Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, as the senior Senator from Arkansas, I am proud to come to the floor and join my colleague Senator Mark Pryor today to introduce Leon Holmes to my colleagues here in the Senate and express my support for his nomination.

Mr. Holmes is a native of Hazen, AR, in Prairie County, which is not too far from my hometown of Helena. He is the fourth of seven children and the first in his family to go to college. He has been married to his wife Susan Holmes for 32 years, and he is the proud father of five children and has seven grandchildren.

Most of us having been home not only working during the Fourth of July recess but hopefully spending some time with our families understand how important our families and our children and future generations are to all of us. I know Mr. Holmes has certainly expressed that to me.

After high school, Leon graduated with special distinction from Arkansas State University in 1973. He continued his education by earning a law degree from the University of Arkansas where he graduated first in his class.

Mr. Holmes later received a master's degree in political philosophy from Northern Illinois University and a doctorate in political science from Duke University where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Leon's professional career is equally impressive. In addition to being named a partner in the law firm of Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull, and Burrow in Little Rock, Mr. Holmes has held a variety of positions, including law clerk for Justice Frank Holt on the Arkansas Supreme Court, assistant professor at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, and adjunct faculty member of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law.

As an attorney in private practice, Leon has had a wide-ranging legal practice, representing large corporations, small businesses, and individual litigants, and although I am not a part of the legal community in my home State of Arkansas as a lawyer like my colleague Senator Pryor is, I have heard from a number of practicing lawyers, judges, and others throughout our State who have worked with Leon and have the utmost confidence in his ability to administer the rule of law.

But Leon has not spent his whole life in the library or at a law firm. As you well know, Mr. President, that certainly is something that is important to me. You may be interested to know that in his youth, Leon actually chopped and picked cotton over in our part of the State in eastern Arkansas. He worked as a farm laborer in the fields of Prairie County and served as a carpenter's helper. While pursuing his education, he worked as a door-to-door salesman and as a newspaper carrier to help make ends meet.

In short, during his academic and professional career, Leon has distinguished himself as a scholar and an accomplished lawyer. In the process, he has earned the trust, admiration, and respect of his friends and colleagues with whom he has lived and worked.

As a farmer's daughter from eastern Arkansas, I believe the fact that Mr. Holmes knows the value of an honest day's work both as a lawyer and a laborer is a good indication that he has the life experience required to administer the law in a very fair and impartial manner, regardless of who the litigants are before him.

If that were the only part of the record before us, the debate we are having today would be a very short one. As some of my colleagues have said or will say during the consideration of this nomination, Leon is also a devoutly religious man who has written articles and made statements that are a reflection of his faith, but they are also somewhat controversial. We all know that for many of us our faith is very important. It is important for us to have an opportunity to express our faith, to talk about it, to speak about it, to live it in a way that is very important to us and reflective of our own ministry.

There is no doubt I have been troubled by some of the statements attributed to Mr. Holmes, particularly one regarding the role of a woman in a marital relationship. As a mother and a wife, I can assure you, I consider myself equal in every way to my husband. Our marriage is based on mutual love and respect, which sustains our union as a man and a wife.

I think it is so important in this day and age as we talk about marriage and its importance to our family, to our children, to the stability of the fabric of this great country, that we understand marriage does not just happen; it has to be those two individuals who come together, a man and a woman, working equally as hard at making sure that union is strong and that it is working.

However, I fully respect the right of Mr. Holmes to practice and express his religious beliefs freely, even those with which I may not agree, just as I expect others to respect my right to do the same.

Mr. Holmes also made a comment 20-plus years ago about how women who were raped do not get pregnant, which I think most would agree was inappropriate and offensive. But Mr. Holmes has apologized for that comment. He has acknowledged it was wrong and said he regrets saying it. We have all said things we should not and wished we had not said in our lives and I, for one, accept his apology. I do believe it is very critical we understand the complications, the emotions, and everything else that are wrapped up in the circumstances when women find themselves in those circumstances of rape or incest or being abused. Again, I do accept Mr. Holmes' apology.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter from Leon Holmes to me apologizing for this remark and responding to the criticism of other statements be printed in the Record.

In making my decision to support Mr. Holmes' nomination, I have considered many factors. There is no question he has the necessary legal skills and intellect to perform the duties of the position. More importantly, I have been impressed with the overwhelming support Leon has received from his friends, coworkers, and colleagues in Arkansas' legal community who have firsthand knowledge of his temperament, his character, and abilities as a lawyer. I have received countless letters, e-mails, and phone calls from all over the State expressing strong support for Leon's nomination. Many of these contacts are from people I know personally and several, if not most, are from very active, self-described, very strong Democrats.

Those from Arkansas who have contacted me and the Judiciary Committee in support of this nomination include a past president of the American Bar Association, a former president of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, a founder of the Arkansas affiliate of the ACLU, sitting Federal judges who are familiar with Leon's work, female attorneys who have argued cases with and against Leon, and many others.

One letter from a self-described liberal Democrat who is also decidedly pro-choice summed up how Mr. Holmes is viewed in Arkansas' legal community when he wrote that after litigating ``with and against Leon for a number of years'' he had so much faith and trust in him that he would ``shoot dice with him over the telephone.'' Now that might not sound too common to folks up here, but in Arkansas it is a pretty good saying, and it certainly indicates a great deal of trust on that gentleman's part of the gentleman with whom he was dealing, and that was Mr. Leon Holmes.

In conclusion, I do not determine my support or opposition to a nominee based solely on whether we share the same philosophy, ideology, or beliefs. Fundamentally, I am interested in knowing a judicial nominee can fulfill his or her responsibility under the Constitution to apply the law fairly without political favor or personal bias.

I am satisfied Mr. Leon Holmes has met that standard based on the strong support he has received from those who know him the best and his assurances to me when we met personally. He assured me personally he is willing and able to set aside his personal beliefs to fulfill his duties as a Federal district court judge.

Senator Pryor and I are here to support Leon Holmes. He has done a good job in Arkansas.

