each one is 

awarded the large trophy that signifies the 

top honor. 

‘‘There is an extensive application procedure,’’ said Glenda McKenzie, Activities Director. ‘‘And judges come at least twice during the year to personally see the facility.’’ 

‘‘The judges’ visit is very thorough,’’ said 

Angie Forsythe, Administrator at Bourbon 

Heights. ‘‘They interview each department 

head and observe the services we provide 

residents.’’ 

According to Forsythe, the judges also 

interview staff members, residents, and volunteers to gain better understanding of how 

the facility operates. 

‘‘The judges really wanted to know what 

makes us unique,’’ Forsythe said. 

The judges discovered, McKenzie said, 

‘‘that we are a very diverse facility offering 

a wide range of services to our residents.’’ 

Currently, Bourbon Heights provides independent living in apartments, personal care, 

nursing care, day care and out patient rehabilitation. 

‘‘I think the judges were impressed with 

the way we take pride in the care we provide 

our residents,’’ Forsythe said. ‘‘We are like a 

family here and the staff provides a loving 

care for each resident.’’ 

She added that Bourbon Heights has very 

little turnover in staff and that many staff 


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