A resolution calling for an investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and urging steps to pressure the Government of Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.

Mr. President, my resolution, S. Res. 63, calls for an international investigation into Monday's assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon. The resolution also urges the President to take steps to pressure Syria to leave Lebanon.

I am pleased that Senators Lugar, Reid, Levin, Dodd, Corzine, Allen, and Chafee have joined in co-sponsoring this resolution.

The despicable murder of Rafiq Hariri has deprived Lebanon of a dedicated and effective leader.

It also is an attempt at intimidating the Lebanese people and pushing the country backward toward chaos. It must not succeed.

In Lebanon and beyond, many suspect that Syria is responsible. That's understandable--Syria has an extensive intelligence and military presence in Lebanon, its opposition to Hariri is well known, and it continues to play a destabilizing role in Lebanese affairs.

Syria must get out of Lebanon--now.

Prime Minister Hariri's emergence as an opponent to Syrian meddling in Lebanon was seen as a serious threat in Damascus. The fact that he was a Muslim holding such opinions was even more problematic, as this reflects the spread of anti-Syrian sentiment in recent years beyond the Maronite Christian community.

Cooperation across confessional lines in Lebanon complicates the ability of Syria to maintain its grip over Lebanese affairs.

That is why Syria forced Prime Minister Hariri to resign last October. And that is why Syria, through its Lebanese allies, had been trying to dilute Hariri's influence by redrawing electoral districts ahead of parliamentary elections due later this Spring.

The resolution I have introduced condemns the assassination, extends condolences to Mr. Hariri's family and the Lebanese people; it demands that Syria immediately withdraw its troops and intelligence personnel from Lebanon; it urges the President ask the United Nations Security Council to go beyond Tuesday's statement condemning the assassination by passing a resolution establishing an independent investigation.

I would add parenthetically that many in Lebanon are skeptical of an investigation that would be carried out by a government they perceive as taking its orders from Syria.

The resolution urges the President to consider imposing additional sanctions under the Syria Accountability Act.

Finally, it supports the call of the Lebanese people for an end to Syria's presence in Lebanon, and for free and fair elections for parliament this Spring monitored by international observers.

Mr. President, I'd like to add a word about what this resolution does not do. It does not in any way, shape, or form even hint at supporting the use of force against Syria.

I think it is important to state that clearly, given the mistrust of many in Congress over the administration's intentions after the mishandling of Iraq.

The intent of this resolution is to encourage the President to work with the international community to investigate the assassination and to use diplomatic pressure for Syria to leave Lebanon.

In fact, this tragic incident offers an opportunity to work closely with France. It was French-U.S. cooperation which resulted in the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution last September calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon. And just yesterday President Chirac made a personal visit to Lebanon to console Hariri's family. I commend him for this important gesture.

I urge President Bush to use his meeting with President Chirac on Monday to coordinate the next diplomatic steps.

If France were to recall its Ambassador to Syria, the rest of Europe would follow France's lead. If France and the United States together called for a United Nations Security Council resolution to establish an independent investigation, I believe such a resolution would pass. Such cooperation would send a signal more powerful to the Syrians than any unilateral U.S. moves.

Given the lingering mistrust between Europe and the U.S. over Iraq, France may at first be hesitant. That is why I believe President Bush should engage personally with President Chirac to develop a joint diplomatic strategy and to dispel any apprehensions about our intentions.

Mr. President, Rafiq Hariri's assassination was about more than the murder of one leader. It was an attempt to kill the hopes and aspirations for freedom in Lebanon.

There are those who argue that we have no national interest in the independence of Lebanon. Given our bitter experiences in Lebanon, I can understand their apprehensions. But I disagree that we have no interest in Lebanese independence.

The Syrian presence in Lebanon enables the terrorist group Hezbollah to continue to operate as the only significant armed militia 14 years after the end of the Lebanese civil war. Hezbollah enables Syrian and Iranian hardliners to try and derail renewed hopes for Israeli- Palestinian peace. Based on my recent meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, it is clear that Hezbollah, through its support for Palestinian terrorist groups, is seen as a significant threat to a fragile peace process.

That is why I believe we do have an important interest in diminishing Syria's involvement in Lebanon.

At this moment, it is essential that the forces of terror hear a unified voice from the civilized world. They must not be seen as succeeding, lest they are emboldened to take even more aggressive action in other arenas. Instead, Monday's attack must be seen as a decisive setback for Syria and its allies.

I urge the President and the Secretary of State to act quickly on the recommendations offered in this resolution.

Rafiq Hariri's death must not be in vain, and the Lebanese people whom he served deserve answers--and action.

Let us hope that this barbarous murder marks the beginning of the end of Syria's presence and interference in Lebanon.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I offer this resolution, S. Res. 62, celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary. I am pleased to have Senator Stevens and Senator Obama join me in submitting this resolution.

From a small gathering of friends in Chicago on February 23, 1905, Rotary International has grown to become one of the largest non-profit service organizations in the world. There are approximately 400,000 Rotarians in the United States, and 1.2 million members worldwide.

Rotarians have undertaken countless projects, large and small, to improve the well-being of communities around the world. They have promoted international exchange and learning as a means of building goodwill and understanding between nations.

In 1985, Rotary International began working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF toward a bold goal: to eliminate polio from the earth.

Since then, Rotarians have contributed over half a billion dollars toward the global effort to eradicate polio, and their dedication and commitment is paying off. Since 1988, the number of polio cases in the world has dropped by 99 percent. The world now stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease.