He is a good man, a good friend, and a well-trusted lawyer among his colleagues. We encourage our colleagues in the Senate to look at the evidence we have presented and certainly judge this man on the basis of all of these incredible character witnesses, as well as his own testimony, in being sure that we can all have the confidence that Mr. Holmes will, without a doubt, implement the law, the rule of law, according to the rule of law, and not based on his own personal views.

I thank my colleagues for their attention, and I yield the floor.

Mr. President, we have so much to do in this body and so much to talk about. But I can't think of anything more important for us to talk about than relieving the stress on working families and the American people.

We had a joint session yesterday where we heard the President of Afghanistan who very joyously spoke of the brilliant spirit of the American people. I think if we look at that brilliant spirit and what composes us as American people and the things we are able to do, it ultimately depends on what makes us the kind of people we are.

I rise today to pay tribute to the American people. For well over 200 years, the American people have proven their ability to overcome all manner of obstacles. At times they have done so with the help of their duly elected government officials, and at times they have done so in spite of their duly elected government officials. But either way, in the end, the spirit and character of the American people move this Nation toward a greater realization of the principle written about by Thomas Jefferson over 228 years ago.

I am not normally a betting person, but I say that putting your money on the American people is about as close to a sure bet as you are going to get.

In 1945, when millions of soldiers came home from the war, this Nation put its money on the American people, and it gave those who served this country the GI bill so they could educate themselves and make a better life for them and for their families. That investment helped to create an economic boom the likes of which this Nation has never seen--not to mention the talented minds that were nurtured and those who were given the opportunity to reach their potential. Millions of families were able to raise their economic standing and take part in the American dream. That economic expansion is one of the clearest examples that investments in education can pay off.

As I mentioned, we have many issues to talk about, much to do for the security of our Nation and the people. One of the key factors in making sure we deal with these issues and we have the ability to provide the security--whether it be economic, whether it be social, or whether it be the values and simple security of families in this country--depends on the American spirit. It is simple. If we invest in the American people, the American people always bring this Nation a good return.

Now we are faced with new economic realities and new challenges in an information age as well as an age where wars will be fought in many different ways than what we have seen in the past. The question is, Are we investing in the American people the way we once did in 1945? Are we providing for another of the greatest generations of Americans, or are we missing the opportunity to provide for the children of today who will be the future of this country?

Last month I was in Garland County, AR, for the grand opening of the new Head Start Center there. It was a proud day for me. The center was named in my honor, but it was not just because the center would be associated with my name that I was proud, but more importantly because my name would be associated with a center of learning. I remarked that day that programs such as Head Start were practical ways we could provide opportunity for working mothers to raise their economic standing, to eliminate some of the stress on these working families, these working American families who are at the base of what this Nation is all about. Head Start can be the difference between a family becoming part of the economic mainstream. When mothers have a nurturing place to send their children, they can go to work or to school with the kind of confidence they need to reach their potential. They are not put in the terrible position of having to choose between employment and the safety or health of their children.

With the rise we are seeing in both child abuse and neglect because of the cuts in so many vital assistance programs, the need for childcare is at an alltime high in this country. More than just relieving the stress of finding good childcare, a program such as Head Start helps to prepare children for a lifetime of learning.

Everyone knows the more you learn, the more you earn. In seeing the children in that Head Start Program walking by, all of those little 4- year-olds with their Styrofoam cup, with their individual toothbrush in their hand, so proud they were learning something that was going to be a part of their life forever--good dental hygiene. It is not just teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic; it is teaching these children how to be a person who can then contribute their whole potential to their community and Nation. They returned from having brushed their teeth with this huge smile on their face about what they had learned.

These are programs vital to this country and its well-being. Families in Arkansas recognize the hope that programs such as Head Start and childcare assistance programs provide. Right now, 800-plus Arkansas families are waiting for childcare assistance. Think of that. There are 800 families in line for hope in reaching the American dream. However, for some reason this administration does not want to give that hope a chance. In the President's budget request, almost 40 programs to help low-income working families make that transition into the economic mainstream through programs such as Head Start were not adequately funded.

In addition to cutting programs to help working families, this administration has failed to fully fund the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act. Last year, No Child Left Behind was underfunded by as much as $9 billion. I supported No Child Left Behind because I believed that with proper funding it would give children an opportunity to reach their full educational potential. I still believe that it can be an effective engine of reform in our public education system. For that reform to be effective, it is going to require significant investment, which so far has not been forthcoming from this administration.

Unless we make education a priority, an entire generation of Americans could miss out on the American dream. The fact is our economy has changed, but our approach to supporting and funding education has not. We are training our children to take on manufacturing jobs that no longer exist or are quickly disappearing. Not only are we losing manufacturing jobs, but now technical and highly skilled tasks are leaving our shores for cheaper highly educated workers. We can no longer settle for doing what we have always done.

This administration believes we can have champagne for the price of beer. The reality is, if you poorly fund education, you get a poor educational system.

But the good news is that if you properly fund education--from Head Start through high school--the chances of a world class education system go up exponentially.

If we are to give working mothers, fathers and their children an opportunity to live the American dream we must invest in their future.

As I said at the outset, every time we have put our money on the American people it has paid off. Let's take that bet and make the investment one more time.

I believe the children of today who are the brilliant spirit of the American people of the future, are worth the investment.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to former President Ronald Wilson Reagan, our Nation's 40th President.

Like many Americans, I admired President Reagan's eternal optimism and his belief in America and her people.

I am struck by the numbers of mourners who have paid their respects to our former President. The outpouring of respect and grief is a testament to the great impact that he had on so many Americans. I am sure that one of the reasons so many have taken time to honor President Reagan is because of the great optimism and purpose that he showed. His trust in the fundamental decency and goodness of the American people is a guide and inspiration to us all.

I admired his sense of civility and his ability to disagree with his opponents without being disagreeable. He fought hard for the policies in which he believed, but after the fight, he shook hands and moved on. We need more of that kind of statesmanship in Washington today. And I hope my colleagues will join me in trying to follow his example.

During one of our Nation's greatest challenges--the cold war-- President Reagan was a strong voice against the enemies of freedom. His leadership and vision helped us to overcome our enemies.

In the final years of his life, he and Mrs. Reagan were an example of the kind of sacrifice and love that we should all seek to emulate. Mrs. Reagan's quiet dignity and support for her husband during the most difficult of times should be an inspiration to us all.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Nancy, his sons, Michael and Ronald, Jr., and his daughter, Patty.

Ronald Reagan lived a full life and was a great American. His contributions to the American political system and to our way of life will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. President, I rise today to bring attention to the fact that it is National Hunger Awareness Day and to raise the visibility of issues of hunger in America.

What is the face of hunger in America? A child. A mother. A father. A single working parent. A homeless person. A grandmother raising grandchildren. A grandfather. A senior citizen living off of social security. An unemployed person. A disabled worker. A military veteran. People of all races and ethnicities.

These are the faces of the almost 35 million Americans that live in households that are food insecure. Food insecurity is not isolated to one region. These 35 million Americans live in the small towns of New England, in the large cities of New York, Boston, Chicago and Atlanta. They live in the deltas of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and the plains of the Dakotas down to Kansas. There is food insecurity and hunger in the timber regions of Washington and Oregon and on the beaches of California. Food insecurity affects the States of the four corners down into Texas and Oklahoma. No region of this country is without hunger.

Today is National Hunger Awareness Day. I have come to the Senate floor to talk about hunger in America and to raise awareness about the complex issues surrounding hunger.

When many Americans think of hunger they often think of starving people in developing countries around the world, and the number of hungry people living around the world is staggering.

Eight hundred million people, including children, are hungry and food insecure in the world today. America must continue to lead in its generosity to aid the world's food insecure. But hunger is not just a distant problem for developing countries. Hunger exists among our own citizens here in America.

Because today is National Hunger Awareness Day, I will focus my remarks on the less recognized face of

hunger and that is the face of the Americans, our neighbors, and our fellow citizens who are hungry and food insecure.

What does food insecurity mean? Food insecurity is limited or uncertain access to nutritional food. Food insecurity is not knowing from where the next meal is coming.

Food insecurity is not unique among the homeless and unemployed. On the contrary, many food insecure households in America have at least one working adult. We need only compare the national unemployment numbers with the food insecurity numbers to see that they don't match up. There are far more food insecure individuals than there are unemployed people. America's working poor are finding it difficult to make ends meet and at times provide the most basic needs for their family--nutritious food.

Perhaps our most vulnerable food insecure individuals are our children and seniors. Due to the high costs of healthcare and living expenses, many seniors often find themselves choosing between medicine and groceries because they may not be able to afford both. Programs such as Meals on Wheels and local community senior programs are so important to the health of our seniors.

Children rely on parents to provide for their basic needs. Of the 35 million people who are food insecure in America, just over 13 million are children. This is the same number of children that are receiving free lunches through the National School Lunch Program. This vital program provides many children with the most nutritious meal they will receive in a given day. We must continue to find opportunities to fill in the gaps because the National School Lunch Program only covers Monday through Friday during the school year. The traditional three months of summer vacation from school is a critical time when many children are missing essential nutrition in their diets.

One example of a successful program in my home State of Arkansas is helping feed children outside of school. The Arkansas Rice Depot's Food For Kids program provides hungry children with a quick, high-energy snack during school and then provides a backpack filled with nutritious foods children can prepare for themselves at home. The Food For Kids program is serving 329 schools and 15,000 students in Arkansas. Founded in 1995, this program is the first of its kind in the Nation and now 20 cities across the Nation have established similar programs.

Throughout my remarks I have mentioned the word nutrition. In the fight to end hunger, providing access to nutritious food is key. Many Americans are now waking up to the long-term health complications caused by obesity. It may seem strange to talk about obesity and hunger at the same time but the reality is that people with limited access to money and food typically consume the cheapest food that they can purchase in large quantities, and often these foods lack important nutrients for a balanced diet. We can fight obesity early on by educating children about nutrition and help provide opportunities for children to access nutritious foods at school and at after school programs. Additionally, through food assistance programs we must continue to encourage adults to access nutritious foods and help provide opportunities to learn about nutrition.

For Americans, hunger does not mean entire towns and villages full of starving people--people literally starving and dying because they cannot eat. Fortunately, we are able to provide the citizens most in need with access to some kind of food to meet basic needs through Federal and State assistance programs such as Food Stamps, WIC, the National School Lunch Program, and thousands of non-profit organizations, churches, faith-based groups, and dedicated individuals.

The challenges in America are to continue to find ways to provide Americans that are food insecure with access to nutritious meals and opportunities to gain skills to improve their economic situation and quality of life.

To that end, today, along with my friend from Oregon, Senator Smith, I am pleased to announce the formation of the U.S. Senate Hunger Caucus. We are delighted that many of our colleagues are joining us in this bipartisan effort to work on national and international hunger issues. The Senate Hunger Caucus will be a vehicle through which Senators can work together to promote initiatives to help address the root causes of hunger and to help form partnerships with the many valuable organizations and programs that are committed to ending hunger.

Just a few hours ago, I was joined by my good friends, Senators Smith and Dole, at the D.C. Central Kitchen where we announced the formation of the Senate Hunger Caucus and discussed many of the key hunger issues in America. The D.C. Central Kitchen is located just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol and is a nationally known food rescue organization. The D.C. Central Kitchen converts rescued or donated food into 4,000 meals each day, 365 days a year, which feed the hungry in the Washington metropolitan area. As a part of the D.C. Central Kitchen program, unemployed people are trained to gain job skills that enable them to find work in the culinary arts industry. The D.C. Central Kitchen is a great model for taking wasted food and turning it into nutritious meals and economic opportunities for people in need.

We were pleased to be joined at today's event by representatives of many of the national anti-hunger groups that we look forward to partnering with in this effort: Some of these groups include: America's Second Harvest, American School Food Service Association, Bread for the World, Congressional Hunger Center, Food Research and Action Center, Share Our Strength, the World Food Program and Heifer International.

