Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period of morning business, in the evening, with Senators speaking for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 22, 2004, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Examination and

Oversight of the Condition and Regulation of the Insurance Industry.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., on pending committee business.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 2 p.m., to hold a nomination hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting on pending Committee matters, to be followed immediately by an oversight hearing on the Contributions of Native American Code Talkers in American Military History.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. on ``A review of Counter-Terrorism Legislation and Proposals, including the USA Patriot Act and the SAFE Act'' in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness List:

Panel I: The Honorable Larry Craig, United States Senator, R-ID and The Honorable Richard Durbin, United States Senator, D-IL.

Panel II: The Honorable James Comey, Deputy Attorney General, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

Panel III: The Honorable Bob Barr, R-GA, former Member, United States House of Representatives and Daniel Collins, Esq., Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP, Los Angeles, CA.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at 3:30 p.m. on ``Judiciary Nominations'' in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness List:

Panel I: Senators.

Panel II: Christopher Boyko, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio.

Mr. President, today I rise in support of the Baucus amendment. This amendment ensures that farmers and ranchers across the country will receive assistance for losses sustained through natural disasters.

In Kansas this assistance is critical to provide aid to our farmers and ranchers who have been hit hard by a multiyear drought. While many have viewed the terrible destruction wrought across Florida and the Southeastern U.S. by successive hurricanes in recent weeks, I cannot forget the terrible drought that has continued to grip much of the western portion of Kansas.

I also cannot forget the eerie photographs, taken earlier this summer, of a giant dust cloud that swept across western Kansas. This dire result of continuous drought caused Interstate 70 to shut down, its dust inundated homes and hospitals and even caused a tragic traffic accident that claimed the life of a distinguished Kansan, the late State Senator Stan Clark.

It may surprise my colleagues, but I am no fan of Federal disaster programs for agriculture. They are difficult to pass and often a disaster to implement.

It is unfortunate that the current farm bill, which I voted against, does not provide producers with assistance when they need it most--when there is no crop to harvest.

Without the crop insurance program, which I fought to improve and enhance in 2000, and additional Federal disaster aid, many Kansas producers might not be around another year to continue participating in the current farm bill.

Mr. President, I stand in support of the Baucus amendment. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. President, I discuss the amendment we are about to vote on. Let me state at the beginning: I am supportive of a tobacco buyout for our tobacco producers and quota holders, and I will work to help them achieve this goal. However, it should be a buyout without strings attached and that will truly end the program.

Unfortunately, this legislation does not achieve this goal. While the bill does provide a buyout, it then implements annual restrictions on acreage and production. I have previously stated on this floor my opposition to acreage and production controls for all crops and commodity programs. This program should be no different.

I am also concerned that these acreage controls may not be legal under our World Trade Organization commitments. If these controls would indeed be declared illegal under our commitments, we could be subject to a ruling that would put us far above our WTO agriculture spending caps. This would not only have significant impacts for tobacco and this program, it could have a significant impact on all our commodities and farm programs. I cannot support voting for this proposal and putting all our other commodities at risk.

If these provisions were removed, I believe there would be no question that this proposed program would be WTO legal, and I would have no trouble supporting the buyout. I will let my colleagues that serve on the conference of this bill make their own decision regarding FDA regulation and the funding mechanism for the buyout. But, I urge them to support the House language implementing a buyout with no future acreage and production restrictions being put in place.

Mr. President, I rise to make several important points regarding the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

As chairman of the Intelligence Committee and member of the Armed Services Committee, I am well aware of the valuable friendship that our two countries share. Australia's commitment to the fight in the Global War on Terror is unwavering. Australia's support in liberating and rebuilding Iraq has been crucial there.

This agreement provides better opportunities for Kansas manufacturers, especially those in the aviation and transportation sectors to increase exports to the Australians. I understand that there is strong, bipartisan, interregional support for this agreement across industries and across the country.

However, I feel compelled to share with my colleagues several things which trouble Kansas about the way this agreement was constructed.

I must tell our colleagues that in all the years I have had the privilege to serve Kansas and agriculture in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, there have been few, if any, times when there was as much open hostility to trade as I sense in some areas today.

In Dodge City terms, ``The bloom is off the lily, and the lily was run over by a lawn mower.''

I have had more than one producer ask me just what we are doing being involved in all these trade agreements when it seems that agriculture is under attack.

We have dealt with and continue to deal with the BSE hurdles for our beef products, our farm and export programs are under attack through the Brazilian cotton case and our food aid programs are being attacked by others in the Doha round of WTO negotiations.

