A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should designate the week beginning June 1, 2003, as "National Citizen Soldier Week".

Mr. President, I take to the floor today to discuss the importance of acknowledging the tremendous risks and sacrifices our men and

women in our Armed Forces make to ensure our continued freedom. In these turbulent and difficult times it is more important than ever to express our sincere and deep appreciation for the service of our Guard, Reserve, and active military.

To show our gratitude, I am pleased to announce that the first 7 days of June will be designated as Citizen Soldier Week. Through the passage of my resolution, S. Res. 58, we will recognize the unique sacrifices of members of the Reserves and National Guard.

Reserve and National Guard troops provide a substantial proportion of the combat forces required to carry out military operations. In doing so, many leave higher-paying jobs and place their civilian careers on hold to answer the call when our country needs their service. To begin providing the well-deserved recognition for their service, my colleagues and I have worked to make the first week of June, 2003, Citizen Soldier Week.

As I discuss this resolution and the importance of recognizing our citizen soldiers, I would like to make my colleagues aware of an active duty soldier, David S. Williams. David is a native of Chesapeake, VA who was captured by Iraqi forces after his AH-64 Apache attack helicopter was downed in central Iraq. I would like to offer my heartfelt concern and hope to David's family, and let them know I will do everything within my power to ensure David's safe return to his loved ones and his mother in Chesapeake, VA.

While David isn't a reservist or National Guardsman, his capture, and the effect it is having on his family and loved ones at home could happen to anyone who has the gumption to volunteer, serve, and defend our freedoms around the world.

And for that, all American soldiers--and their families--should be commended and thanked.

As our soldiers move closer and closer to Baghdad and continue to meet treacherous resistance, I believe it appropriate and right for the Senate to consider legislation to provide long overdue benefits to those who protect our cherished freedoms.

The Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act is an opportunity to provide our Armed Forces with logical tax relief to compensate them for their tireless and dangerous service to our country.

The men and women who join our military services are constantly faced with uprooting their families, being shipped off to foreign lands for months at a time, and long and difficult hours on the job. The jobs performed by our troops are often extremely demanding and come with great risk. As we are seeing daily in our liberation of the Iraqi people, these missions come with the real potential of casualties. While no legislation can compensate for the risks taken by our Armed Forces, I believe this legislation provides our troops deserved relief from unfair and burdensome tax.

The exclusion of tax from death gratuity payments should have been implemented generations ago. The freedoms that every American enjoys are protected by the service and sacrifice of those brave Americans who lost their life for this country. For the Federal Government to tax any portion of a death gratuity payment is wrong and insulting. The debt owed to the men and women who have died fighting for the principles of this country is incalculable, but the least this Government can do is offer the family some degree of comfort and compensation without asking for a portion in a tax return. Nothing can replace a soldier, sailor, airman or marine who does not come home; however, at least we can offer compensation without tax.

I fully support the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act. However, I believe there are some other additional ideas that we, as the Senate, can adopt to improve the lives of those serving in our military. As many of my colleagues are aware, our troops are accorded a tax exclusion when serving in designated combat zones.

Earlier this year, I introduced legislation that would expand those combat zones to provide additional exclusion when our troops are deploying to dangerous areas around the globe.

I believe the combat zones tax exclusion should include the period in transit to that combat zone. By not subjecting military personnel to Federal or State taxes for this transit time, we would be providing a necessary benefit for the dangers associated with entering a combat zone. Deploying to a combat zone is a military operation that has its own set of dangers, from accidents to the constant threat of terrorist attack from the moment they leave their home port. And, our military personnel, including officers, should be covered by the full extent of the combat zone tax provisions during this critical period.

As we focus on the ongoing conflict in Iraq, I would like to remind my colleagues that we also have military personnel executing the war on terrorism. My legislation would also provide the proper tax breaks for service men and women serving on Operation Enduring Freedom in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Horn of Africa. We know that these two areas remain filled with danger and instability from terrorist threats, so the combat zone exclusion should also be applied to these duty stations.

Many of my constituents know the dangers associated with operating in Guantanamo Bay. The soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard are serving in Cuba. They are playing an integral part in the war on terrorism and should be properly and fairly compensated for that service without taxation by the Federal Government during their service at Guantanamo.

I believe that personnel serving overseas in support of the global war on terror are performing duties at least as hazardous as those performed by personnel in some existing qualified hazardous duty areas.

