mr. manchin -- mr. manchin: i ask that the reading be dispensed with.the presiding officer: there will be two minutes. mr. manchin: i urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan commonsense amendment that will address an urgent need, helping our children develop healthy eating habits at a very early age. i want to thank my cosponsor, kelly acrot yoth from new hampshire for working with me on this amendment. it requires the department of health of human services and the department of agriculture to development, implement and promote dietary guidelines for pregnant women and children up to 2. if you're 2 years of age, we tell you how to stay healthy and what to feed your child. this fills in the gap from women when they become pregnant until 2 years of age. i urge support of this amendment. the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. ms. stabenow: thank you, madam president. i yoo yield back my time. it's my understanding we can proceed with a voice vote on this amendment. the presiding officer: without objection. all time being yielded back, the

mr. manchin: mr. president, if i may say, the leadership of my good friend from oklahoma and his unwavering support and in basically bringing this to all of our attentions -- i've been a pilot for not quite 55 years but 45 years. and with that being said, i understand completely. but senator inhofe brought it to -- i think to attention to all of us, and even the nonpilots in our groups and ranks here. his steadfast leadership and support of this and also his ability to work across the aisle with those on our side of the aisle, the democrats, i appreciate so much that. and his leadership, i know senator boxer feels very, very compelled about this and your leadership in working with her on the transportation bill, both of you bringing that to the forefront for all of us. and we're all going to benefit by that. i thank you, sir, and continue to look forward to working with you. mr. inhofe: i appreciate my friend very much. let me, mr. president, just make a couple of comments. i'll be more detailed later

mr. manchin: mr. president, i have four unanimous consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. and i ask unanimous consent that these requests be agreed to and that these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. manchin: mr. president, since we first began consideration of the f.d.a. bill, i have stood on this floor again and again to highlight the importance of an amendment i offered to this legislation that is very significant to my fellow west virginians and all americans. this amendment would put tighter controls on drugs containing a substance known as hydrocodone. a highly addictive prescription painkiller that is destroying communities across this country and leaving families devastated by abusive and addiction. it was a proud moment for me when the senate came together across party lines on may 23 and unanimously adopted my amendment to reclassify hydrocodone as

mr. manchin: mr. president, i rise to recognize a very special event taking place tomorrow in our nation's capital. west virginia's free honor flight, a free trip for the service members to see the monuments built for their honor and sacrifice. i've always said west virginia is one of the most patriotic states in the nation and we are proud of the members who have served our country with honor and distinction. the 31 veterans who are traveling to the capital tomorrow embody our state's history and contributions to the freedom of this nation. 12 of them served in world war ii, three in the korean war and 16 in vietnam. i'd like to tell you a little bit about this very special group. these heroes engaged in combat across the globe, fighting in the aleutian islands, luxembourg, japan and vietnam. some served at home. some served in historic events such as the battle of the bulge, the liberation of the philippines and front in japan. they took on different roles, serving as infantrymen, door gunners, comb

mr. manchin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. manchin: first of all, i thank senator inhofe for his leadership on this very, very important piece of legislation. i'm proud to be part of that with you, sir, and for the leadership you have shown for the fellow pilots, and the connection we have not only in parts of west virginia but all over the country as our private aviation. we hope to keep that alive and well. i know your state, mr. president, is the same. we appreciate all your support and we appreciate your leadership, sir. mr. president, i rise today to speak about a very important issue that i believe will truly help each and every one of us, every senator and every congressman from all 50 states accomplish something meaningful when it comes to fighting the prescription drug abuse epidemic that is plaguing communities all over this great nation. mr. president, i have not talked to a person in my state that has not been affected through a person in their immediate family or extended family with prescription drugs overuse. it'

mr. obama tries to put off the hanging of his portrait. >> we have more. >> you cannot come deliverable. without the manchin -- come into liverpool with at the mention of this. -- without the mention of this. we have paul, rigno, john, and george. thank you for being with us. fantastic. what is it like? >> it can be hard. you get used to it. >> i.t. looking forward to the relay? >> yes, very much. i think it is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity. >> a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do it this way. let's speak to the man who is behind the creation. what is the thinking? >> no better way to welcome people than the fab four. we thought we would let the boy is welcome the crowd -- boys welcome the crowd. >> it is really important. we do a lot of other events. this is really important. -- of outdoor event. this is really important. it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. it is fantastic. >> thank you so much to join us. best of luck. i hope it does really well. -- goes really well. >> old home movies and photographs that have never been seen before are to be shown in a documentary. >> a wonderfully battered bo

mr. manchin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. manchin: i rise to congratulate former west virginia governor -- the presiding officer: the senator is reminded we are in a quorum call. mr. manchin: i'd like to have the quorum call vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. manchin: i'd like to congratulate former governor gaston caperton. it is my privilege to honor him, a native of charles champion -- charleston, virginia. governor caperton's childhood experience instilled the importance of education at a young able. as a child who struggled with dyslexia, he was able to overcome the hurdles he faced in the classroom and achieve educational excellence. he earned his bachelor's degree in business from the university of north carolina and has taught at harvard and columbia university. he also holds ten honorary dorral degrees. he served as governor from 1989 to 1997. during his two terms in office, governor caperton made education a top priority and improved the lives of thousands of west virginia students. he supported