We have now completed, and this body is considering a free trade agreement with Australia that exempts a single commodity--sugar--at the expense of others, particularly wheat and beef.

Kansas producers, who do pay close attention to trade matters, are taking a look at this list of issues and saying: Hold on a minute, Pat. What is going on here?

I will share with you and the rest of our colleagues what I tell the folks at the coffee klatch in Dodge.

In addition to setting a dangerous precedent for future trade agreements, exempting sugar from the Australian FTA also sets a dangerous precedence for agriculture, especially for sugar itself. In the past, whether in trade agreements or trade disputes, whether it be in farm bills or budget reconciliations, the commodity and producer groups have sank or swam together.

Sugar's insistence on not participating in this free trade agreement makes it very likely that the rest of US agriculture will opt not to participate in sugar's defense the next time that program faces a WTO challenge, budget reconciliation measure, or amendment to end sugar's support program during the next farm bill.

Simply put, if sugar falls or jumps off the ag-boat in the future, it may very well find itself treading water while watching the rest of US agriculture drift away silently. Our producers will insist that we extract real concessions on state-traded enterprises, quotas, tariffs, etc. in future trade negotiations for their support for concessions on imports of agricultural goods here at home.

Simply put, you don't bring a knife to a gun-fight and expect our producers to stand with you.

I intend to support the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement. I believe that it is in the best interest of our relationship with our friend and ally, Australia. However, singling out individual commodities in future trade agreements is not in the best interest of our Nation and threatens agriculture's support and, therefore, my support for future trade agreements.

(At the request of Mr. Daschle, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

I ask unanimous consent that Senator John Breaux be added as a cosponsor to a bill I introduced on June 12, 2003, S. 1246, to permit charitable and educational organizations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure grants and continue to be treated as tax- exempt organizations.

Mr. President, I thank my distinguished chairman.

I rise to join the senior Senator from Virginia in opposing the Dodd amendment. I agree with the concern raised by the Dodd amendment, but let me point out that, as far as I am aware, no committee has held a hearing on how to lessen our reliance on contractors. Our armed services and our other agencies do rely very heavily on contractors.

The distinguished chairman has held three open hearings in regard to all of the incarceration problems and the problems that have been so heavily publicized. We have had three hearings in the Intelligence Committee that have been closed. We are going to follow up with a report by General Fay and others. In the Intelligence Committee, we have asked for the legal memoranda from the Justice Department on this whole issue.

I think this amendment attempts to prejudge the important work we would like to do on issues that are related to contractors and also detainees; yes, the military police; yes, the military intelligence.

Now, let's not forget that while some contractors--or for that matter, MPs, or military personnel--have been highly publicized in actions that nobody wants to see, contractors are saving lives right now in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are giving their lives in the war on terrorism. So the problems that have come to our attention, it seems to me, my colleagues, are not necessarily inherent simply to contracting, but they are resulting from very poor management and also supervision.

We can address the problems as raised by the distinguished Senator from Connecticut, but we ought to do it in the right way. I do not think the Senate should act hastily on an important area. We are on top of it. We are conducting oversight.

So I must oppose this amendment and urge other Members to do the same.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a great educator and champion of science and technology, who recently passed away.

Dr. John Hopps was a true public servant who most recently furthered the cause of our national security as deputy director of defense research and engineering and deputy under secretary of defense for laboratories and basic science at the Department of Defense. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, I had the privilege of knowing John and witnessing first-hand his support of programs, projects and personnel in the defense laboratories.

Prior to his position with the Department of Defense, Dr. Hopps worked to encourage our Nation's youth in their pursuit of academic excellence, especially in this fields of physics and chemistry. As provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and professor of physics at Morehouse College, John was in a position to guide young minds and manage academic departments and multi disciplinary programs.

Immediately before joining Morehouse College, John Hopps served as director of materials research at the National Science Foundation. During his tenure with Draper Laboratory, which began in 1977, John was manager of energy program development, manager of the laboratory's fault-tolerant systems technology research program, and education director for the laboratory.

During his tenure as deputy director of defense research and engineering, Dr. Hopps made great strides in reaching out to the scientific and academic communities and in working to ensure the technological superiority of the defense laboratories and workforce who develop the tools, protective equipment and weapons that are so important to the U.S. warfighter of today and tomorrow. Under his leadership, the Department increased the National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship Program and pursued a program and structure-- Materials World Modules--he developed to connect students of all ages to the excitement and value of science.

