Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Captain Penn Holsapple's 90th birthday. Captain Holsapple served in the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War and was one of the first Marines to land on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima. Every American knows of the enormous sacrifices thousands of young Marines made on that island to defend our Nation, and Captain Holsapple himself was wounded in action twice. However, always living up to the Marine Corps motto ``first to enter, last to leave,'' Captain Holsapple remained on Iwo Jima with his fellow Marines to the very end. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing Captain Penn Holsapple a happy 90th birthday and to thank him for the service and sacrifice he gave to his country. Happy Birthday good friend.

Mr. President, today I am introducing a resolution designating September 28, 2003 as National Good Neighbor Day. I would like to thank my colleagues Senators Baucus, Hatch, Stevens, Crapo, Clinton, Miller, Levin, Kohl, and Cochran, for their support. I would also like to thank Becky Mattson of Lakeside, Montana, who has taken this cause to heart and championed it for so long.

In the aftermath of September 11th, Americans united in an unprecedented way. With the threat of terrorism still very real, it has never been so important to remain unified and conscious of the concerns of our neighbors.

This resolution has a long history. This resolution was first proposed by a fellow Montanan, Senator Mike Mansfield, in 1971. National Good Neighbor Day was then proclaimed by Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter because, as President Nixon explained, ``the responsibility for building a happier, livelier, fuller life in each of our communities must rest, in the end, with each of us.''

This bipartisan resolution will set aside a day to promote a better understanding and appreciation of our neighbors. However, in the trying times in which we now live, it will hopefully serve as a catalyst for making every day National Good Neighbor Day.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a piece of legislation that helps a large number of family farmers on the border of Montana and North Dakota. The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Projects Title Transfer moves ownership of these irrigation projects from Federal control to local control. Both the Bureau of Reclamation and those relying on the projects for their livelihood agree there is little value in having the Federal Government retain ownership.

I introduced this legislation in the last Congress, and continue to believe it helps us to achieve the long term goals of Montana irrigators, and the mission of the Bureau of Reclamation. In the past I asked John W. Keys III, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, his position on title transfers of irrigation projects like the Lower Yellowstone, where local irrigation districts have successfully managed the Federal properties, and where the Bureau has encouraged the transfer of title to the Districts. His response to me was very encouraging. He stated this type of title transfer ``makes sense and is an opportunity to move facilities from Federal ownership to more appropriate control.'' During our discussion Commissioner Keys promised to work with me and the Irrigation District to make this a reality, and I look forward to it.

The history of these projects dates to the early 1900's with the original Lower Yellowstone project being built by the Bureau of Reclamation between 1906 and 1910. The Savage Unit was added in 1947- 48. The end result was the creation of fertile, irrigated land to help spur economic development in the area. To this day, agriculture is the number one industry in the area.

The local impact of the projects is measurable in numbers, but the greatest impacts can only be seen by visiting the area. About 500 family farms rely on these projects for economic subsistence, and the entire area relies on them to create stability in the local economy. In an area that has seen booms and busts in oil, gas, and other commodities, these irrigated lands continued producing and offering a foundation for the businesses in the area.

As we all know, the agricultural economy is not as strong as we'd like to it to be, but these irrigated lands offer a reasonable return over time and are the foundation for strong communities based upon the ideals that have made this country successful The 500 families impacted are hard working, honest producers, and I can think of no better people to manage their own irrigation projects.

Every day, we see an example of where the Federal Government is taking on a new task. We can debate the merits of those efforts on an individual basis, but I think we can all agree that while the government gets involved in new projects, there are many that we can safely pass on to State or local control. The Lower Yellowstone Projects are a prime example of such an opportunity, and I ask my colleagues to join me in seeing this legislation passed as quickly as possible.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a piece of legislation that helps a large number of family farmers on the border of Montana and North Dakota. The Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Projects Title Transfer moves ownership of these irrigation projects from Federal control to local control. Both the Bureau of Reclamation and those relying on the projects for their livelihood agree there is little value in having the Federal Government retain ownership.