At this time, I want to recognize many of the Arkansas groups working to fight hunger and encourage nutritious living, and they include: Arkansas Hunger Coalition, Arkansas Foodbank Network, Harvest Texarkana, Potluck, Inc., Arkansas Rice Depot, Northwest Arkansas Foodbank, Northeast Arkansas Foodbank, North Central Arkansas Foodbank, Southwest Arkansas, Food bank, Bradley County Helping Hand, Ozark Foodbank, Memphis Foodbank, Winrock, Heifer International, Arkansas School Food Service Association, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Community Action Agencies, Arkansas Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, local food pantries, churches and many others who work to feed Arkansans in need. Many of these groups are also using today as a time to talk about hunger and food insecurity.

In closing, it's easy for me to be passionate about the issue of hunger. As a farmer's daughter I was raised with an understanding of the value of having access to food--to good, safe and nutritious food. As the daughter of two compassionate, Christian parents I was taught to help others and to share my blessings with those in need. As a mother of two young boys I can empathize with the fear that a parent feels when they must answer a hungry child when there is no food to be eaten. Just the other day, one of my boys ran into the house and said ``Mom, I'm starving.'' And I replied, ``what would you like?'' Later on I thought about the mothers whose children ask the same question but they don't have food to offer, they can't just reach into the cabinet to pull out food. It was a devastating thought and my heart goes out to the mothers and fathers who at times are not sure where the next meal is coming from.

My home State of Arkansas knows hunger. With almost 600,000 Arkansans living below the national poverty line, hunger, food insecurity, obesity and limited access to nutritious foods are key issues. With a State population of 2.6 million, approximately 380,000 Arkansans live in food insecure households.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as hunger non-profit organizations in my State and across the Nation to find solutions to hunger problems plaguing our nation and world. And to dream of the day when globally, working together to harness our vast resources, we can end hunger.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a brave Arkansan who gave his life in the defense of his Nation. SSG Hesley Box, Jr., 24, of Nashville, AR, died on May 6, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sergeant Box died when a car bomb detonated near his guard post.

Hesley, or ``Tanky'' as his family called him, joined the Guard in 1997. He was just 24 years old when he left for Iraq in March with the 39th Infantry Brigade. Even though he was a young soldier, Hesley was already a veteran of two other deployments in Bosnia and Saudi Arabia.

Our condolences and prayers go out to Hesley's wife, Alexia; his two sons Zacheas and TaDarius; his parents, Hesley, Sr., and Barbie Box, and his brother, Tarcus Kyron Box.

Hesly's wife Alexia recounted the impact he had on peoples' lives and the love he showed for their children. The Nation will long remember the impact this brave Arkansan has had on the safety and security of all Americans. I am honored to pay tribute to his sacrifice.

Troy Miranda

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Arkansas' finest who gave his life in the defense of his nation. SSG Troy ``Leon'' Miranda, 44, of Little Rock died on May 20, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq, when a grenade was thrown near his patrol.

According to his mother Bobby, Troy graduated from Wickes High School and went on to study business at Henderson State University. He joined the Army National Guard almost 20 years ago and was assigned to the Guard's counterdrug program. For the last 10 years he worked with the Arkansas State Police in the criminal investigation division's office of investigative support.

Leon showed the kind of heroism that makes all Arkansans proud. He lost his life protecting other men in his unit. He has been awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The Associated Press reported that Troy's brother, Phillip Miranda, also stationed with the 39th in Iraq, would accompany his brother's body home to Arkansas.

Our condolences and prayers go out to Troy's parents, Carlos and Bobby Miranda, and to his siblings.

Troy's sister-in-law said of him that, ``He was the bravest person I knew.'' We honor the spirit of bravery that Troy exhibited while protecting his Nation from her enemies. His sacrifice will not soon be forgotten.

Corporal Matthew C. Henderson

Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague Senator Mark Pryor to honor Dr. Bart Barlogie, professor of medicine and pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, UAMS, the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, ACRC, and director of the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, MIRT.

For his lifelong work to find innovative treatments for myeloma cancer, Dr. Barlogie received the International Myeloma Foundation's Second Robert A. Kyle Lifetime Achievement Award on May 8, 2004, in Little Rock, AR.

Throughout his career, Dr. Barlogie has been recognized as one of the most innovative, creative, and knowledgeable minds in the field of myeloma clinical research and treatment. His leadership has made Arkansas home to the foremost center for myeloma research and treatment in the world.

Innovations pioneered under Dr. Barlogie's leadership include the accepted use of bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplants that have resulted in better clinical outcomes for myeloma patients. In fact, the MIRT has performed more than 4,400 bone marrow transplants, far more than anywhere else.

Dr. Barlogie's work will thalidomide as a treatment for myeloma has dramatically changed how patients are treated. His use of anti- angiogenesis as a cancer treatment is now widely accepted and used in not only myeloma but many other forms of cancer.

Over the last 10 years, Dr. Barlogie's work has led to the widespread use and acceptance of magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, and positron emission tomography, PET, scans for myeloma patients. His work is also on the forefront of the movement toward effective molecularly targeted therapies and treatments. These techniques continue to improve the means by which physicians can combat cancer.

Dr. Barlogie is totally devoted to his patients. He is continually driven to find better therapies, prolonged remission rates, a better quality of life, and, ultimately, a cure to one of the most challenging and misunderstood of all cancers.

I am proud to honor Dr. Barlogie today, and I am happy that he, his wife Kathleen, and their three children, Britta, Eva, and Bart, have made their home in Little Rock, AR. They have made significant contributions to our State and community.

I know all Arkansas join me in thanking Dr. Barlogie for making Arkansas the center of his professional and personal life. His achievements have helped make our stellar medical institutions, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, and the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, gain worldwide prominence in the fight against cancer.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an Arkansan who has committed over a quarter of a century of his life creating programs that enhance access to higher education for Arkansans.

During his tenure as chairman of the board of directors and then as executive director for the Arkansas Student Loan Authority, ASLA, Mr. R. Preston Woodruff, Jr., has unselfishly shared his knowledge and talents to ensure that students are equipped with the financial resources needed to become future leaders in our State and our Nation.

