S10674 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 19, 2008 

training programs offered by AHDs will provide learning opportunities for public health 

professionals throughout their careers. We 

also appreciate the continued support of the 

existing Public Health and Preventive Medicine Program which offers vital support to 

train health professionals in this important 

area. 

Again, we would like to thank you for your 

leadership and we look forward to working 

with you as you work to advance this legislation. We are glad to see your commitment 

to addressing workforce shortage issues in 

health care and offer our support of the 

Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act. 

Sincerely, 

HARRISON C. SPENCER, MD, MPH, 

President and CEO. 

NATIONAL AHEC ORGANIZATION, 

Oak Creek, WI. 

Hon. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, 

U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR SENATOR CLINTON: On behalf of the 

National Area Health Education Center Organization (NAO), I would like to offer support for the Health Professions and Primary 

Care Reinvestment Act legislation that includes AHEC reauthorization. 

Your ongoing support of the National 

AHEC Organization and the AHEC centers 

and programs that we represent across the 

country are critical to the health professions 

pipeline, quality education and training programs for health care professionals, allied 

health professional and students across the 

county. 

The Health Professions and Primary Care 

Reinvestment Act will ensure the sustainability of the many critical programs offered 

by AHEC’s throughout the nation. 

Please feel free to call upon the NAO for 

additional support as you move forward with 

your efforts and be assured that our support 

and this letter may be used publicly to advance the Health Professions and Primary 

Care Reinvestment Act legislation. 

Sincerely, 

ROSE M. YUHOS, 

NAO President. 

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR DIVERSITY

IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS, 

November 19, 2008. 

Hon. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, 

U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR SENATOR CLINTON: The National 

Council on Diversity in the Health Professions (NCDHP) applauds your introducing 

the Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act. The Title VII Health Professions programs help strengthen and diversity 

our nation’s primary care workforce. The 

Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act reauthorizes these vital programs while greatly improving them. 

NCDHP is interested in your efforts to continue to strengthen the diversity cluster of 

the Title VII programs, particularly the reauthorization of Centers of Excellence (COE) 

and Health Careers Opportunities Program 

(HCOP). For many years, these programs 

have demonstrated a tremendous federal 

government investment into the institutions 

that focus on increasing the number of 

health professionals and the diversity of the 

health professions. 

Again, thank you for introducing the 

Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act. Your continued leadership and 

dedication to health care is greatly appreciated. We urge you to do all that you can to 

see that building a stronger workforce of primary care professionals that is more diverse 

is a top priority during the current health 

care debate. Ensuring passage of your important bill would be a very good first step. 

Sincerely, 

WANDA D. LIPSCOMB, 

Chair. 

SOCIEIY OF GENERAL

INTERNAL MEDICINE, 

Washington, DC, November 17, 2008. 

Hon. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, 

Russell Senate Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR SENATOR CLINTON: On behalf of the 

Society of General Internal Medicine, I want 

to applaud your leadership in advancing national policies that promote improved patient care for all Americans. In particular, I 

want to commend you on the introduction of 

the Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act. 

By any measure, primary care, including 

general internal medicine, is the cornerstone 

of our nation’s health care system. Patients 

with primary care physicians have better 

health status, longer life expectancy and 

lower health care costs. Moreover, for the 

poor, the uninsured and the elderly, primary 

care functions as a safety net, serving as the 

first and often the only contact for care and 

treatment. 

For more than three decades, the Title VII 

Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (TPCMD) program, in particular, has 

contributed significantly to improving the 

quality of education and training of the nation’s primary care workforce, with special 

emphasis on individuals from disadvantaged 

backgrounds and underrepresented minorities. But challenges remain. For example, 

forecasts are that the demand for general internists will increase by 38 percent within 

the next 15 years, while the number of new 

physicians entering the field of general internal medicine continues to decline. 

By strengthening and expanding the 

TPCMD program, your legislation recognizes 

that primary care is the linchpin of our 

health care system and that an adequate, 

well-trained primary care workforce is critical to the success of any health care reform 

measures Congress undertakes. 

In addition, your legislation calls for a 

more comprehensive approach to addressing 

the systemic needs of our health care system, including the creation of primary care 

training institutes that will promote all-important collaboration across all primary care 

disciplines, as well as partnering with community health centers in a way that will 

speed the translation of research into community practice. Furthermore, the work of 

these institutes will help contribute to better health outcomes by fostering the development of the patient-centered medical 

home model. 

At a time when 47 million Americans lack 

health coverage, when increasing numbers of 

elderly are entering the age of highest risk 

of chronic disease, and when racial and ethnic disparities persist, the Health Professions and Primary Care Investment Act provides a solid framework for meeting these 

challenges. 

Again, thank you for introducing this important legislation. As in the past, our Society stands ready to assist you in whatever 

way we can. 

Sincerely, 

LISA V. RUBENSTEIN, 

President. 

SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS 

SENATE RESOLUTION 707—AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF 

THE SENATE TO CERTIFY THE 

FACTS OF THE FAILURE OF 

JOSHUA BOLTEN, AS THE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS AT THE 

WHITE HOUSE, TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE 

JUDICIARY AND PRODUCE DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED BY COMMITTEE SUBPOENA 

Mr. LEAHY submitted the following 

resolution; from the Committee on the 

Judiciary; which was placed on the calendar: 

S. RES. 707 

Whereas, since the beginning of this Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee has 

conducted an investigation into the removal 

of United States Attorneys; 

Whereas, the Committee’s requests for information related to its investigation, including documents and testimony from the 

White House and White House personnel, 

were denied; 

Whereas, the White House has not offered 

any accommodation or compromise to provide the information requested that is acceptable to the Committee; 

Whereas, on April 12, 2007, pursuant to its 

authority under Rule 26 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Senate Committee 

on the Judiciary authorized issuance to the 

Custodian of Records at the White House, a 

subpoena which commands the Custodian of 

Records to provide the Committee with all 

documents in the possession, control, or custody of the White House related to the Committee’s investigation; 

Whereas, on June 13, 2007, the Chairman 

issued a subpoena pursuant to the April 12, 

2007, authorization to White House Chief of 

Staff Joshua Bolten as the White House Custodian of Records, for documents related to 

the Committee’s investigation, with a return 

date of June 28, 2007; 

Whereas, on June 28, 2007, in response to 

subpoenas for documents issued by the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, White 

House Counsel Fred Fielding conveyed the 

President’s claim of executive privilege over 

all information in the custody and control of 

the White House related to the Committee’s 

investigation; 

Whereas, based on this claim of executive 

privilege, Mr. Bolten refused to appear and 

produce documents to the Committee in 

compliance with the subpoena; 

Whereas, on June 29, 2007, the Chairmen of 

the House and Senate Judiciary Committees 

provided the White House with an opportunity to substantiate its privilege claims by 

providing the Committees with the specific 

factual and legal bases for its privilege 

claims regarding each document withheld 

and a privilege log to demonstrate to the 

Committees which documents, and which 

parts of those documents, are covered by any 

privilege that is asserted to apply and why; 

Whereas, the White House declined this opportunity in a July 9, 2007, letter to the Committee Chairmen from Mr. Fielding, while 

reiterating the privilege claim; 

Whereas, on August 17, 2007, Mr. Fielding 

rejected the Chairman’s request for a meeting with the President to work out an accommodation for the information sought by 

the Committee; 

Whereas, on November 29, 2007, the Chairman ruled that the White House’s claims of 

executive privilege and immunity are not legally valid to excuse current and former 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE
November 19, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10675 

White House employees from appearing, testifying and producing documents related to 

this investigation and directed Mr. Bolten, 

along with other current and former White 

House employees, to comply immediately 

with the Committee’s subpoenas by producing documents and testifying; 

Whereas, Mr. Bolten has not complied with 

the Committee’s subpoenas or made any 

offer to cure his previous noncompliance; 

Whereas, the Committee’s investigation is 

pursuant to the constitutional legislative, 

oversight and investigative powers of Congress and the responsibilities of this Committee to the Senate and the American people; including the power to: (1) investigate 

the administration of existing laws, and obtain executive branch information in order 

to consider new legislation, within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including legislation 

related to the appointment of U.S. Attorneys; (2) expose any corruption, inefficiency, 

and waste within the executive branch; (3) 

protect the Committee’s role in evaluating 

nominations pursuant to the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to provide advice 

and consent; and (4) examine whether inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading testimony 

or other information was provided to the 

Committee: Therefore be it 

Resolved, That the President of the Senate 

certify the facts in connection with the failure of Joshua Bolten, as the Custodian of 

Records at the White House, though duly 

summoned, to appear and to produce documents lawfully subpoenaed to be produced 

before the Committee, under the seal of the 

United States Senate, to the United States 

Attorney for the District of Columbia, to the 

end that Joshua Bolten may be proceeded 

against in the manner and form provided by 

law. 

f 

SENATE RESOLUTION 708—AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF 

THE SENATE TO CERTIFY THE 

FACTS OF THE FAILURE OF 

KARL ROVE TO APPEAR AND 

TESTIFY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AND 

TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED BY COMMITTEE SUBPOENA 

Mr. LEAHY submitted the following 

resolution; from the Committee on the 

Judiciary; which was placed on the calendar: 

S. RES. 708 

Whereas, since the beginning of this Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee has 

conducted an investigation into the removal 

of United States Attorneys; 

Whereas, the Committee’s requests for information related to its investigation, including documents and testimony from the 

White House and White House personnel, 

were denied; 

Whereas, the White House has not offered 

any accommodation or compromise to provide the requested information that is acceptable to the Committee; 

Whereas, on March 22, 2007, pursuant to its 

authority under Rule 26 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Senate Committee 

on the Judiciary authorized issuance to Karl 

Rove, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, 

subpoenas in connection with the Committee’s investigation; 

Whereas, on June 28, 2007, in response to 

subpoenas for documents issued by the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, White 

House Counsel Fred Fielding conveyed the 

President’s claim of executive privilege over 

all information in the custody and control of 

the White House related to the Committee’s 

investigation; 

Whereas, on June 29, 2007, the Chairmen of 

the House and Senate Judiciary Committees 

provided the White House with an opportunity to substantiate its privilege claims by 

providing the Committees with the specific 

factual and legal bases for its privilege 

claims regarding each document withheld 

and a privilege log to demonstrate to the 

Committees which documents, and which 

parts of those documents, are covered by any 

privilege that is asserted to apply and why; 

Whereas, the White House declined this opportunity in a July 9, 2007, letter to the Committee Chairmen from Mr. Fielding, while 

reiterating the blanket privilege claims; 

Whereas, on July 26, 2007, the Chairman 

issued a subpoena authorized March 22 to Mr. 

Rove for documents and testimony related to 

the Committee’s investigation, with a return 

date of August 2; 

Whereas, the Chairman noticed an August 

2, 2007, Judiciary Committee hearing under 

its Rules at which Mr. Rove was subpoenaed 

to testify; 

Whereas, Mr. Fielding, in an August 1, 2007 

letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member, informed the Committee that the President would invoke a claim of executive privilege and a claim of immunity from congressional testimony for Mr. Rove, and directed 

Mr. Rove not to produce responsive documents or testify before the Committee about 

the firings, and that Mr. Rove would not appear in response to the Committee’s subpoena; 

Whereas, based on these claims of executive privilege and absolute immunity, Mr. 

Rove refused to appear or to produce documents or to testify at the Committee’s August 2, 2007, hearing in compliance with the 

subpoena; 

Whereas, on August 17, 2007, Mr. Fielding 

rejected the Chairman’s request for a meeting with the President to work out an accommodation for the information sought by 

the Committee; 

Whereas, on November 29, 2007, the Chairman ruled that the White House’s claims of 

executive privilege and immunity are not legally valid to excuse current and former 

White House employees from appearing, testifying and producing documents related to 

this investigation and directed Mr. Rove, 

along with other current and former White 

House employees, to comply immediately 

with the Committee’s subpoenas by producing documents and testifying; 

Whereas, Mr. Rove has not complied with 

the Committee’s subpoenas or made any 

offer to cure his previous noncompliance; 

Whereas, the Committee’s investigation is 

pursuant to the constitutional legislative, 

oversight and investigative powers of Congress and the responsibilities of this Committee to the Senate and the American people; including the power to: 1) investigate 

the administration of existing laws, and obtain executive branch information in order 

to consider new legislation, within the Committee’s jurisdiction, including legislation 

related to the appointment of U.S. Attorneys; 2) expose any corruption, inefficiency, 

and waste within the executive branch; 3) 

protect the Committee’s role in evaluating 

nominations pursuant to the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to provide advice 

and consent; and 4) examine whether inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading testimony 

or other information was provided to the 

Committee: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the President of the Senate 

certify the facts in connection with the failure of Karl Rove, though duly summoned, to 

appear and testify before the Judiciary Committee and to produce documents lawfully 

subpoenaed to be produced before the Committee, under the seal of the United States 

Senate, to the United States Attorney for 

the District of Columbia, to the end that 

Karl Rove may be proceeded against in the 

manner and form provided by law. 

f 

SENATE RESOLUTION 709—EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE 

SENATE THAT THE UNITED 

STATES SHOULD PURSUE THE 

ADOPTION OF BLUEFIN TUNA 

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT THE 16TH 

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE 

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON 

THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS 

Mr. KERRY (for himself, Ms. SNOWE, 

Mrs. BOXER, Ms. CANTWELL, and Mr. 

REED) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation: 

S. RES. 709 

Whereas Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery is 

valuable commercially and recreationally in 

the United States and many other countries; 

Whereas the International Convention for 

the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas entered 

into force on March 21, 1969; 

Whereas the Convention established the 

International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to coordinate international research and develop, implement, 

and enforce compliance of the conservation 

and management recommendations on the 

Atlantic bluefin tuna and other highly migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean and 

the adjacent seas, including the Mediterranean Sea; 

Whereas in 1974, the Commission adopted 

its first conservation and management recommendation to ensure the sustainability of 

Atlantic bluefin tuna throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, while allowing for the maximum sustainable catch 

for food and other purposes; 

Whereas in 1981, for management purposes, 

the Commission adopted a working hypothesis of 2 Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks, with 1 

occurring west of 45 degrees west longitude 

(hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘western Atlantic stock’’) and the other occurring east 

of 45 degrees west longitude (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock’’); 

Whereas, despite scientific recommendations intended to maintain bluefin tuna populations at levels that will permit the maximum sustainable yield and ensure the future of the stocks, the total allowable catch 

quotas have been consistently set at levels 

significantly higher than the recommended 

levels for the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock; 

Whereas despite the establishment by the 

Commission of fishing quotas based on total 

allowable catch levels for the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery 

that exceed scientific recommendations, 

compliance with such quotas by parties to 

the Convention that harvest that stock has 

been extremely poor, most recently with 

harvests exceeding such total allowable 

catch levels by more than 50 percent for each 

of the last 4 years; 

Whereas insufficient data reporting in 

combination with unreliable national catch 

statistics has frequently undermined efforts 

by the Commission to assign quota overharvests to specific countries; 


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