I introduced this legislation in the last Congress, and continue to believe it helps us to achieve the long term goals of Montana irrigators, and the mission of the Bureau of Reclamation. In the past I asked John W. Keys III, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, his position on title transfers of irrigation projects like the Lower Yellowstone, where local irrigation districts have successfully managed the Federal properties, and where the Bureau has encouraged the transfer of title to the Districts. His response to me was very encouraging. He stated this type of title transfer ``makes sense and is an opportunity to move facilities from Federal ownership to more appropriate control.'' During our discussion Commissioner Keys promised to work with me and the Irrigation District to make this a reality, and I look forward to it.

The history of these projects dates to the early 1900's with the original Lower Yellowstone project being built by the Bureau of Reclamation between 1906 and 1910. The Savage Unit was added in 1947- 48. The end result was the creation of fertile, irrigated land to help spur economic development in the area. To this day, agriculture is the number one industry in the area.

The local impact of the projects is measurable in numbers, but the greatest impacts can only be seen by visiting the area. About 500 family farms rely on these projects for economic subsistence, and the entire area relies on them to create stability in the local economy. In an area that has seen booms and busts in oil, gas, and other commodities, these irrigated lands continued producing and offering a foundation for the businesses in the area.

As we all know, the agricultural economy is not as strong as we'd like to it to be, but these irrigated lands offer a reasonable return over time and are the foundation for strong communities based upon the ideals that have made this country successful The 500 families impacted are hard working, honest producers, and I can think of no better people to manage their own irrigation projects.

Every day, we see an example of where the Federal Government is taking on a new task. We can debate the merits of those efforts on an individual basis, but I think we can all agree that while the government gets involved in new projects, there are many that we can safely pass on to State or local control. The Lower Yellowstone Projects are a prime example of such an opportunity, and I ask my colleagues to join me in seeing this legislation passed as quickly as possible.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to introduce a bill which names one of our post offices in Billings, Montana, after one of this Nation's greatest leaders and true patriot: former President Ronald Reagan. His legacy extends far beyond his Presidency. I think it's only fitting that I introduce this legislation today, since President Reagan worked tirelessly to end the Cold War and liberate millions of people, and we see the same dedication today to free the people of Iraq. President Reagan spoke about the threat of Saddam Hussein, and asked, ``will we be ready to respond?'' He went on to answer this question by saying, ``In the end, it all comes down to leadership. This is what this country is looking for now. It was leadership here at home that gave us strong American influence abroad and the collapse of imperial communism. Great nations have responsibilities to lead and we should always be cautious of those who would lower our profile because they might just wind up lowering our flag.'' He made these comments not two weeks ago, and not even two months ago. President Reagan, already sensitive to the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, asked this rhetorical question in 1994. This foresight was evident during President Reagan's tenure in the White House. President Reagan played a significant role in framing the modern political landscape, and I am proud to do what I can to commemorate his contribution to America and the world. I can clearly remember President Reagan's visit to Big Sky Country in 1982 for the Centennial celebration for Billings and Yellowstone County. He arrived in the Billings Metra Arena, one of the largest venues in the State, riding in a stagecoach. He embraced the ideals that Montana stood for, and said he was trying to bring a little of it to Washington. I feel much the same way as President Reagan did when he said, ``What we're trying to do in Washington is reawaken the government to the very values that you here in Billings represent-- determination, responsibility, confidence, and common sense--the kind of common sense that says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We are reintroducing the idea that progress is still an American word and that optimism is still an American trait. I believe if we cling to our hopes and dreams, I believe the future will flower just as it did for the founders of Billings, Montana.'' Now more than ever, we need to remember that ``progress'' and ``optimism'' are part of the American vocabulary. The wisdom of President Reagan helped guide us in the right direction, and I am pleased and honored to introduce this legislation today so that we may dedicate a piece of Montana to a great visionary and statesman.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to introduce the CAN-SPAM bill along with my good friend and colleague Senator Wyden. The CAN-SPAM bill addresses an issue of critical importance to the further development of commerce on the Internet: how to control the explosion of unsolicited commercial e-mail. I also want to thank the additional original cosponsors of the bill, Senator Stevens, Senator Breaux, Senator Thomas, Senator Landrieu and Senator Schumer.