Programs established under Preston's leadership include: EdLoan--a special loan for Arkansas teachers which offers incredibly low interest rates for those who choose to remain in Arkansas to teach in grades K through 12. Student Outreach Services--a program available to all Arkansas schools which provides materials and seminars to high school counselors and their students in order to promote the benefits of higher education and the means to achieve a higher education. Student Advantage Scholarships--25 scholarships awarded annually by ASLA. This program was formed as a means to create interest in the financial aid process and to provide funds to assist in gaining access to higher education. Honor Roll Student Loan Borrower Benefit Program--a program that offers the lowest student loan interest rates available to Arkansas students.

Preston was also instrumental in establishing the Education Finance Council, EFC, an association of not-for-profit State student loan secondary markets that played an important role in influencing legislation regarding the Federal Family Education Loan Program.

On June 30, 2004, Preston will officially retire from his position as executive director for ASLA. He is a living example of the many outstanding Americans who were born and educated in Arkansas, and I am privileged to recognize his tireless commitment to Arkansas students and outstanding leadership as executive director of the Arkansas Student Loan Authority.

Mr. President, first I commend my colleagues on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for all of your hard work on this important piece of legislation and for bringing a bipartisan bill before the full Senate.

When the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA, was enacted in 1975 it brought with it the promise that children with disabilities would have access to the same quality education as nondisabled students. Over the last 30 years, IDEA has advanced the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms and has given nearly 6 million students nationwide access to services that address their special needs.

When Congress passed IDEA nearly 30 years ago, they committed to providing states with 40 percent of the funding necessary to implement this law. Much to my dismay, Congress has failed our schools and the students they serve by providing them with a meager 19 percent of the funding as of fiscal year 2004. It was my hope that this current reauthorization would include mandatory full funding for IDEA because I believe that schools have waited long enough for the Federal Government to fulfill the promise made to them so many years ago.

I was proud to support an amendment proposed by my colleague from Iowa yesterday, which would have provided mandatory full funding of IDEA. Unfortunately, the amendment failed by a small margin. I supported another amendment, however, offered by my colleague from New Hampshire to provide full discretionary funding for IDEA, which passed the Senate. I am proud that the Senate made full funding for IDEA a priority, and I look forward to working with my colleagues throughout the appropriations process to make full funding a reality.

There are several important aspects of this bill, which will improve the educational experience of students, parents, and teachers. I am pleased that this bill will reduce the paperwork burden on teachers. I have heard from many special education teachers in my State of Arkansas that spend an inordinate amount of time on paperwork and this legislation would provide them with welcome relief so that they can focus on student performance.

This bill will also streamline discipline procedures, which I believe will make schools safer and provide school administrators with increased flexibility. Additionally, it will improve parental involvement by creating parent and community information centers with the objective of encouraging parents and schools to work together and resolve disputes in a smooth and efficient way. I am also pleased that this bill provides more resources to schools to better train teachers and parents. This provision is of particular importance to Arkansas where school districts are trying to give financial assistance to teachers for continuing education but are struggling because they face tough budget times.

I would also like to reinforce that every single child's learning experience is impacted by their community and school environment. Let us not forget that children with disabilities contribute an extraordinary amount to that learning environment. Students with disabilities deserve every opportunity to achieve educational success so that they can take on productive jobs and lead independent lives. IDEA is a critical law in ensuring that these opportunities are available, and I believe the bill before the Senate today

will help educators, parents, and students achieve success in the classroom and beyond.

Mr. President. I rise in strong support of the legislation we are seeking an agreement to consider that would honor the service of our men and women in uniform who are defending our freedom honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan. This legislation would award separate campaign medals to members of the Armed Forces who participate in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously in March and was reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week.

I am proud to have worked with my colleague, Senator Jeff Bingaman, and others on a companion bill in the Senate.

I know after talking with service men and women from Arkansas that this is an important effort which will allow us to properly honor and recognize the individual sacrifice of those who put their lives on the line so far away from home to defend the freedom we cherish as Americans.

In an effort to demonstrate support for our men and women in the military, I am circulating a Soldiers Bill of Rights petition in Arkansas to demonstrate to my colleagues in Washington how important it is to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and their families. This legislation is one of ten priorities I have included in my Soldiers Bill of Rights and I hope we can pass this bill in the immediate future.

I close my remarks by commending my colleague, Congressman Vic Snyder, who led this effort in the House. Vic is a good friend and a Vietnam Veteran, and I am very proud of his leadership on this issue on behalf of the constituents we represent in Arkansas.

Mr. President, I thank my colleagues from Illinois and Nevada for being here to talk about an issue critical to our country. I rise to speak about the same issue, the growing crisis of the uninsured here in our great country. I have devoted a great deal of time and energy during my career in public service to develop solutions to our health care crisis. I believe it is critical, as Senator Durbin has mentioned, that we begin by dealing with this problem of the uninsured and doing it now.

This is an issue on which we can come together and work through our differences and produce a product that actually is not only going to provide a better quality of life for all Americans, but it is also going to be an enormous step in dealing with the economics and the budgetary concerns that we have in our country today.

One of our No. 1 employers in most of our communities in rural America are our health care providers. It is not just that the health care providers provide us with the quality of life and the medical care we need, but they are also a huge part of the economy in this country, if we can begin to work toward balancing that out and making sure we can predict what people's needs are going to be and where that payment is going to exist.

The fact is, the number of uninsured in our country is alarming and it must become more of a national priority. One of the ways we have noticed it tremendously in our State of Arkansas is the number of uninsured who serve in our Guard and Reserves. We have found they are uncovered until they are activated. It creates a huge national crisis in many instances because we can't call these individuals up until they meet military health specifications. Most of them are employed by small businesses, so they are not getting the health care they need.

The consequences of not addressing this problem are enormous, in terms of our Nation's physical and economic well-being. Right now, as many as 44 million Americans are uninsured. The vast majority, over 80 percent of the uninsured persons under the age of 65, are part of families where at least one family member is working. Many times, these individuals' jobs do not provide insurance or the coverage offered is too costly, given their limited incomes. Buying insurance on the individual market is unthinkable for many because the costs can be even higher in that marketplace.

