Floor Statements

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I want the Record to be spread with the fact that Senator Feinstein has allowed this matter to pass. We have worked on the matter and she feels strongly about the CalFed bill. Numerous staff have worked on this for hours and hours today. Several times today we thought we had it done, and it didn't work out.

The distinguished majority leader and his staff indicated--I also want the Record to reflect this--that everything will be done when we get back to see if we can get this bill which the Senator from California feels so strongly about.

But again, this would not have happened but for the cooperation of the distinguished Senator from California, Senator Feinstein.

No objection.

On behalf of Senator Daschle, we yield 15 minutes to Senator Stabenow and 10 minutes to Senator Harkin.

Mr. President, how much time do we have remaining on our side?

Mr. President, I would like to direct a question through the Chair to the distinguished Senator from Illinois, who is on the floor.

Will the Senator from Illinois comment on the Senate schedule? We wasted a week, as the Senator may recall, on class action, where nothing was done. Then we spent a week on the marriage amendment when everyone knew, before it started, there were not enough votes. And then so far this week we spent yesterday on a judge. Nothing happened on that. The rest of the day we spent on a free-trade agreement with Morocco, where the actual time on that bill has been less than an hour and a half on actual speeches given. Even though there was 20 hours allotted, we were willing to yield back our time from early on in that debate. Now we are told we are still not going to go to legislative session, that we are going to work on more judges even though we have approved almost a record number of judges.

I ask my friend, does the Senator from Illinois think it is important we deal with other issues people in Illinois and Nevada talk to us about, such as doing an appropriations bill for homeland security or moving to something that is important to the people of Nevada, and that is maybe consider raising the minimum wage?

These are just a couple thoughts that come to the mind of the Senator from Nevada. Will the Senator from Illinois comment?

Mr. President, I will direct another question through the Chair to my friend from Illinois.

I am not proud of this, but the State of Nevada is the least insured State for medical care in the country. We lead the Nation in uninsured. But there are 44 million people in America who have no health insurance. Even if we did not pass legislation dealing with the calamities facing American families because of no health insurance, don't you think we could talk about it? Don't you think we could bring something up?

For example, I know the Senator from Illinois has worked on this, the Senator from North Dakota has been a leader on this, as has been the Senator from Michigan, Ms. Stabenow: How about making it easy on the American people by allowing us to buy the same drugs we pay a fortune for here in America cheaper from the country just north of us, Canada? Wouldn't that be a good thing to work on?

Mr. President, I direct another question to my distinguished friend.

About 6 weeks ago, I asked all 17 superintendents of school districts in Nevada to meet with me. We have 17 counties in Nevada. Each county has a superintendent of schools. The largest school district has about 300,000 students; the smallest, Esmeralda County, with 88 students. I don't know what their political affiliation is, but I will bet a lot more are Republicans.

We met for a couple hours. They were all asked the question: How is the Leave No Child Behind Act treating you in your school district? Without exception, every one of the superintendents said: The Leave No Child Behind Act is leaving children of Nevada behind, without exception. They said: Please change this. Give us some resources.

I say to my friend, education is important in Nevada. The Leave No Child Behind Act has been a disaster for Nevada. Shouldn't we be spending some time talking about education in the U.S. Senate rather than class action, marriage, and a few judges. We have approved more than 100. They want to defer attention away from the real issues of this country, so we are spending days of our existence on the Senate floor talking about judges. Shouldn't we be dealing with education?

Mr. President, I believe our time has expired.

I thank the Chair.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) are necessarily absent.

The majority leader is correct.

Madam President, I rise today to congratulate El Mundo on its 24th anniversary and to recognize the tremendous importance of this weekly newspaper to Nevada's Spanish-speaking community.

The oldest continuing Spanish language newspaper in southern Nevada, El Mundo has grown dramatically over the last 24 years to a current readership of more than 120,000. The newspaper not only provides insightful coverage of important issues facing Nevada and the Nation, but also provides a window into the life and times of southern Nevada's Latino community.

By giving consumers the information they need to make important purchase decisions about everything from clothing to cars to homes, El Mundo's commercial listings have helped thousands of new residents acclimate to life in the region, and fueled the economic engine of southern Nevada.