While it is obvious to anyone with an e-mail account that the scourge of ``spam'' has continued to worsen, the numbers and the trends they represent paint an even more disturbing picture. According to an article in the Washington Post less than a month ago, spam currently accounts for 40 percent of all e-mail traffic. Spam has become more than just an inconvenience that we have learned to live with; it has now become a fundamental part of any e-mail inbox with serious economic consequences. According to one study done by a consulting group, spam will cost U.S. businesses more than $10 billion this year alone.

Spam also makes working on the Internet less efficient, by clogging up servers on one end and inboxes on the other. I want some accountability brought to bear on this issue, and feel that by introducing this legislation today, we have taken an appropriate and meaningful step to tame a horse we can't seem to break just yet. This problem continues to escalate, and experts warn that more than half of e-mail traffic will be spam by this summer. This point bears repeating: within months, you will waste more than half of your time with unsolicited e-mail.

The CAN-SPAM bill would require e-mail marketers to comply with a straightforward set of workable, common-sense rules designed to give consumers more control over spam. Specifically, the bill would require a sender of marketing e-mail to include a clear and conspicuous ``opt- out'' mechanism so that they could ``unsubscribe'' from further unwanted e-mail. Also, the bill would prohibit e-mail marketers from using deceptive headers or subject lines, so that consumers will be able to tell who initiated the solicitation.

The bill includes strong enforcement provisions to ensure compliance. The Federal Trade Commission would have authority to impose steep civil fines of up to $500,000 on spammers. This fine could be tripled if the violation is found to be intentional. In short, this bill provides broad consumer protection against bad actors, while still allowing Internet advertising a justified means of flourishing.

Spamming is a serious economic problem and I believe it is absolutely critical that we address this now, so that the Internet is allowed to reach its full potential. Because of the vast distances in Montana, many of my constituents are forced to pay long-distance charges for their time on the Internet. Spam makes it nearly impossible for these people to enjoy the experience, and it makes it even harder for them to see how this will help rural America flourish in the 21st century. Also, Internet service providers are bombarded with spam that often corrupts or shuts down their systems. In today's information age where beating the competitor to the next sale is absolutely critical to survival, these shutdowns can cause real economic damage. We may be in a downturn in the American economy and especially in the high technology sector, but the efficiencies created through vast information sharing are here to stay and will help propel our economy to levels beyond our imagination, but in order to reach this potential we must eliminate the bad actors who threaten these efficiencies.