In my home State of Arkansas and in other rural States, the health care crisis has its own special character. In Arkansas, over 400,000 lack health insurance. Given the scope of this problem in Arkansas and nationwide, we need to develop innovative solutions to ensure people get the coverage they need.

Why is access to health insurance so critical? Many believe even if people don't have access to insurance, that they still have their health care needs taken care of. I have no earthly idea where they come up with this misconception.

The truth is, without health insurance many Americans find themselves faced with a barrier to health care. Uninsured families have less access to important screenings, the state-of-the-art technology that we have so meticulously developed, and prescription drugs. Uninsured adults have a 25-percent greater mortality risk than adults with health care coverage. An estimated 18,000 deaths among people younger than 65 are attributed to the lack of health insurance coverage every year.

Uninsured adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV infection, and mental illness have less access to preventive care and have worse clinical outcomes than insured patients. Uninsured adults negatively affect our health care providers and local economies, too.

Senator Reid from Nevada brought up the issue of our health care providers who are trying desperately to provide needed medical care. A community's high rate of uninsurance can adversely affect the overall health status of the community, the financial stability of its health care institutions and its providers, and access to emergency departments and trauma centers. I can assure you hospitals in Arkansas will tell you how much uncompensated care jeopardizes the access to health care for the communities they serve.

The facts make it clear. People without health insurance don't have their health care needs taken care of. Those who lack health insurance don't get access to timely and appropriate health care. For Americans without health insurance, children and adults suffer worse health and die sooner than those who have health insurance.

It is clear the uninsured who have inadequate health care options tend to fend for themselves in the marketplace and with health care providers. Working families need help with this problem and they need it today. The lack of insurance also creates tremendous financial obstacles for working families. If an uninsured family member has serious health problems such as cancer or a heart attack, the bills can destroy the financial foundation of that entire family. Uninsured families are more likely to pay a higher percentage of their income for medical care, and often will have to borrow money from family members to cover medical expenses. The reality is debt from medical expenses often drives the uninsured into bankruptcy. In my home State of Arkansas, the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy is high medical bills.

Recently, I, along with Senator Durbin, Senator Carper, and Senator Reid, introduced legislation in the Senate to help more Americans get access to health insurance coverage through their employers. We know that is the most logical place for them to access it.

Small businesses are the No. 1 source for jobs in Arkansas. What better way to help our economy than to help these small businesses offer affordable health care options. More than half of workers in firms under 100 people make less than $25,000 a year--$25,000 a year, and they don't even get the child tax credit when we don't make it refundable. Can't we at least do something about providing them some health care? A

high proportion of businesses with low-wage workers are much less likely to offer insurance.

Our bill, The Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act, will provide the self-employed and the small businesses with a variety of private insurance plans. This approach would give these employers access to a larger purchasing pool and negotiated rates for health insurance. They would get more choice at lower costs--exactly what we as Federal employees get. The purchasing pool will be similar in the structure to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to which all Government employees across this great country have access.

This is a far cry from the associated health plans some folks here in Washington talk about. These other plans--AHPs--allow companies to cherry-pick only the healthiest workers, leaving a pool of the sickest and neediest without coverage. That is not a way to attack this problem. It is only going to drive up costs in the long run.

Our plan would provide more comprehensive coverage to a far greater number of workers. We have seen its success in what it provides to us and to our workers in the Federal Employees plan, not to mention all of the others who work in Federal Government across this land, from rural areas to urban areas.

We have seen the increase in our ability to offer them choice and better cost. If we can make health insurance more affordable for all of these workers through their employers--all of these small-business workers--we would not necessarily solve the problem of the uninsured, but we would certainly make an enormous dent in it.

Our plan would go a long way toward making health care more accessible for millions of workers and their families. After all, more than half of the private sector workers in the United States are employed by small businesses, and many of these businesses struggle with the cost of providing quality health coverage. That would go a long way toward helping to ease some of the anxiety and concerns people in this country are feeling. In my home State, 76 percent of businesses have fewer than 50 employees, so Arkansans would benefit greatly from this program.

I have heard from many of our small-business owners in Arkansas who have been forced to drop or reduce their employees' health coverage because of the high cost. But it is not just small businesses. Health care and health care costs in this country are the first item of business for anyone who comes into our offices to talk to us about their needs and concerns.

These small-business employers want to provide their employees with the best coverage possible because they recognize how valuable health insurance is as a tool for boosting recruitment, retention, and employee morale, not to mention their production. They are so much more productive when they have healthy people in their workforce.

Clearly, health insurance can play a vital role in the overall success of a small business. Our plan would help our small-business owners provide employees with health coverage at a much lower cost--a win-win situation for everyone.

With solutions such as this, health insurance plans for small businesses, we can ensure health coverage is a fundamental component of every American worker's economic security.

We must make the growing number of uninsured in our country a priority. It must be a priority we all embrace in the Senate. It is clear working families are not getting the health care they need. Let us come together and do something good for the hard-working folks in this country who can't afford health insurance today.

For those who can't get access to the most basic of preventive medicine, Congress needs to address this issue. The high cost of health care in the United States is giving other developed countries an advantage in keeping and attracting jobs.

For each car they build, DaimlerChrysler AG pays about $1,300 in employee health care costs. When they make a car in Canada, they pay hardly anything. That is why the Big Three automakers actually lobbied the Canadian Government to maintain their national health care system.

At a time when jobs are leaving our country, at a time when health care insurance premiums are rising by leaps and bounds and working families are feeling insecure about their jobs and health care coverage, Congress must do something, and we can do it now.

Mr. President, I want to congratulate Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus on their decision to include a package of energy tax incentives in this bill. These tax incentives will promote the future development and production of renewable fuels, which we hope one day will lessen our dependency on foreign oil.

