December 11, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10943 

Increased energy prices are being reflected 

in increased food prices at the grocery store 

and at restaurants. We have stopped eating 

out at restaurants completely, and have 

made major adjustments to our eating habits, and to portions served during meals at 

home. We are going back to a simpler and 

less varied diet, and just trying to keep the 

staples like beans, rice, milk, bread, eggs 

and cheese. 

These changes we have made as a family do 

have an effect on our local economy, as we 

are holding on to more of our dollars, and 

not spending them in the community, the 

local community businesses suffer—it is noticeable because there are a lot of families 

like ours who are doing the same thing we 

are because we simply have to in order to 

survive. 

Our country is in a real predicament with 

the way the government has managed our 

agricultural production as it ties in with energy production. Ethanol is a poor solution 

as it requires an imbalance in our crop production, and now wheat prices are sky-high 

and production is behind. Corn uses a lot of 

water, which requires fuel to pump and irrigate with, so the net result of ethanol production to use is worse than with pure fossil 

fuel. 

I am not so concerned with the rising cost 

of fuel, as we truly do have lower fuel costs 

than most of the rest of the world, and there 

is nothing wrong with changing our lifestyles to be less consumptive of our resources. What does anger me is that fuel 

companies are recording record profits quarter after quarter, while the cost of fuel is 

sending our entire economy into a crisis, and 

causing our nation to be weakened as a 

whole. 

KRISTINE, Spirit Lake. 

First off, I would like to thank you for 

taking action on our country’s current energy crisis. I was starting to think that most 

of our country’s politicians were either simply ignoring the issue or were not taking it 

seriously. I am so glad to know that you are 

taking the initiative to look for answers to 

the problem, and I am even more impressed 

that you are actively looking for answers 

among the people you represent. This does 

more to win my [confidence] than any [action] could ever do. 

My husband and I enjoy traveling, and the 

rise in prices has definitely cut down on our 

travel this summer. We are staying home 

more often and eating out less. My husband 

is a student in the nursing program at ISU in 

Pocatello, and we are concerned about trying 

to pay for gas as he travels between Idaho 

Falls and Pocatello on a daily basis this fall. 

In a more specific example, my husband’s 

mother has Alzheimer’s disease, and since 

our time left with her is limited, we planned 

a family reunion this year to give her at 

least one more chance to have all of her children and grandchildren around her. Some of 

my husband’s family live far away, and as 

airline prices continue to increase, it has 

really strained their budgets to try to buy 

plane tickets to come to Idaho. As a family, 

we have all pitched in to help pay needed 

travel expenses, but it has been tough. I hate 

to sound like a whiner, vacationing and eating out are things I can, in the long run, live 

without, but the problem is that energy 

prices just keep getting higher, and I do not 

see any light at the end of the tunnel. I am 

starting to worry that I will not be able to 

afford to heat my home this winter. This last 

winter we used an electric blanket so we 

could turn our heat off at night and save energy, and we kept our thermostat low and 

dressed in warm clothes during the day, but 

Idaho winters are cold, and there is not 

much more we can do to conserve. We have 

to have energy to heat our homes and transport us to work and school, and we are getting to the brink of not being able to afford 

it. 

As for answers to the problem, I am no expert on this stuff, but I have done a little 

reading, and the best answers I can find are 

as follows: 

(1) Build coal to oil plants. Our country 

has a lot of coal, and we can produce oil from 

coal for cheaper than we are buying it right 

now. 

(2) Make a push to build more nuclear 

power plants in the US, and get to work on 

building them NOW!—they take a long time 

to build and we are running out of time. I realize there is a strong minority in our country that is good at halting any effort toward 

starting new nuclear energy plants, but I 

think if the American public were better 

educated on the benefits, safety, and cleanliness of nuclear power, the public would stand 

up against those minorities that are stopping nuclear power in the US. That is why I 

think that along with trying to build more 

nuclear power plants, we also need to educate the public. 

(3) Drill ANWR. I think that speaks for 

itself. 

(4) I have been really disappointed that our 

President does not seem to be saying much 

on the energy crisis. I think he needs to address the American people and make it clear 

that he sees this as a national crisis. I think 

he needs to outline for the public what options are being debated in Washington, and 

what the road blocks are we face. I really 

think that if he would address this problem 

directly and publically, it would capture the 

public’s attention and get people more active 

in standing up and working together to help 

fix the problem. When 9/11 happened and our 

country faced a huge crisis, the people of 

this country came together to help those in 

need. I think that if we had a leader that let 

the public know what was going on with the 

energy crisis—i.e., why we are having such a 

huge energy crisis and what our options are 

to fix things—then the people of this country 

would band together to find answers. Personally, I would like to see the American public 

band together to fight against all the minority groups out there that stand in the way of 

things like nuclear power and drilling for oil 

in places like ANWR, but that just might be 

me. 

Thanks for your efforts. I am glad to know 

someone in Washington is working on this. 

LALOVE, Idaho Falls. 