This year's defense authorization bill contains a provision that authorizes the Department to establish a pilot science, mathematics and engineering scholarship program that will continue much of the work championed by John in his efforts for the Department of Defense and in his other positions both inside and outside the Federal Government. John's academic background combined with service in the Federal Government gave him a unique perspective on the importance of basic research for future technological advances, linkages he helped us all to make.

John Hopps' patient, deliberative manner, keen sense of humor, and compassionate approach to life and work will be missed by the many students, educators and public servants, whose lives he has touched. My deepest sympathies go out to Dr. Hopps' wife, family and friends, and to all who knew and loved him.

Mr. President, from Civil War to the war against racism, Kansas has been a battleground in the fight for equality. Oliver Brown was a soldier in this struggle, as he courageously fought to prove that separate among the people of this great Nation is not equal.

The watershed case that bears his name stands for all time as an important victory in the civil rights movement. On Monday, May 17, 2004, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this momentous decision. And in Topeka, KS, we will gather to dedicate Monroe Elementary School as the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education National Historic site. This new addition to the National Park Service will afford us the proper setting to fully reflect on what this decision has meant to our Nation, and will provide future visitors with a more complete understanding of how Linda Brown's struggle changed the course of our Nation's history.

The Monroe Elementary School, purchased in 1877 by the Topeka Board of Education, was one of the four segregated elementary schools for African American children in Topeka. The current building is actually the third Monroe school to stand there, built in 1926.

Monroe was a good school, built by the same architect who built other schools in Topeka, including those reserved for white children. And the teachers were well-trained, many of whom had advanced degrees. This wasn't a case of substandard facilities, or a lack of educational opportunities for Linda Brown and her classmates. This was simply injustice under the law, and the need to right a grievous wrong.

The Brown Foundation, under the leadership of Cheryl Brown Henderson, has worked diligently to preserve the bricks and mortar that were a part of this historic case. Far more than just a building, however, this site represents the genesis of the movement to strike down our Nation's segregationist policy.

Thanks to his daughter Cheryl's efforts, and those of countless others, Monroe Elementary was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991. I, along with Senator Robert J. Dole and Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, am proud to have supported legislation creating the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site, which was signed into law by President George Bush in 1992.

As stated in the legislation, the purposes of this important site are:

To preserve, protect, and interpret the places that

contributed materially to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court

decision which ended segregation in public education, to

interpret the role of the Brown case in the civil rights

movement, and to assist in the preservation and

interpretation of related resources within the city of Topeka

that further the understanding of the civil rights movement.

That bill challenged us to properly commemorate and interpret this history, and ensure that the story of Linda Brown and the thousands of other children who were denied access to white elementary schools is told. This new site has met every expectation of ours, and pays proper tribute to the struggle for civil rights. As we dedicate the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site, what was once a building designed to educate a few, now stands ready to educate us all.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service of Officer Johnny Lee Wilson of the U.S. Capitol Police. Officer Wilson has been posted at the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for the past 14 years. Regrettably, on April 30, 2004, Officer Wilson will retire from the Capitol Police after more than 27 years of dedicated service.

Officer Wilson was born in Shelby, NC, on November 5, 1945. Following a move to Washington, DC, he finished high school. He then served in the Armed Forces, where he saw combat in an Army infantry unit in Vietnam in the late 1960s. At the conclusion of his tour, he was decorated for outstanding performance.

Officer Wilson then returned to Washington, DC, to pursue his college degree. In 1975, he graduated from Washington, DC's Howard University with a bachelor of science degree.

In April 1977, Officer Wilson began his service with the U.S. Capitol Police. For nearly three decades, he has dedicated himself to protecting the lives of visitors, staff, and Members as they go about their daily business here on Capitol Hill. It is a job which has become increasingly stressful since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Despite the added threats, Officer Wilson has performed his duties superbly. His patience, discipline, and attention to detail have made him an asset to the Capitol Police and to the Intelligence Committee.

Officer Wilson's tireless dedication to the U.S. Capitol Police should serve as an inspiration to everyone in law enforcement. He is a tremendous officer and a great friend to many in the U.S. Senate. He will be truly missed as he enjoys his well-earned retirement.

Congratulations Officer Wilson, you are a fine public servant and a man of integrity and character. I extend my best wishes to your wife Weddie and your children--Gina and John-Paul. Good luck to you in retirement and thanks again for your fine service.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER, I add my voice to the comments of my colleague, Senator Roberts, concerning the contributions and outstanding performance of Officer Johnny Wilson from the United States Capitol Police. Officer Wilson is a 27-year veteran of the Capitol Police who is scheduled to retire in a few days. He has spent the past 14 years posted outside the offices of the Senate Intelligence Committee. During that time, we came to think of Johnny as part of our staff and part of our family. It will be both odd and disappointing not seeing him outside our door every morning.