As our Active, Guard and Reserve Armed Forces engage in a war with Iraq, while continuing our worldwide campaign against terrorism, it is vital that we do all we can to support the men and women who bear the burden of our defense and security. Passage of the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act and the legislation I have introduced would further indicate to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces and their families that their service is of great value and their sacrifices are understood and appreciated by a grateful Nation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be allowed to conduct a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2003. The purpose of this hearing will be to consider the nomination of Vernon Bernard Parker to be Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., in open session to receive testimony on the Atomic Energy Defense Activities of the Department of Energy, in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2004.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 20, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Issues Relating to HUD's Proposed Rule on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a hearing on Safer Embassies in Unsafe Places. Witnesses

Mr. Jess Ford, Director, International Affairs & Trade, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, DC.

Major General Charles E. Williams (Ret.), Director, Overseas Buildings Operations, Department of State, Washington, DC.

The Honorable Francis X. Taylor, Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, Department of State, Washington, DC.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing entitled ``Cargo Containers: The Next Terrorist Target?''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 4:00 p.m. in Dirksen Room 226.

I. Nominations

Priscilla Richmond Owen to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Cormac J. Carney to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California; James V. Selna to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California; Philip P. Simon to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana; Theresa Lazar Springmann to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana; Mary Ellen Coster Williams to be Judge for the Court of Federal Claims; Victor J. Wolski to be Judge for the Court of Federal Claims; Ricardo H. Hinojosa to be U.S. Sentencing Commissioner; Michael E. Horowitz to be U.S. Sentencing Commissioner; Gregory A. White to be U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; Thomas Dyson Hurlburt, Jr. to be U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida; Christina Pharo to be U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida; Dennise Arthur Williamson to be U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Florida; Richard Zenos Winget to be U.S. Marshal for the District of Nevada.

II. Committee Business

Committee Rules Subcommittee Organization

III. Bills

S. 330: A bill to further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials and for other purposes [Campbell].

S. Res. 48: A resolution designating April 2003 as ``Financial Literacy for Youth Month'' [Akaka].

S. Res. 52: A resolution recognizing the social problem of child abuse and neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance public awareness of the problem [Campbell].

S. Res. 58: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should designate the week beginning June 1, 2003, as ``National Citizen Soldier Week'' [Allen].

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2003, for a joint hearing with the House of Representatives' Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to hear the legislative presentations of AMVETS, American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Military Officers Association of America, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.

The hearing will take place in room 345 of the Cannon House Office Building at 10:00 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet Thursday, March 20, 2003 from 10:30 a.m. to 1;00 p.m. in Dirksen 562 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet on Thursday, March 20 at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing on legislative proposals amending the Clean Air Act regarding fuel additives and renewable fuels.

The meeting will be held in SD 406.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, expressing the sense and concern of the Congress regarding the recent spike in anti-Semitic violence that occurred in many participating States of the 55-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE. It is incumbent upon us to send a clear message that these malicious acts are a serious concern to the United States Senate and American people and that we will not be silent in the face of this disturbing trend.

The anti-Semitic violence we witnessed in 2002, which stretched the width and breadth of the OSCE region, is a wake-up call that this old evil still lives today. Coupled with a resurgence of aggressive nationalism and an increase in neo-Nazi ``skin head'' activity, myself, and other Commissioners on the Helsinki Commission, have diligently urged the leaders of OSCE participating States to confront and combat the evil of anti-Semitism. Attacks on members of the Jewish community and their institutions have ranged from shootings, fire bombings, and physical assaults in places as different as London, Paris, Berlin and Kiev. Vandals have struck in Brussels, Marseilles, Bratislava, and Athens. Anti-Semitic propaganda has been spread in Moscow, Minsk and elsewhere as hatemongers have tapped into technology, including the internet, to spread their venom. Yet while we witnessed a significant rise in violence last year in Europe, acts of vandalism have also occurred in the United States, so with encouraging our colleagues in other parliaments to act, we must be mindful that no country is immune.

As OSCE participating States, all member nations, including the United States, have pledged to unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism and take effective measures to protect individuals from anti-Semitic violence. Through the OSCE, which was the first multilateral institution to speak out against anti-Semitism, all of today's member states share in that heritage. Thankfully, many OSCE states that I mentioned have responded appropriately, vigorously investigating the perpetrators and pursuing criminal prosecution. In short, manifestations of anti-Semitism must not be tolerated, period, regardless of the source.

As Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, I can report that the OSCE Proto Ministerial Council, through the persistent efforts of the United States, addresses the phenomenon of anti-Semitism and called for the convening of a meeting specifically focused on this timely issue. I introduce this resolution to put the United States Senate on record and send an unequivocal message that anit-Semitism must be confronted, and it must be confronted now. If anti-Semitism is ignored and allowed to grow, our societies and our civilizations will suffer. As the resolution sets forth, elected and appointed leaders should meet the challenge of anti-Semitic violence through public condemnation, making clear their societies have no room for such attacks against members of the Jewish community of their institutions.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit a resolution, with my colleagues representing the Upper Mississippi River, expressing our support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th Anniversary of the Grand Excursion.

In 1854, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad became the first railroad to reach from the East Coast to the Mississippi River. To celebrate, Henry Farnam, a contractor for the railroad, organized an excursion for friends, family, and stockholders. Word about this event spread quickly and a group of 1,200 people, including former President Millard Fillmore, traveled by steamboat from Rock Island, IL to St. Paul, MN.

This grand excursion turned into an opportunity to show influential persons of the day the remarkable beauty, numerous resources, and the unlimited opportunities that the Mississippi River and the West could provide. This excursion brought millions of dollars of investment to the area and positioned the Upper Mississippi region as a dominant force in the development of the nation in the 19th century.

Once again, the Grand Excursion is an opportunity to highlight the recreational, commercial, and environmental opportunities the river provides, as well as celebrate the renaissance of the Upper Mississippi River region. Over 50 communities, 23 regional organizations, and 4 states are joining together to make this celebration a reality.

For the past 10-15 years, communities in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have been working together to reclaim their relationship with the Mississippi River and reestablish vibrant riverfront communities. Planning for the celebration has been a catalyst for over $5 billion in capital improvements and environmental initiatives along the river.

In Iowa, communities such as the Quad Cities, Dubuque, and Clinton have all rallied together to make their riverfronts engines for economic development. The Quad Cities are the kickoff site for the Grand Flotilla taking

place in June of 2004. Dubuque is the home of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, as well as the home dock of the Audubon Ark. All of the participating Iowa cities have welcoming marinas, main streets, and fun events planned for the celebration. I am honored to be a partner with these dynamic communities.

Through the Grand Excursion 2004, hundreds of thousands of citizens will experience America's River, a matchless national treasure, through community festivities, educational events, enhanced recreation opportunities, and cultural programs. Those who are unable to participate first-hand in the celebrations will be able to experience the excitement through a first-class website and educational Exploration Trunks that will be provided with curriculum to classrooms around the country.

I hope that you will join me in supporting this resolution of America's celebration of the Upper Mississippi River: Grand Excursion 2004.

Madam President, I rise today in celebration of Black History Month and a true American hero, General Daniel ``Chappie'' James, Jr. To commemorate Daniel ``Chappie'' James' life, I submit a resolution, today, to create a postage stamp in his honor. General James was a patriot for his country and broke down racial walls in the Armed Forces for all people of color. Not only was General James the first African American four-star general in the Air Force, but he was the first African American four-star general in any service. Regrettably, too few Americans know of his heroism and contributions to the United States.

General James dedicated his career to the defense of the United States and improving the plight of Blacks in the military. ``Chappie'' James learned to fly as a student at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. In 1943 he was commissioned in the segregated U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a member and trainer of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Due to harsh prejudice, White officers doubted Blacks could be competent pilots, but the Tuskegee Airmen answered all critics by remarkably executing over 200 dangerous escort missions for American bombers during World War II without losing a single bomber. Following World War II, General James flew 179 fighter missions over Korea and North Vietnam. He commanded the Bolo MiG sweep over North Vietnam which destroyed seven North Vietnamese MiG-21s--the highest total kill of any one Air Force mission during the Vietnam War.

Throughout his life in the Air Force, Chappie James continued to break the color barrier. It was not an easy task, as it was fraught with road blocks. Nevertheless, General James pressed on to become a Brigadier General and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs in 1970. In 1975, Daniel James achieved the rank of General and was named chief-of-staff of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

General James never forgot the struggles he faced as a Black man in the United States military, but his love for America never wavered. General James sought to right the wrongs he encountered, not run from them. In summation of his 35 years in the Air Corps and Air Force, he said, ``I've fought in three wars and three more wouldn't be too many to defend my country. I love America and as she has weaknesses or ills, I'll hold her hand.'' General James spent a life-time in service to his country and curing her of her weakness and ills. We should aspire to the same and continue his fight for equality.

To commemorate General James' life, I am submitting a resolution, today, to create a postage stamp in his honor. I hope my colleagues will support this measure and join me paying tribute to a great American.