The fact that this bill is strongly supported by pillars of the Internet age such as Yahoo, America Online and eBay is a testament to its common-sense approach. I think these companies for their critical expertise in perfecting this bill which would help to address this scourge of the digital age. I also appreciate the numerous valuable suggestions from the many concerned cyber-citizens who want to see this Pandora's box of digital dreck closed once and for all.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to introduce a bill which names one of our post offices in Billings, Montana, after one of this Nation's greatest leaders and true patriot: former President Ronald Reagan. His legacy extends far beyond his Presidency. I think it's only fitting that I introduce this legislation today, since President Reagan worked tirelessly to end the Cold War and liberate millions of people, and we see the same dedication today to free the people of Iraq. President Reagan spoke about the threat of Saddam Hussein, and asked, ``will we be ready to respond?'' He went on to answer this question by saying, ``In the end, it all comes down to leadership. This is what this country is looking for now. It was leadership here at home that gave us strong American influence abroad and the collapse of imperial communism. Great nations have responsibilities to lead and we should always be cautious of those who would lower our profile because they might just wind up lowering our flag.'' He made these comments not two weeks ago, and not even two months ago. President Reagan, already sensitive to the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, asked this rhetorical question in 1994. This foresight was evident during President Reagan's tenure in the White House. President Reagan played a significant role in framing the modern political landscape, and I am proud to do what I can to commemorate his contribution to America and the world. I can clearly remember President Reagan's visit to Big Sky Country in 1982 for the Centennial celebration for Billings and Yellowstone County. He arrived in the Billings Metra Arena, one of the largest venues in the State, riding in a stagecoach. He embraced the ideals that Montana stood for, and said he was trying to bring a little of it to Washington. I feel much the same way as President Reagan did when he said, ``What we're trying to do in Washington is reawaken the government to the very values that you here in Billings represent-- determination, responsibility, confidence, and common sense--the kind of common sense that says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We are reintroducing the idea that progress is still an American word and that optimism is still an American trait. I believe if we cling to our hopes and dreams, I believe the future will flower just as it did for the founders of Billings, Montana.'' Now more than ever, we need to remember that ``progress'' and ``optimism'' are part of the American vocabulary. The wisdom of President Reagan helped guide us in the right direction, and I am pleased and honored to introduce this legislation today so that we may dedicate a piece of Montana to a great visionary and statesman.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to introduce the CAN-SPAM bill along with my good friend and colleague Senator Wyden. The CAN-SPAM bill addresses an issue of critical importance to the further development of commerce on the Internet: how to control the explosion of unsolicited commercial e-mail. I also want to thank the additional original cosponsors of the bill, Senator Stevens, Senator Breaux, Senator Thomas, Senator Landrieu and Senator Schumer.

While it is obvious to anyone with an e-mail account that the scourge of ``spam'' has continued to worsen, the numbers and the trends they represent paint an even more disturbing picture. According to an article in the Washington Post less than a month ago, spam currently accounts for 40 percent of all e-mail traffic. Spam has become more than just an inconvenience that we have learned to live with; it has now become a fundamental part of any e-mail inbox with serious economic consequences. According to one study done by a consulting group, spam will cost U.S. businesses more than $10 billion this year alone.

Spam also makes working on the Internet less efficient, by clogging up servers on one end and inboxes on the other. I want some accountability brought to bear on this issue, and feel that by introducing this legislation today, we have taken an appropriate and meaningful step to tame a horse we can't seem to break just yet. This problem continues to escalate, and experts warn that more than half of e-mail traffic will be spam by this summer. This point bears repeating: within months, you will waste more than half of your time with unsolicited e-mail.

The CAN-SPAM bill would require e-mail marketers to comply with a straightforward set of workable, common-sense rules designed to give consumers more control over spam. Specifically, the bill would require a sender of marketing e-mail to include a clear and conspicuous ``opt- out'' mechanism so that they could ``unsubscribe'' from further unwanted e-mail. Also, the bill would prohibit e-mail marketers from using deceptive headers or subject lines, so that consumers will be able to tell who initiated the solicitation.

The bill includes strong enforcement provisions to ensure compliance. The Federal Trade Commission would have authority to impose steep civil fines of up to $500,000 on spammers. This fine could be tripled if the violation is found to be intentional. In short, this bill provides broad consumer protection against bad actors, while still allowing Internet advertising a justified means of flourishing.

Spamming is a serious economic problem and I believe it is absolutely critical that we address this now, so that the Internet is allowed to reach its full potential. Because of the vast distances in Montana, many of my constituents are forced to pay long-distance charges for their time on the Internet. Spam makes it nearly impossible for these people to enjoy the experience, and it makes it even harder for them to see how this will help rural America flourish in the 21st century. Also, Internet service providers are bombarded with spam that often corrupts or shuts down their systems. In today's information age where beating the competitor to the next sale is absolutely critical to survival, these shutdowns can cause real economic damage. We may be in a downturn in the American economy and especially in the high technology sector, but the efficiencies created through vast information sharing are here to stay and will help propel our economy to levels beyond our imagination, but in order to reach this potential we must eliminate the bad actors who threaten these efficiencies.