I believe getting a handle on energy prices 

is of utmost importance for our economy. If 

we do not get it under control, I believe we 

are headed for a depression the likes of we 

have never seen before. With the trade imbalance growing along with the cost of oil, at 

some point something is going to break because we cannot keep a deficit growing at 

this rate. It is vital that we look into alternative energy sources but that is years away 

and we need to solve this problem now. It 

also bothers me that a lot of the money 

being spent is going to countries that support terrorism. That just seems so backwards. 

We need to develop the resources we have. 

It is so ironic that the activists that are preventing the development of our resources 

may in fact actually destroy the things they 

are trying to preserve. I am in favor of protecting the environment but we need to do it 

in the right way. When energy prices reach a 

certain point, the majority of the population 

will demand that these resources get developed any way possible and that would probably end up destroying the environment 

worse than if we do it the right way now. 

You can not stop development of it forever 

and I think we need to do it now when we 

can control how it is done. In other words, I 

believe there is a point where the resources 

will be developed without concern for the environment. I do not think were are far from 

that. 

In summary, I think we need to start developing our oil resources now and continue 

to work on alternative energy (including nuclear). If we delay I believe it will be economically and environmentally disastrous 

for us. 

BRENT, Meridian. 

Speed limits 55 mph national. This might 

help. Slow up and save money. 

LOWELL, Emmett. 

We lost our semi, our independent trucking 

business. We cannot afford groceries anymore. We nearly lost our house of 16 years, 

too. If [changes are not made soon], all 

Americans stand to lose a lot. 

JOHN and LAURIE. 

Reduce highway speed limits. I drive the 

interstate between Nampa and Fruitland 

three times per week. The speed of the traffic, although the limit is 75, is 65 or less. Motorists want permission to drive slower. 

Lower the speed limit to 55. Truckers would 

then have a reason to drive slower. They 

want to save money, but since the speed 

limit is 65 and all the finances around their 

trip is based on traveling that legal limit— 

they have to go 65. 

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LORI, Nampa. 

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS 

CONGRATULATING BRONZE MEDAL 

SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY 

∑ Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, 

today I congratulate the top public 

schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I was pleased to learn that U.S. 

News and World Report awarded 26 

high schools in Kentucky with a bronze 

medal for their outstanding performance on standardized exams and for 

providing college-level coursework. 

These 26 Kentucky high schools have 

shown that they foster an environment 

that serves all students, no matter 

their academic goals, by demonstrating 

a commitment to excellence through 

quality education. These Bronze Medal 

Schools back this up with measurable 

academic outcomes that show improvement throughout a range of performance indicators. 

I have always been proud of Kentucky education because of its relentless effort to enhance and develop the 

lives of every student. This is a well deserved recognition for the excellent 

work that is done by all of these high 

schools, and I would like to congratulate each for its great success. 

The following schools were commended with awards: Barbourville City 

School in Barbourville, KY; Bardstown 

High School in Bardstown, KY; Central 

High School in Louisville, KY; Corbin 

High School in Corbin, KY; Dawson 

Springs High School in Dawson 

Springs, KY; Eminence High School in 

Eminence, KY; Evarts High School in 

Evarts, KY; Frederick Fraize High 

School in Cloverport, KY; Graves County High School in Mayfield, KY; Hancock County High School in Lewisport, 

S10944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 11, 2008 

KY; Harlan High School in Harlan, KY; 

Hazard High School in Hazard, KY; 

Hickman County High School in Clinton, KY; Jackson City School in Jackson, KY; Johnson Central High School 

in Paintsville, KY; Magoffin County 

High School in Salyersville, KY; 

Owensboro High School in Owensboro, 

KY; Paintsville High School in 

Paintsville, KY; Paris High School in 

Paris, KY; Phelps High School in 

Phelps, KY; Pineville High School in 

Pineville, KY; Russell County High 

School in Russell Springs, KY; WaltonVerona High School in Walton, KY; 

Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, KY; Williamsburg City 

School in Williamsburg, KY; and 

Williamstown High School in 

Williamstown, KY. 

Again, I commend these high schools 

for a job well done. I hope that their efforts will inspire other schools in Kentucky and around the country to strive 

for the best.∑ 

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CONGRATULATING SILVER MEDAL 

SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY 

∑ Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, 

today I congratulate the top public 

schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I was pleased to learn that U.S. 

News and World Report awarded seven 

high schools in Kentucky with a silver 

medal for their outstanding performance on standardized exams and for 

providing college-level coursework. 

These seven Kentucky high schools 

have shown that they foster an environment that serves all students, no 

matter their academic goals, by demonstrating a commitment to excellence 

through quality education. These Silver Medal Schools back this up with 

measurable academic outcomes that 

show improvement throughout a range 

of performance indicators. 

I have always been proud of Kentucky education because of its relentless effort to enhance and develop the 

lives of every student. This is a well deserved recognition for the excellent 

work that is done by all of these high 

schools, and I would like to congratulate each for its great success. 