The package of energy tax incentives now before us was first reported by the Finance Committee last year as part of H.R. 6, the Energy Tax Policy Act of 2003, and the Senate considered H.R. 6 in July of 2003. During floor debate of that legislation, I raised two concerns that I hoped would be addressed in the House-Senate conference of the energy bill. Chairman Grassley agreed with my points and assured me he would use his best efforts to resolve these matters. True to his word, as always, the chairman addressed my concerns in the conference version of H.R. 6. But as we all know, the conference version of H.R. 6 failed to gain enough votes to pass the Senate.

Now, the chairman has decided to move a text that is essentially the same finance Committee package of energy tax incentives, not the conference version of the bill, as part of the FSC/ETI bill. One of my concerns, relating to the definition of a landfill gas facility, has been resolved by virtue of the fact that the provision in the Finance Committee package has been dropped. But the other concern remains. So now again, I feel compelled to raise this concern, and once again, request the chairman's assistance to address it in a House-Senate conference. So please bear with me again while I explain my concerns for the record.

On February 11 of 2003, I introduced S. 358, the Capturing Landfill Gas for Energy Act of 2003. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Santorum and Hatch and would provide a credit under either Section 29 or 45 of the tax code for the production of energy from landfill gas, or LFG.

In the past, Congress recognized the importance of LFG for energy diversity and national security by providing a Section 29 credit in 1980 and extending it for nearly two decades. However, the Finance Committee bill before us fails to recognize the importance of LFG in its creation of a new Section 45 credit. In contrast, the President proposed a generous Section 29 credit for LFG, and the House has passed a Section 45 credit for LFG as part of its energy bill. Both of these proposals would provide meaningful tax incentives to encourage the collection and use of LFG. Thus, this version of energy tax incentives falls well short of recognizing the importance of dealing with LFG, and I urge the chairman to address this shortfall in the House-Senate conference by affording the same incentive for LFG that other renewable energy sources are given under the final legislation.

The potential energy and environmental benefits of future LFG projects are substantial, but they will be lost if we do not provide adequate provisions to support project development. I want to thank Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus for their past work and support in addressing these important concerns. Further, I hope and request that they once again work with me to make sure Americans garner all of these important benefits.

Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart but with a great sense of Arkansas pride as well to pay tribute to five members of the Arkansas 39th Infantry Brigade who lost their lives fighting for our country in Iraq this past weekend.

According to recent reports, Saturday was one of the deadliest days for the Arkansas service members since 1950 in the Korean War. On Saturday, four soldiers from the Arkansas 39th were killed in a mortar attack, and 27 hours later a fifth Arkansan was killed by a roadside bomb as he patroled the neighborhoods of Baghdad.

I think back to last fall when I had the honor of attending a sendoff ceremony for the 39th Infantry Brigade in Little Rock, AR. That ceremony brought together soldiers, families, friends, and loved ones to commemorate the occasion and wish them the best in their mission, to join together in prayer and send them off with the idea that we would be back soon to welcome them home safely.

The sendoff was not a celebration. In fact, it was a sobering occasion. After all, no one relishes the prospect of traveling halfway around the world, far from family and friends and home, to take on a dangerous mission. But even at such a somber occasion something special happens. Differences begin to fade away. The soldiers that were standing before me were no longer from big cities or small cities, they were no longer Black or White, and they were no longer male or female. Their differences did not exist. Those brave soldiers were Americans, and for the defense of this Nation, they become one of mind and one of mission.

The oneness of purpose that the 39th exhibited that day should serve as a lesson to those of us they leave behind. They are sacrificing their lives not just for their kind and kin but for every American who enjoys liberty and peace.

When a member of the 39th patrols Baghdad, he does not just patrol it for the sake and safety of Lewisville, AR, or Little Rock, AR, or Hazen or Humnoke or Batesville, AR; he patrols Baghdad for the sake and the safety of all Americans and the values and the ideals that we, as Americans, believe in and support. When a member of the 39th Infantry pays the ultimate price in battle, he does it not just for the sake of his children but also for the sake of my children and your children as well. In the end, these courageous souls are not only protecting our liberty, they are also teaching us what it means to be a part of one American family--one American family.

In this time, when so many Americans are willing to lay their lives on

the line, we in this body--we in this Nation--must become one America. We must understand what it takes to be one with the sacrifices that we, too, must undertake.

Unfortunately, carrying out the duty of a nation requires sacrifices, and some of those are sacrifices we would rather not take. This weekend, we were once again reminded of the sacrifices that are required to protect our Nation. We, too, as leaders in this body--all Americans--must make sacrifices, too--to govern, to protect, to get along, and to make this Nation strong. Our sacrifices are not even worthy to be compared to what these brave Americans have done and the sacrifices they have made, but our sacrifices, too, are all too important, that the sacrifices they have made will not have been done in vain, that our Nation can remain as strong as it has ever been, and that each of us--from big cities and small, men and women, Black and White, Republican and Democrat--must become one America.

Over the course of those 2 days, the State of Arkansas lost five brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to make the world a better place. I know that my colleagues in the Senate join me in paying tribute to CPT Arthur ``Bo'' Felder, 36 years old, of Lewisville, AR; CWO Patrick W. Kordsmeier, 49 years old, of North Little Rock, AR; SSG Stacey C. Brandon, 35 years old, of Hazen, AR; SSG Billy Joe Orton, 41 years old, of Humnoke, AR; and SP Kenneth A. Melton, 30 years old, of Batesville, AR.

Captain Felder served as a youth director at Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church in North Little Rock. He was known as someone who felt at ease with children, who loved them, cared for them, and wanted to help prepare them for the future. It was reported in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that Captain Felder was remembered by his friends as a person of faith and prayer.

Chief Warrant Officer Kordsmeier was killed as he rushed to the aid of his fellow soldiers. His selfless act illustrates the kind of courage which is necessary to keep this Nation strong and free.

According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Sergeant Stacey Brandon was a prison guard for the State Department of Correction and later worked at the Federal prison in Forrest City, AR.

His friends said of him:

He was a very outstanding young man whose loss will affect

a lot of people. He was one of the young people you could

admire.

Sergeant Orton was loved by his family and friends. It is reported that when they learned of his death over 100 people gathered around his home to stand vigil and to support his family. It was noted by those there that Billy had given his life for the cause of freedom.