The fact that this bill is strongly supported by pillars of the Internet age such as Yahoo, America Online and eBay is a testament to its common-sense approach. I think these companies for their critical expertise in perfecting this bill which would help to address this scourge of the digital age. I also appreciate the numerous valuable suggestions from the many concerned cyber-citizens who want to see this Pandora's box of digital dreck closed once and for all.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to submit a resolution for consideration by the Senate marking the last week in April as ``Cowboy Poetry Week.'' Many think cowboys are a thing of the past, but I can tell you otherwise. In many western States like Montana, cowboys gather around a campfire and swap stories just as frequently as they did one hundred years ago. This oral tradition is now captured in written form as well, and several websites are dedicated solely to preserving and disseminating cowboy poetry and its history. My resolution will recognize the contribution of cowboy poetry to our history of the West, but also to mark it as a thriving tradition that continues even today. I thank my colleagues Senators Baucus, Brownback, Hatch, and Reid for their support on this issue. The life of cowboys should not be relegated to small weekly radio shows or features done on public television; it is important to understand that cowboys live and breathe a unique culture which few may be exposed to. I would encourage all my colleagues to take a walk in their boots one day, and read a little cowboy poetry.

I thank my good friend from Nevada. I am having a little trouble getting organized today. I will try to pick it up a little bit to the likings of the assistant minority leader.

I am glad my good friend from Minnesota, who is newly elected to this body--and, I will tell you right now, he is a contributor, and I think he has a great future here--did bring us back to reality. The city of Washington does have quite a lot of beauty. As the cherry blossoms are out and the blossoms start to open here, I always think: Every spring, no matter what the conditions are in the world, or the problems and trials of serving in a legislative body, or an economy that continues to struggle and is on the minds of all of us as is this situation we find ourselves in, in Iraq--every spring, as we look around this city, I just think it is God's picturesque way of reminding us of the Earth's renewal. It comes every spring just as a reminder that that is one institution that we haven't been able to change.

I have a resident of Montana who is at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Army SGT Charles Horgan. I haven't been able to get out and visit him yet. He is from Helena, MT. He is recovering out there from wounds received in Iraq. I am sure the hearts of everybody who shares our concerns about one life, one human, go out to him and his folks today.

Back in 1991 I had a chance to visit a Marine unit out in the desert. It was my old Marine outfit in which I served, F-212, 3rd Marine Division. But I served back in the stone age. These are the new warriors with new equipment, new technologies. I did that back in 1991.

The mindset and the American institution of the military and their enormous ability to withstand hardships for a principle and a way of life is almost above human imagination. As we were flying out in that desert, the commanding officer, Walt Boomer, General Boomer, called me. He said: Senator, they may complain a little bit that they are not getting mail.

I said: We will try and handle that. But if you figure we had 400,000 to 500,000 people in the Middle East, if everybody wrote a letter to every soldier, sailor, marine, coastguardsman, or airman over there, that is a lot of mail to handle per day, to try to get it out to the right people in a timely fashion.

But I found out that was not what their complaint was. They were out of tobacco. We finally helped that situation.

There is a long tradition of writing letters and sending care packages to the troops stationed away from home, but the general public is urged not to send unsolicited mail, care packages, or donations to the service members now deployed in Iraq. The Department of Defense has set a strict policy of only family members sending mail and packages to their service members. So if you want to write to a person over there and he is not in your immediate family, we ask that not be done.

So this leaves many people at a loss when they want to help support the troops, to say thank you, but have no direct point of contact. We see that they are finding ways, through American imagination, to take care of that. Even without those care packages, there are many other efforts that can be made to support our troops in the field and also their families at home.