Officer Wilson, a Vietnam veteran, joined the Capitol Police on April 4, 1977, and has dedicated his career to protecting the lives of Members of Congress, their staffs and the thousands of tourists who visit Capitol Hill each year. He is a fine example of the professionalism, dedication and work ethic of the men and women of the United States Capitol Police.

But what sets Johnny apart is the way in which he carries out his duties. He is outgoing and upbeat, with a hello and a kind word for anyone who crosses his path. Everyone that passes through the second floor corridor outside the Intelligence Committee Hart Building offices knows Johnny and he knows them--if he doesn't he makes them think he does. At the same time he is unflappable when confronting tense situations and approaches his responsibilities with complete seriousness.

In an era of technological advancements in biometrics and other enhanced security identification methods, there is absolutely no substitute for a professional law enforcement officer on the first line of defense. With Officer Wilson on the job, we all knew we were well protected.

Officer Wilson's dedication to the United States Capitol Police has been proven on many occasions and he has been an excellent example of someone raising the bar of excellence for his peers. He has been a great friend to many in the United States Senate and he truly will be missed. I congratulate this fine public servant, a man of integrity and character, and I wish him well in his impending retirement.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following bill, the Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act, be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following bill, the Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act, be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce, along with my distinguished colleague Senator Brownback, a bill designating the Bleeding Kansas and the Enduring Struggle for Freedom National Heritage Area. This project has joined communities throughout eastern Kansas in an effort to document, preserve and celebrate Kansas' significant role in the political struggle that led to the Civil War and in other historic struggles for equality that took place in our state.

Designated by Congress, National Heritage Areas are places where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form complete and distinct landscape. Our State, which has a proud heritage and compelling story, will benefit from this national designation that helps preserve and celebrate America's defining landscapes. By enhancing and developing historic sites throughout eastern Kansas, we will ensure that the traditions that evolved there are preserved.

During the Civil War, William Quantrill, the head of an infamous gang of Confederate sympathizers, lead a raid on Lawrence, KS. Though far from the main campaigns, this massacre caused Bleeding Kansas to become a prominent symbol in the fight for the freedom of all people, and the territory would become a battleground over the question of slavery. After

these attacks, the abolitionist senator Charles Sumner delivered his famous speech called ``The Crime Against Kansas,'' in which he brought the escalating situation into sharper focus for the Nation.

Almost 100 years later, Kansas became the battleground once again, as Oliver L. Brown fought to prove that separate among the people of this great Nation is not equal. In fact, we will soon celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which was a landmark victory in the civil rights movement. These are but two of the many stories that will make up this heritage area, marking an important era in our Nation's history.

I'd like to commend the Lawrence City Commission, the Douglas County Commission, and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, who have worked diligently on Federal heritage area designation. And I encourage the Senate's swift passage of this important piece of legislation.

Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce, along with my distinguished colleague Senator Brownback, a bill designating the Bleeding Kansas and the Enduring Struggle for Freedom National Heritage Area. This project has joined communities throughout eastern Kansas in an effort to document, preserve and celebrate Kansas' significant role in the political struggle that led to the Civil War and in other historic struggles for equality that took place in our state.

Designated by Congress, National Heritage Areas are places where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form complete and distinct landscape. Our State, which has a proud heritage and compelling story, will benefit from this national designation that helps preserve and celebrate America's defining landscapes. By enhancing and developing historic sites throughout eastern Kansas, we will ensure that the traditions that evolved there are preserved.

During the Civil War, William Quantrill, the head of an infamous gang of Confederate sympathizers, lead a raid on Lawrence, KS. Though far from the main campaigns, this massacre caused Bleeding Kansas to become a prominent symbol in the fight for the freedom of all people, and the territory would become a battleground over the question of slavery. After

these attacks, the abolitionist senator Charles Sumner delivered his famous speech called ``The Crime Against Kansas,'' in which he brought the escalating situation into sharper focus for the Nation.

Almost 100 years later, Kansas became the battleground once again, as Oliver L. Brown fought to prove that separate among the people of this great Nation is not equal. In fact, we will soon celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which was a landmark victory in the civil rights movement. These are but two of the many stories that will make up this heritage area, marking an important era in our Nation's history.

I'd like to commend the Lawrence City Commission, the Douglas County Commission, and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, who have worked diligently on Federal heritage area designation. And I encourage the Senate's swift passage of this important piece of legislation.

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