The growth of El Mundo has paralleled the growth of Nevada's Latino community. When El Mundo was founded in 1980, about 50,000 Latinos lived in Nevada, representing 6 to 7 percent of the population. Today the Latino population approaches the half million mark and accounts for as much as 25 percent of our State's population.

El Mundo not only reflects the growing prominence of Latinos in Southern Nevada but also provides a channel through which this vibrant and diverse community is helping to shape the future of Nevada's economic, political, and cultural life.

I also want to take a moment to recognize Edward Escobedo, the founder and publisher of El Mundo, whose dedication and leadership has been indispensable to the growth of the newspaper. He and his colleagues can take great pride in transforming their vision into a southern Nevada institution. Eddie has been a leader in charitable and civic affairs in the greater Las Vegas area for decades. Nevada is a better place because of Eddie Escobedo.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize the Las Vegas International Folk Festival, which was held June 18 through 20.

Hosted by the Mexico Vivo Dance Company, the Festival brought together artists from around the world to celebrate the artistic traditions of the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

All of the festival's performances were free to the public, providing the residents of Las Vegas with a wonderful opportunity to experience the world's diverse artistic and cultural heritages. Some 500 performing artists and dance students participated in this 3-day event.

I want to take a moment to recognize Ixela Gutierrez, the festival's founder and artistic director, who helped make this wonderful event possible. Among the leading artists in Nevada, Ms. Gutierrez has enjoyed a successful soloist dance career with The National Folkloric Ballet of Mexico, served as company director of Ballet Ollimpaxqui, and choreographed six seasons for the Las Vegas Civic Ballet. She also founded the Mexico Vivo Dance Company in Las Vegas in 1995 to preserve and share the rich artistic heritage of Mexican and Latin American folk dances.

Ms. Gutierrez has been recognized by many organizations throughout her career, and she received a special Award of Distinction in Culture from the Latin Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas. She also has enjoyed the honor of performing for President Bush at the White House's Cinco de Mayo celebration. She is now focusing her energy and talent on building a new Las Vegas tradition, by making the International Folk Festival an annual event.

I also recognize the sponsors of this outstanding event: Fitzgerald's Hotel and Casino, Fremont Street Experience, Nevada Youth Alliance, and Mexican Patriotic Committee.

The inaugural Las Vegas International Folk Festival was a great success, and I am sure everyone who attended is looking forward to next year's event.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Miller) are necessarily absent.

We, of course, have no objection to this request. Senator Baucus will be the manager on our side. At some subsequent time, we will make a decision as to how much of the 10 hours we will use. We will report that through our manager to the chairman of the committee at the earliest possible time.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Debbie Singer, a fellow in the Office of Senator Levin, be granted floor privileges for tomorrow.

Mr. President, if I could ask a question of the majority leader, we are going to complete our vote at about 12 o'clock tomorrow. Does the leader have an idea as to what we might do tomorrow afternoon?

It is my understanding that there are events tomorrow night, so we should not be in late tomorrow night. Would it be appropriate to indicate that for Members on this side of the aisle?

Mr. President, I have a couple of questions I would like to ask through the Chair to the majority leader.

First, we tend to dwell on the negative around here quite a bit. But one of the good things that happens to me every day that I come is to hear the prayer. Today, for example, I wish I were good enough to live up to the expectations of the prayer offered by Admiral Black. Really, he does a wonderful job, setting the tone for how we should work in the Senate. A lot of times I think we don't listen very closely to him. But, even though he is not in the Chamber now, I want to have the Record spread with my appreciation of the thoughtfulness he goes through every day in preparing his very meaningful prayers.

Mr. President, I am wondering if the majority leader could give us an idea of whether we might get to the Morocco Free Trade Agreement this week, and also do we have any word on the childcare conference report? It is my understanding that the Appropriations Committee is going to report out of the committee the military construction and legislative branch bills this week. I would ask about Moroccan free trade, the

childcare conference, and those two appropriations bills, military and legislative branch, if we are going to be able to get to those this week?

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

What is the matter now before the Senate?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to speak as in morning business.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.