I have put together an information pamphlet, which is available in all my offices in the State of Montana, that includes national programs and local Montana programs set up to allow people to extend a helping hand to our soldiers but, more importantly, I think to provide support for their families at home. I call it Operation: Homefront. It is a program I have set up to easily and efficiently inform people about how they can help or contribute to this operation.

There is nothing better for the morale of our troops. We understand the sacrifices they are making. We understand where they find themselves. And they also understand us who are trying to support them and their families any way that we can.

It is also comforting for those in the field to know their loved ones back home are being taken care of when push comes to shove.

I think Operation: Homefront will be an excellent tool for getting information out to people. Supporting our troops is something we think about every day. We appreciate their risks and the sacrifices they are making.

There is also one other reminder to my colleagues. If you are concerned about what the war is going to cost, and you want to participate and help us out in just a little way, there is a way. Back in 1991, we offered a brand new bond on the market. We called it the Patriot Bond. And if you want to buy a bond for your child or your grandchild, or whomever, I think you can go to wherever they sell these bonds--I don't know where they sell them; I have a couple of them--and buy your grandchild a bond and help us out.

Just because there is combat today, the mission will not be over until the Iraqi people are liberated and an interim government is set up so freedom can be established to allow the Iraqi people to grow and to taste the fruits of freedom and to improve their quality of life. Every life in the world is deserving of that.

So if you are inclined to do so, go inquire about a Patriot Bond. I think it would sure help us out, and it also would, I think, maybe help you out also.

Madam President, I yield the floor.

Madam President, I rise to share another story that comes from the battlefield of Iraq. There are a thousand of these stories, but I think it is the way we start our day as a reminder of exactly what is going on at ground level--in other words, where the rubber hits the road.

In the last 12 or 13 days, we have seen how deeply committed our men and women in uniform are. They fight for a great cause of disarming Saddam Hussein's regime from its weapons of mass destruction, but also at the same time they understand that they are our brother's keeper.

What brought this home to me was a picture of this one marine carrying his injured comrade from the battlefield. It is as awe inspiring as any imagine that might come from the field of conflict. One man hurt his leg. His buddy slings him over his back and carries him safely, like a firefighter rescuing somebody from a burning building. Only in this case, it looks as though the enemy was not being cooperative or too helpful.

Men serving in battle form iron bonds. They have to because it is for the person next to them and for their country. Those bonds often forge the determination and the will to win. We can see the grim determination etched in the face of the marine who is doing the carrying. He seems to be thinking: It is all right, buddy. We will be out of here. You are in good hands.

Then perhaps when they reached the point where they were saved, the guy being carried likely responded: You do it for me, Semper Fi.

Some would say these two marines are heroes. But I would not put them in the hero class. They are America. They are the story of America. The marine who was hurt is from Oregon. The marine who saved him is from South Carolina. It does not matter what State one is from; their bond is in the unit in which they serve and in the miniature stars-and- stripe patch sewn on every shoulder of every sleeve.

For the marine from Oregon, his bond was his family heritage. His father was a career marine who rose to the top rank of sergeant major. His father was in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983 when terrorists bombed the Marine barracks, losing 241 of his buddies. The father served in combat in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. The day after the son shipped out for Kuwait, that marine's father died. The son returned home to the funeral, returned to the scene, and caught up with his unit.

The depth of commitment of our brave Americans is shown on the battlefields not only here but also in our history. It is a cause to them and one that inspires us. May we who are in the policy business learn our lesson to be that inspiring. We, too, should be where most of them are, where the rubber hits the road. This is where it is carried out.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, as we stand here today, the conflict goes on in Iraq. I was just talking to a friend. He asked me when are we going to make a move and how is it going?

We have only been there a week and a half, but one would think from the television coverage that we are in the middle of the Hundred Years War.

There will be many stories that come out of conflicts such as this. I want to relate one.