Many of Specialist Melton's fellow soldiers from Bravo Company were especially affected by his death. He had known and worked with many of them for years. It is reported that upon the announcement of Specialist Melton's death, his comrades did not think of the dangers of their mission but of comforting Specialist Melton's wife and children.

Saturday's deadly attack on Camp Cooke, the base camp for Arkansas' 39th Infantry, occurred at 5 a.m. Captain Felder, Chief Warrant Officer Kordsmeier, Sergeant Brandon, and Sergeant Orton were killed in the final moments of the attack when they took a direct mortar hit as they emerged from the bunker where they had been taking cover. On Sunday, Specialist Melton was killed by a roadside bomb as he manned a machine gun atop his Humvee.

These five brave men are a shining example of the citizen soldiers who are fighting in the deserts of the Middle East. Those serving in Iraq today are not only military men, but they are also doctors, lawyers, police officers, firemen, teachers, factory workers, business owners, and elected officials. Most importantly, they are husbands and wives, they are mothers and fathers.

In short, they are our American family. They are the leaders of their respective communities. Their loss will not only be felt on the battlefield but also by their families, friends, and communities who will miss their love and leadership.

When their Nation called, these brave men answered. They did so without regard to politics or party. They did so without regard to the many small differences we allow to divide us as a nation.

I am sure the entire Senate body will join with me as we send our condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of these brave Americans, to send our thanks for the courageous way they have served their country. They left their homes as family members, co-workers, and friends, and they return as heroes.

I am honored and humbled to pay tribute to their sacrifice. It is hard to find the words that you might think could match those sacrifices because there are no words. But we try. I challenge my colleagues today, let us not just use words. Let us use actions. Let our work be an example of the sacrifices we are willing to take by saying to one another, we will be one America.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Arkansas' heroes who has paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his Nation. Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie, 45, a native of Bauxite, AR, was mortally wounded on April 7, 2004, during an attack by insurgents on his camp just south of Baghdad.

William Labadie, known to his friends as Wild Bill, joined the Marine Corps right after high school. After serving in the Corps for 8 years he returned home and later became a member of the Arkansas National Guard. Sgt. Labadie was known as a real soldier's soldier. He took his responsibilities seriously and was excited by the

opportunity to use his training in the service of his country. After having been in Iraq for less than a month and in a combat zone for less than 24 hours, Sgt. Labadie was fatally wounded when his camp came under a mortar and small arms attack.

Our condolences and prayers go out to William's wife, Sunnie, of Del City, OK; to his son, Bryan; and to his parents, Cheryl and Carl Winters of Bauxite, AR.

William's mother, Cheryl, was quoted in our State's newspaper, the Benton Courier, as saying that ``[t]his honestly was his goal in life. He knew that this was his last shot at 45 years old. He told his commanding officer: `Give me a shot.' It was like he was going to Disneyland.'' That kind of enthusiasm is what makes this nation great. We honor William's spirit and his strong resolve to take on the responsibility of advancing freedom to the world.

Brandon Clinton Smith

Mr. President, I also rise today to pay tribute to a son of Arkansas who gave up the security of his family and home to protect our freedoms in the war on terrorism. Marine Private First Class Brandon Clinton Smith, 20, of Fayetteville was killed on March 17, 2004, in Al Qaim, Iraq, as he and three of his fellow Marines were racing to help comrades who had come under attack by insurgents.

Brandon attended Fayetteville High School and dreamed of becoming a Marine. He fulfilled his dream by enlisting this past September. He was so proud of his decision that he framed his Marine Corps acceptance letter and hung it in his bedroom. Upon completing boot camp, Brandon became a member of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Brandon was buried with full military honors in Fayetteville on Friday, March 26. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his father, Gordon Smith; to his mother, Deborah Bolin of West Fork; and to his sister, Desirae.

An attendee at Brandon's funeral was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that ``[Brandon] made a great Marine. We could see he had changed when he came back from training. He had found himself.'' As this mission in Iraq continues, I am humbled that this young Marine found himself in so great a purpose as defending his nation.

Mr. President, I voted against the cloture motion to S. 2290 because I did not believe this bill was ready to be debated on the Senate floor. Unfortunately, the process that created this bill did not give stakeholders an adequate opportunity to fully discuss and debate honest differences. As a result, significant issues remain that can and should be addressed before proceeding to consideration on the floor. I am confident, however, these issues can be resolved if the interested parties will come to the table and work in good faith until a compromise can be reached. In my conversations with asbestos victims, industry officials, and labor leaders a common thread has emerged; we are too close to walk away now.

I have consistently expressed support for a legislative solution to the asbestos crisis that would establish a trust fund to pay legitimate claims in a fair and efficient manner. However, if we ask American citizens to give up their right to a day in court, we must ensure they will be treated equitably by the alternative. Further, we must ensure that the trust fund remains solvent and efficient. We also must make certain that the fund will be up and running as quickly as possible.

All of the parties in this discussion have a vested interest in making the trust fund work. For the victims, many have waited far too long to receive the compensation they deserve in a timely and efficient manner. For the business community, they have agreed to commit a significant amount of money to this fund. It is in their best interest to make sure the fund works by paying victims a fair amount in a timely way to ensure they are not threatened by non-meritorious claims if this process returns to the courts

We can reach agreement on this vital legislation if all sides stay at the table. Legislation is rarely a work of art, it is a work in progress. We must continue to push forward until a solution is found.

Mr. President, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to yesterday's ruling by the European Commission against the Microsoft Corporation.

While Arkansas is not the headquarters of the Microsoft Corp., we are keenly aware of the negative impact that the European Union's protectionist trade actions have on American business and our Nation's economic growth and job creation.

Time and time again, farmers and agribusiness in my state have been denied the opportunity to compete in the European market.

As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am dedicated to ensuring a level playing field with our trading partners.

This goal cannot be accomplished alone. It will require a multinational cooperative effort which developed countries like the United States and Europe must lead.

The EU's actions, specifically the one taken yesterday, are a significant step in the wrong direction.

I encourage the administration to continue to engage their European counterparts and demand a more cooperative effort.

I yield the floor.