as did frank murkowski's expertise and experience, particularly with regard to our relationship with taiwan. and the focus on the asia-pacific and the rise of china is certainly one that in many ways we can view as an opportunity, certainly in my state. last year china became the number-one export market for alaska goods. $1.4 billion of goods exported from alaska to china, an 18% increase. so i believe maintaining this focus and we have this visit today with the president of china, is critically important not only to my state, not only to our country but also to our allies in the region. and we should all try to put more focus and our best thinking on these critical foreign policy and national security issues that although are not always on the front page of the papers, i believe are some of the most important long-term strategic challenges and opportunities that we face in this country. mr. president, i yield the floor. sulaymaniyamr. sullivan: mr. pri note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quoruquorum call: quorum call: quorum call: mr.