SSG Charles Donovan, Jr., is a 27-year-old 8-year Marine Corps veteran, born and raised in Great Falls, MT. On the 17th of February he was deployed to Kuwait for military service with the First Marine Division. He is a communications expert and a towgunner. A towgunner is the one who fires ammunition from the tank.

He has been married to his wife Candice for almost 8 years. They met at Camp Pendleton, CA. They served in the Marine Corps together for 4 years. Since his deployment, Donovan has been able to contact his family frequently and recently received the news from his wife that they are expecting their first child. He was able to reply to his wife by e-mail.

It is needless to say anything more about the news and the elation that is experienced by this couple. No. 1, he was all right and getting along fine; and, second, the experience of learning of the good news of an expected first child is always great.

So my congratulations go out to Charles and Candice. And I have every

faith that he will complete his mission and come home.

There are thousands of similar stories stemming from this mission, so ably carried out by our men and women in uniform. It is uniquely American and typical of our warriors of freedom. It distinguishes and sets the American military apart from any other nation in the history of man's constant struggle for freedom and human dignity.

We see the pictures every day, not of the ugliness of war but of the men and women who carry out the humanitarian acts as war is carried on. We will succeed in our mission. And we look forward to the day when they all come home.

Also, I take great pride to stand here today on the Senate floor to recognize and say thank you to the men and women from Montana and all who serve across this land.

We have support organizations popping up in just about every State, organizations formed to give comfort to families and provide various programs such as the one I just mentioned. It is happening everywhere, and there are far too many to mention today.

I commend the efforts of one program especially because I met with this group in Livingston, MT. They call themselves MOST--the Military Overseas Support Team--made up of people who have family members serving in that area, and they act as a support system for each person.

Then there is another one called Operation Clean Socks. It has been set up to collect and send socks to our military men and women in the Middle East. That sounds strange, but to those of us who have worn the uniform of this great country, socks become a big item, especially to us old marines who traveled on our feet.

Folks all over this country are rallying their communities to get support for our troops. I am pleased to see so many of them supportive in Montana.

Here in Washington we see the images on television. We are thinking about the troops every day. We know how hard it is fighting for the freedoms of those who are oppressed, and we thank you. We thank you for what you are doing and want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are not only with you but also with your families.

You are the best and the greatest ambassadors of the American dream. You will succeed in the efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein and free the Iraqi people. I am confident in our military. I know this effort will be accomplished as soon as possible so they all can come home to the welcoming arms of their families, so that every Charles Donovan, Jr., can see his first child enter the world with the same freedoms with which he was born. We think about them every day.

I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in support of S. Con. Res. 30 and S. 351, The Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act.

I am pleased to see so many Americans and communities coming together, in support of our troops. Here in our nation's capitol, we think about our troops everyday. We know how hard they all are fighting for our freedoms and for the freedoms of the Iraqi people. We thank them for what they are doing and want them to know our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.

My colleagues in Congress and I have the opportunity to lighten the burden service members often encounter while deployed, or upon their return home, with The Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2003. This act would allow the American men and women serving our country at home and abroad a small, well-deserved thank you in the form of tax benefits and relief.

This reward for those who defend our freedom would help to ensure that the men and women who put themselves in harms way when America calls have peace of mind when it comes to things many take for granted, like filing tax returns or collecting travel reimbursement. The provisions of this act will save military families nearly $500 million in taxes over the next ten years. They deserve nothing less.

Thousands of activated military, National Guard, Reservists, and their families in my home state of Montana will directly benefit from this act, and the benefit to members of our armed services on a national scale is immeasurable. It is important that we continue to support our soldiers in any way we can, recognizing the sacrifice they make for the security of our great Nation.

We have the best fighting force in the world. I remain certain that our troops will succeed in their efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein and free the Iraqi people. I am confident in our military and know that this effort will be accomplished as soon as possible so that all our troops can safely return home to their families.