Winston Churchill reminded us, ``We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.'' With this resolution, we honor the century of service that the men and women of Rotary International have given. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the years ahead.

S. Res. 63

Whereas on February 14, 2005, Rafiq Hariri, the former

Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated in a despicable

terrorist attack;

Whereas the car bomb used in the assassination killed 16

others and injured more than 100 people;

Whereas the intent of the terrorists who carried out the

assassination was to intimidate the Lebanese people and push

Lebanon backward toward chaos;

Whereas Rafiq Hariri served as Prime Minister of Lebanon

for a total of 10 years since the end of the Lebanese war in

1991;

Whereas Rafiq Hariri helped revitalize the economy of

Lebanon and rebuild its shattered infrastructure and

pioneered and directed the rebirth of Beirut's historic

downtown district;

Whereas Rafiq Hariri stepped down as Prime Minister on

October 20, 2004;

Whereas Syria maintains at least 14,000 troops and a large

number of intelligence personnel in Lebanon;

Whereas there is widespread opposition in Lebanon to the

continuing Syrian presence in Lebanon;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council issued a

Presidential Statement (February 15, 2005) condemning the

terrorist bombing that killed Rafiq Hariri and calling on

``the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the

perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous

terrorist act'';

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559

(September 2, 2004) calls for the political independence and

sovereignty of Lebanon, the withdrawal of foreign forces from

Lebanon, and the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon;

Whereas Syria is the main supporter of the terrorist group

Hezbollah, the only significant remaining armed militia in

Lebanon;

Whereas Hezbollah supports Palestinian terrorist groups and

poses a threat to the prospects for peace in the Middle East;

Whereas the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty

Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) was enacted

into law on December 12, 2003; and

Whereas the President has recalled the United States

Ambassador to Syria for urgent consultations: Now, therefore,

be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) condemns the cowardly and despicable assassination of

Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon;

(2) extends condolences to Prime Minister Hariri's family

and the people of Lebanon;

(3) supports United Nations Security Council Resolution

1559 (September 2, 2004), which calls for the withdrawal of

all foreign forces from Lebanon;

(4) urges the President to seek a United Nations Security

Council resolution that establishes an independent

investigation into the assassination;

(5) urges the President to consider imposing sanctions

under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty

Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note); and

(6) supports the call of the Lebanese people for an end to

Syria's presence in Lebanon, and for free and fair elections

monitored by international observers.

Mr. President, it is my honor to submit today a resolution congratulating the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association on reaching a historic milestone--its 75th anniversary. The NRMCA entered this world in 1930 when the Nation was facing some trying times. The country was suffering from a deep economic depression and midwestern farmers were struggling through a drought. Still, many people were flocking to the movies to see ``All Quiet on the Western Front'' and ``Cimarron,'' which went on to win the Academy Award for best picture. Golfer Bobby Jones won both the British Open and the U.S. Open and in Pennsylvania, a group of men met to officially form the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.

The founders of the NRMCA wanted to establish a single voice for the ready mixed concrete industry to represent the industry before all levels of government. They wanted the NRMCA to set product quality standards for the entire ready mixed concrete industry, without governmental intervention or mandates.

If you were to ask the founders today about the progress of their National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, I am certain the founders would be proud of the association's accomplishments and the quality of the ongoing work.

While the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association continues to represent the ready mixed industry, it has also become the leader in the practical use and applications of ready mixed concrete, a pioneer in the development and implementation of its education and certification programs, and a strong hand reaching out to ready mixed concrete State associations, ready mixed producers, and other members across the country.

In my State, the Oklahoma Ready Mixed Concrete Association has a close working relationship with the NRMCA. These benefits can be felt across the State as the use of ready mixed concrete continues to increase. In the latest data, Oklahoma ready mixed production hit 5,440,000 cubic yards by the end of 2003. That is an increase of more than 1 million cubic yards from just 7 years earlier when ready mixed concrete production was at 4,206,000 cubic yards.

The growing use of ready mixed concrete has spurred a host of new ready mixed concrete companies and businesses in the State and made the ones already in existence even stronger. People in Oklahoma know some of the names of the ready mixed companies just by the names on the side of the concrete trucks traveling on the roads and highways. Familiar names include:

Adair: Arkhola Sand & Gravel Co., Stillwell, OK; Twin

Cities Ready Mix, Inc., Tahlequah, OK.

Alfalfa: Alva Concrete, Alva, OK; Dolese Bros. Co., Enid,

OK; Enid Concrete Co., Inc., Enid, OK; Kimball/Fairview Ready

Mix, Inc., Fairview, OK.

Atoka: Harold's Redi Mix, Lehigh, OK; Joe Brown Co., Inc.,

Atoka, OK; Rustin Concrete Company, Atoka, OK; Twin Cities

Ready Mix, Inc., McAlester, OK.

Beckham: Dolese Bros. Co., Elk City, OK.

Blaine: B & W Ready Mix, Inc., Watonga/Okeene, OK; Ogle

Ready Mix, Inc., Kingfisher, OK.

Bryan: Dolese Bros. Co., Durant, OK; Rustin Concrete

Company, Durant, OK.

Caddo: Atlas-Tuck Concrete, Inc., Chickasha, OK; Carnegie

Concrete Company, Carnegie, OK; Dolese Bros. Co., Anadarko,

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 60, S. Res. 61, S. Res. 62, and S. Res. 63, which were submitted earlier today, en bloc; that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc.