Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all first- degree amendments to the Defense authorization bill which are in order from the previous list be filed at the desk no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, June 7.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on today's Executive Calendar: Calendar Nos. 610 and 654. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 114, submitted earlier today by Senator Dole.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to this matter be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on S. 1233, to authorize assistance for the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center.

The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendment and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2363, reported out earlier today by the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I understand that S. 2498 is at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. President, I now ask for its second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 4. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then resume consideration of Calendar No. 503, S. 2400, the Department of Defense authorization bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of the Defense bill on Tuesday, June 8, there then be 50 minutes under the control of Senator Kennedy or his designee and 50 minutes under the control of the chairman or his designee. Further, I ask unanimous consent that following that debate, the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Kennedy amendment, with no amendments in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

I have no objection to such a modification of the request.

Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will resume consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill. It is the leader's hope that we will be able to dispose of any cleared amendments during tomorrow's session. However, there will be no rollcall votes. We would like to debate amendments during Friday's session so that we may stack rollcall votes beginning on Tuesday. We also hope to debate amendments on Monday, but, again, we will stack those votes for Tuesday as well.

The leader has stated that it is his intention to complete action on this bill next week. We were just able to lock in a filing deadline for all first-degree amendments for Monday at 5 p.m. The next rollcall vote will, therefore, occur on Tuesday prior to the policy luncheon recess.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3226.

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

On rollcall vote 100, I voted ``yea.'' It was my intention to vote ``nay.'' Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to change my vote since it will not affect the outcome.

Mr. President, in a few days, a very special dedication will be held a short distance from here. Thanks to the diligence, commitment, and hard work of many people across the United States, our Nation's capital will officially be the proud home to the long-overdue World War II Memorial. It is definitely a time for celebration--a celebration of freedom, life, and honor, a celebration of the United States of America. Most of all, it is a celebration of all the soldiers and citizens who gave life and limb during the early years of the 1940s.

Idaho is home to many World War II veterans. This Memorial Day weekend, those veterans, along with veterans from every State and others who helped at home and abroad, can celebrate a very special Memorial Day. Many fought and many died to defend the United States in a war that ended 59 years ago. Sixteen million served, and 400,000 did not return to families and friends. Each one of these lives increased the value of our citizenship exponentially and immeasurably. This memorial, the design of which was selected after careful review of 400 submissions, stands as a reminder of the

sacrifice of many. It is a most profound honor to their memory.

Watching the evening news is a sobering reminder of what this memorial stands for. It represents freedom from tyranny, peace and justice for all people, bravery in the face of terror and death, and love for America that surpasses words while challenging complacency. The World War II Memorial has an important role to play in teaching us about the price of freedom. It reminds each one of us that we cannot take our United States citizenship lightly. It calls on us to be vigilant in preserving those freedoms as those who have gone before have done with such conviction and singleness of purpose. Many veterans know all too well the physical and emotional challenges that the current generation of military personnel and their families are facing. Their wisdom, insight, and experience will help those who themselves are brand new veterans. These young men and women face the same challenges that others did over half a century ago. This memorial serves as a reminder of the debt of honor and gratitude we owe all veterans. We have a responsibility to care for them and, in our national leadership roles, we must take steps which do the most to support these brave defenders of our freedom.

This memorial represents those who have given life and limb in military service, and it also reminds all Americans of the gift of immeasurable cost--the gift of freedom--that the lives of brave men and women have purchased for all of us. And I can think of no better reason to celebrate.

Mr. President, I today honor D.L. Evans Bank on reaching a tremendous milestone--100 years in business. D.L. Evans bank is a financial institution in the largest sense of that word. It is a significant, established organization with branches solely in my home State of Idaho, and widely recognized for quality, personalized banking services to the community. Today I honor the Evans family and their employees for their long, proud history of financial service to Idahoans and many others.

In 1904, D.L. Evans and a group of pioneer businessman met and organized Cassia County's first bank. Despite the floods, fires, droughts, and even grasshoppers that have wreaked havoc on its customers, the bank has survived many tough economic times. As other banks around the country were closing their doors, D.L. Evans Bank was expanding--moving from its one-story frame building to a two-story stone headquarters in the early 1900s. From that original Albion branch, the bank has opened locations in Boise, Burley, Meridian, Ketchum, Jerome, Rupert, and Twin Falls. It is now the second largest community bank head quartered in southern Idaho with $388 million in assets and $345 million in deposits.

The Evans family's participation in the Idaho State Government has been no less impressive. The bank's founder, D.L. Evans, served in the Idaho Senate from 1903-1904 and 1923-1924. The current President, John V. Evans Sr., has served in numerous government capacities including as Governor of Idaho, Mayor of Malad City, State Senator and Majority and Minority Leader of the Idaho Senate, and Lieutenant Governor. The Evans family and D.L. Evans Bank have made important contributions to both the private and public sector in Idaho.

Congratulations to the employees, friends, and family of D.L. Evans on the centennial anniversary. D.L. Evans is a bank with a proud history, impressive current achievements, and a promising future. I wish the bank and its employees the best as they continue to serve the communities and families of Idaho.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor and congratulate an Idaho student who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Camille Schmidt of Pocatello has been named one of the Nation's top youth volunteers by the 2004 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. This honor is conferred on only one high school student and one mid-level student in each State. I applaud Camille's efforts to improve her community.

Camille has spent the past 2 years working to restore windows in her school's library that were removed in the early 1980s. When Camille began attending Pocatello High School, she noticed 8-foot-tall indents in the school walls and realized they were once windows. She found yearbooks that contained pictures of the school before the windows were taken out, and was inspired to restore them. She received approval to begin working on the restoration from the superintendent, and met with an architect to discuss the project. So far, Camille has raised more than $10,000 of the needed $15,000 for the project. To raise the necessary funds, she has distributed brochures, spoken at class reunions and student assemblies, contacted the news media, and even obtained a grant. To date, four of the eight windows have been replaced. Next year, the student government and the National Honor Society will take over the project until all of the school's windows are restored.

Camille has demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment and accomplishment and deserves our admiration and respect. She has played an important role in her community and serves as an example to her peers. I join with her family and friends in honoring her commitment to the state of Idaho.