Mr. President, I also rise to join with my colleagues on the passing of Pat Moynihan. Where does one start when a friend and colleague leaves us?

When Senator Moynihan retired from the Senate, where he served our country and his State so well, he really did not leave us. Now in this, his last transition, he will not leave us. He left so much of himself with us. His words will remain with us for years to come.

I did not join the Senate until 1989. Being on the opposite side of the aisle--I was one who had not earned his spurs yet--I did not have the opportunity to get to know him until we went on a trip together to the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield in 1990. I can say my life has been richly blessed serving with a lot of men and women who have since retired from this body. He was one of those people.

That was a great trip to the Persian Gulf. We spent a lot of hours in flight and spent a lot of hours in conversation, which was truly enlightening to this Senator from a rural State such as Montana. Our relationship grew from that point, and I realized what a marvelous man he really was.

He was a man true to his faith and principles. His intellect stood him apart from most men I have ever known, but he coupled that intellect with good old-fashioned common sense and deep wisdom.

The subject matter of the conversation did not make any difference. He could relate to anyone on a common ground. The ability to communicate with anybody who is not blessed with the same amount of institutional information or knowledge of any issue that may confront policymakers on a daily basis is a wonderful talent. He was one I held in high esteem, as he was one of the most intelligent men I have ever known.

It is unusual to find a person of that caliber to be blessed with a great sense of humor, and to put it on our level. He was quick, and his humor would sneak up on you. A man of his own style, very comfortable with himself, his presentations on the floor, in committee, or in public were strictly Pat Moynihan. We shall miss his voice on the floor of the Senate for several reasons, and printed words cannot describe that distinct sound.

I notice my friend from West Virginia is in the Chamber. Senator Moynihan sat only two seats behind Senator Byrd.

We can hear him today say: Mr. President, may we have order.

That was distinctly a call we all knew, understood, and respected. I shall miss him. I shall never forget him. Whatever accolades he may receive, he earned every one.

I yield the floor.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Amendment No. 357

Mr. President, I thank my good friend from Virginia. Yes, we have been conversing and friends ever since the day I got here, he being an old forest firefighter in Montana when he was younger, and his hair was dark. He was a dashing young man on an adventure West.

We have also discussed this subject a lot of times in private conversations. Whether it has been on the Big Horn River or on a golf course, I have always enjoyed those discussions.

I gave much thought on what I was going to say today. The Senator and I also shared the same uniform, the U.S. Marine Corps, at different times however. He was a good deal ahead of me.

We know what goes through the minds of the young men and women who are confronted with war. Of all the options we have in the world, war is the absolute last one. For our young men and women over there, they have to carry the responsibility.

But the real weight may be on the shoulders of our Commander in Chief and on the Prime Minister of England, Mr. Blair, for they have stood strong for what is right.

We can also call this the commitment of America. It is a commitment to our history. Looking in our history books, we see man can be ruled by many things, by weapons, by sheer military power, by biological weapons, and chemical weapons.

But 9/11 taught us something else, that we can be ruled by fear. Fear is still the greatest motivator of man. Americans have always accepted a certain level of risk for freedom. Sometimes we have accepted a high level of risk for freedom. And we are called upon to do that again. It is not a great option, but it is one that America has assumed the responsibility of since the birth of this country over 200 years ago.

Mr. President, 9/11 proved that we can be ruled by fear. Even a sniper in the Washington area was a reminder that, again, we are curtailed and ruled by fear. It was by only one person, that person not known. But this one is known.

We commend the President. We pray for our troops as they carry out a great tradition. Diplomatically, the timing is never right. It is never right. But I would say this: We could kick this can down the road. Maybe we could have kicked the can down the road in 1940. Would we have forgotten Pearl Harbor as fast as we think some people have forgotten the Twin Towers? No matter what we do, some generation of America is going to have to deal with this cruel man.

We stand in support. We stand in prayer for those who lead, those who commit, and those who do.

I yield the floor.