A resolution commending the bravery of the initial responders in the Baltimore Harbor water taxi accident of March 6, 2004.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 312, submitted earlier today by myself and Senator Sarbanes, expressing condolences to the people who died in the Baltimore water taxi and our appreciation for the brave rescue efforts.

I ask unanimous consent also that the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating thereto appear in the Record as if read without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I believe we have agreed to the parliamentary aspects of this effort.

I rise to pay tribute to those lost in the Baltimore Harbor water taxi accident, and to express great gratitude to the brave rescuers who saved many of the lives, and, of course, to express condolences to the families.

Let me tell the Senate about what happened, very briefly.

On Saturday, a beautiful, mild afternoon in Baltimore's Harbor became a nightmare. A sudden storm arose. A beloved water taxi capsized in the Baltimore Harbor. Twenty-five people were thrown into the water. They fought for their lives in freezing cold water.

They were families, tourists, Maryland residents, people from across the country, even members of a National Guard unit visiting us.

Two women tragically lost their lives, including a beloved pediatric nurse. One young girl is still fighting for here live.

Three people still remain missing: a couple about to be engaged and a 6-year-old boy on a trip with his father and mother and two other siblings.

I express my heartfelt condolences to those families who are suffering the loss of a loved one. The victims and their families are in our thoughts and our prayers.

But I also want to bring to the Senate's attention what happened with our very brave initial responders.

This accident happened off of Fort McHenry. Stationed there is a Naval Reserve unit. They happened to be on duty as part of their weekend training. At the same time, located there is the Baltimore City Fire Department Maritime Unit.

The minute this boat went over, as this storm hit, a Naval Reserve master chief petty officer saw the boat capsize and sounded the alarm to the Navy Reserve unit. Without hesitation, 20 men got on a boat that was a relic from World War II, that was used as a landing craft, and with great skill they began to proceed out to this capsized boat, exactly as the Baltimore City Maritime Fire Department saw it. And then without even putting wet suits on because there was not time--the water was 44 degrees--the firefighters jumped

overboard. The Navy came in as a rescue mission, maneuvering this landing craft, and coming up close. As they lowered its bowel ramp, they used it as a sidewalk into the water. The Navy men walked into that water, forming a human chain, grabbing people, and pulling them out. And then they skillfully negotiated right up to the capsized boat and used the ramp as a crane to lift it up, and out came three people who had been trapped underneath.

Once again, the Navy rescued two and the fire department rescued one. Now two people are dead. Three are missing. Indeed, it is a very melancholy situation, but if the Navy had not responded the way they did, and if the fire department had not been there, the tragic consequences would have been far more significant.

That kind of bravery, jumping into the water, risking hypothermia is something we need to recognize. These initial responders did it quickly, without thinking and without hesitation and without stopping. Their quick thinking and all of their training and all of their ingenuity and all of their bravery and all of their gallantry helped save 20 lives.

Our terrific Baltimore emergency workers back on shore began to take the people to the hospital. On shore, the Navy took their drill room and turned it into a triage center. I am telling you, they provided emergency medical care. They were taking blankets and clothing and even their own shirts and socks and giving it to those who came from the freezing cold water. We could have faced a greater loss had it not been for them.

When I went to visit with them yesterday, I said: I want to go to the Senate to tell your story. As I gathered their names, they said: We don't want to be singled out. We're Navy. We're the fire department.

They wanted to be known for the team they belong to. They told me they were part of a team, that they needed each other, and that they counted on each other, and it was the team effort that saved their lives.

They do that every day. The fire department and the Navy train every day to save lives. They were there when we needed them, and they were best at what we needed them for.

Now Baltimore fire rescue workers continue to recover the bodies of the victims. Indeed, it is a chilling job, but we want to be able to bring those bodies back home.

I salute our initial responders. I salute those who are now engaged in the recovery activity. I thank God for the emergency medical team that whisked them to the hospital to take care of their hypothermia, their cardiac arrest.

It was a tragic day in Baltimore, but the heroism of Baltimore shines as a beckon to deal with their sorrow. That is why I offer this resolution today. I ask that the Senate and my colleagues join in expressing our gratitude for them and our condolences to those families of lost loved ones.

I thank the Chair and thank the Senator from Idaho for his courtesy.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit the People-to- People Engagement in World Affairs resolution with my esteemed colleague, Senator Chuck Hagel.

In the 1960s, during a troubled and divisive time for our country, President John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to ``ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.'' Today, the need is even more urgent for Americans to be active participants both in the United States and abroad.

This People-to-People Engagement in World Affairs resolution is a call to Americans to look beyond our borders to engage with the wider world at an individual, human level. It encourages Americans to seize opportunities to engage in the global arena--through participating in a professional or cultural exchange; studying or volunteering abroad; working with an immigrant or refugee group in the United States; hosting a foreign student or professional; participating in a sister- city program; and/or learning a foreign language.

It also asks the Secretary of State to coordinate with implementing partners in creating an online database that lists these opportunities for Americans.