The following schools were commended with awards: Beechwood High 

School in Fort Mitchell, KY; Bowling 

Green High School in Bowling Green, 

KY; Dupont Manual High School in 

Louisville, KY; Highlands High School 

in Fort Thomas, KY; Louisville Male 

High School in Louisville, KY; North 

Oldham High School in Goshen, KY; 

and South Oldham High School in 

Crestwood, KY. 

Again, I commend these high schools 

for a job well done. I hope that their efforts will inspire other schools in Kentucky and around the country to strive 

for the best.∑ 

f 

REMEMBERING MARY SWEENEY 

∑ Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I 

would like to take a moment to remember one of my constituents and a 

life-long New Yorker, Mary Sweeney of 

Niagara Falls. Seven years ago, it was 

my great honor to send congratulations to Mary and her husband John on 

the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. I know that her fighting 

spirit will live on through John and her 

children, Moira, John, Billy, and 

Brendan, and a large and loving family 

of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. 

Born in the Great Depression, Mary 

exemplified the hopes and dreams of 

New York families whom I have had 

the honor and privilege of representing 

in the Senate these past 8 years. Mary 

had an ardent appreciation for public 

service and the political process, and 

she remained true to her strong convictions throughout her life. She was a 

loving wife and mother who worked 

every day to ensure opportunities for 

her children. In retirement she enjoyed 

her many grand-children and greatgrand-children and she should be proud 

that the rewards of her commitment to 

her family, her church, and her community can be seen in the many accomplishments of her family and extended family and in the many loving 

tributes that have been shown to her 

since her passing.

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∑ 

REMEMBERING ROBERT COOK 

EDWARDS 

∑ Mr. GRAHAM. Madam President, I 

ask my fellow colleagues to join me in 

honoring the memory of a dedicated 

educator and innovator, Clemson University president emeritus Robert Cook 

Edwards. After a lifetime of unprecedented service to his students as 

Clemson’s longest serving chief executive, Dr. Edwards passed away in Seneca, SC, on December 4, 2008, at the age 

of 94. 

Dr. Edwards will be remembered for 

his legendary leadership, strength in 

business negotiation, and passion for 

Clemson football. Known as a giant in 

the history of Clemson University and 

affectionately referred to as ‘‘R.C.’’ by 

his students, he led the institution 

through a period of peaceful integration and phenomenal growth to become 

a thriving, coeducational, and diversified university. 

Born and raised in Fountain Inn, SC, 

Dr. Edwards attended Clemson College 

at the young age of 15. He went on to 

graduate with a bachelor of science degree in textile engineering in 1933, and 

after a successful career in the textile 

industry, he returned to Clemson as 

the university’s first vice president for 

development in 1956. Dr. Edwards became acting president in 1958, after the 

death of President Robert F. Poole, and 

was eventually elected president on 

April 9, 1959, by the board of trustees. 

He became the eighth chief executive 

of Clemson and the second alumnus to 

hold the position. 

Dr. Edwards peacefully led the university through racial integration 

when its first African-American student was enrolled in 1962. Despite the 

recurring turmoil of racial tensions 

during the 1960s, President Edwards 

handled those challenging times without incident. His brave actions resulted 

in progress and advancement of equal 

civil rights throughout the State of 

South Carolina. 

By the time of his retirement in 1979, 

Dr. Edwards had awarded over 28,000 diplomas, which represented more than 

70 percent of all the undergraduate degrees and doctorates awarded in 

Clemson’s history to date, the student 

body had grown to 11,000 students, 4 

schools had become 9 colleges, and the 

students could choose from over 60 majors. Because of Dr. Edwards’s oversight, leadership, and enthusiasm for 

growth, his influence has stretched beyond the gates of the university to impact the lives of men and women all 

over the country. 

Dr. Edwards was predeceased by his 

wife Louise Odom Edwards, who died 

on July 29, 2008. She was affectionately 

referred to as ‘‘Moon Pie’’ by Clemson 

students and alumni and was said to be 

a perfect compliment to her husband, 

‘‘R.C.’’ 

Robert Cook Edwards’s legacy will 

live on not only in the hearts of his 

students and fellow educators, but 

through the developments and achievements he has accomplished at one of 

our Nation’s finest institutions. I ask 

that the Senate join me in commemorating Dr. Edwards’s lifelong dedication to higher learning and to the 

State of South Carolina.

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∑ 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 

A message from the President of the 

United States was communicated to 

the Senate by Mr. Williams, one of his 

secretaries. 

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EXECUTIVE MESSAGE REFERRED 

As in executive session the Presiding 

Officer laid before the Senate a message from the President of the United 

States submitting a nomination which 

was referred to the Committee on 

Armed Services. 

(The nomination received today is 

printed at the end of the Senate proceedings.) 

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MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE 

At 12:21 p.m., a message from the 

House of Representatives, delivered by 

Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the 

following bills, in which it requests the 

concurrence of the Senate: 

H.R. 7321. An act to authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile manufacturers, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 7327. An act to make technical corrections related to the Pension Protection Act 

of 2006, and for other purposes. 

The message also announced that the 

House has passed the following bills 

and joint resolution, without amendment: 

S. 3663. An act to require the Federal Communications Commission to provide for a