In today's world, our challenges and opportunities are global in nature. Terrorism, the greatest threat to our national security, crosses all national boundaries and feeds off the gaps in intelligence and communication created by borders. Other important issues, such as the proliferation of WMD, human trafficking, poverty, environmental degradation, and diseases from HIV/AIDS to polio also have little regard for borders. These challenges require international cooperation, and Americans at all levels of society are instrumental in finding and achieving meaningful solutions.

This resolution encourages Americans to forge relationships with people outside of the United States to change not only how Americans view and act in the world, but how others view Americans. Presently, anti-Americanism is growing at a startling rate. According to the Pew Research Center, negative views of the United States among Muslims, which were once limited to the Middle East, have spread to populations in places like Nigeria and Indonesia. A growing percentage of Muslims see serious threats to Islam by the United States. Majorities in seven of eight Muslim populations surveyed express worries that the U.S. might become a military threat to their countries. And these disturbing trends hold strong even beyond the Muslim world.

This is dangerous for a number of reasons. Anti-Americanism undermines our ability to work effectively with other countries on our global problems. In addition, in our fight against terror, anti- Americanism can create a steady supply of recruits for terrorist networks, intent on our destruction. These terrorist networks have unfairly blamed the United States for the unemployment, the poverty and the powerlessness that so many around the world experience on a daily basis. They feed off erroneous perceptions of Americans, distorting our image to achieve their own objectives.

Americans must combat these misperceptions and turn mistrust into understanding. If we don't define ourselves to the people of the world, we run the risk that terrorist will continue to make America a scapegoat for other nation's ills. In order to show the world who Americans really are, diplomacy must occur at all levels of society and not only through U.S. government representatives. Artists, scholars, teachers, nurses, doctors, and business people all have a role in shaping this image and in presenting a different American face to the world.

Many Americans have been engaged for decades. In my own State of Wisconsin, my constituents have demonstrated altruism and curiosity daily. They have worked in the Peace Corps, trained dairy farmers in South America and Eastern Europe, participated in sister-city exchanges with the former Soviet Union, traveled to refugee camps in Thailand and hosted international students. Through these activities, my constituents have fought stereotypes and created openings for greater trust and cooperation. The need is greater now than ever before for more Americans to become involved.

I have been approached by Americans of all ages and all economic backgrounds to ask me how they can become more involved. This resolution is a response to those Americans and a challenge to many more to define our times and to shape our world. The creation of the online database as part of this resolution will assist Americans in finding the best way for them personally to participate. Americans will use their enthusiasm and curiosity to engage in the world where they can--through tutoring children, through assisting refugees who come to our country, through professional training, and through showing concern for the well-being of other outside of the United States.

This resolution is a challenge to Americans to make connections in their own way--to listen and show respect for others and their way of life. Americans can bridge the gap between

this powerful nation and people around the world who feel frustrated and powerless. We can change perceptions, change minds, and change the world we live in.

Mr. President, today I am submitting legislation together with Senator Mikulski that would recognize the achievements of The Garden Club of America on the occasion of its 91st annual meeting in Washington, DC, from April 24 through 27, 2004. This meeting in our Nation's Capital is especially significant because it occurs here only once every twenty-five years. This legislation recognizes and honors The Garden Club and the work of its 17,000 members to improve our country.

Since its founding in 1913, The Garden Club of America has grown to include 195 member clubs in 40 States and the District of Columbia. It is a recognized leader in the fields of horticulture, conservation, historic preservation, civic improvement, and has significant influence in the protection of America's environment.

Right here in the District of Columbia we can witness the results of The Garden Club's labor. Indeed it played an instrumental role in the founding of the National Arboretum and the development of the Archives of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution.

Perhaps even more importantly, The Garden Club has become a significant impetus for community service across the United States. The scope of The Garden Club of America goes well beyond its numerous publications, its public plant and flower shows, and its national medalists. It is a source for the exchange of ideas and a platform for the betterment of our communities across this great country. The purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, but also to share the advantages of association through educational meetings, conferences, correspondence, and publications, and to improve the quality of the environment through conservation and civic improvement.

As a Marylander I know first hand of the contributions The Garden Club of America has made to our State. Ladew Topiary Gardens is a prime example of the edification and enjoyment that stems from the support of The Garden Club of America. Since 1971, Ladew Gardens has used its 22 acres of gardens to educate children, entertain families, and promote the importance of beautiful landscapes within our communities. Every spring and summer, hundreds of families congregate in the gardens to enjoy the Sunday concerts, afternoon picnics, and self-guided educational nature walks. And every year, hundreds of families leave the gardens with an exhilarated appreciation for America's outdoors, and an enriched desire to conserve that beauty.

The Garden Club of America has asked for very little in return for its dedication to America's beautiful landscapes. I am submitting this legislation today in the hope that we in the Congress can recognize this significant contribution as The Garden Club of America holds its annual meeting here in our Nation's Capital. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Maryland. In fact, I appreciate the Senator from Maryland coming to the floor today and sharing with us, the Senate, and the country this incredible example of how these first responders can make such an important difference when a tragedy strikes. Those in Maryland are to be commended for this response.