George Allen

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a lifetime commitment to serving the United States of America. On August 31, 2001, Lt. Gen. Henry T. Glisson of Alexandria, Virginia, will retire as a Lieutenant General after 34 years of dedicated service in the United States Army. General Glisson was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the Quartermaster Corps through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Georgia College, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in Psychology. Thereafter, he received his master's degree in Education from Pepperdine University of California. His military educational background includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Selected as a Regular Army Officer in 1967, and detailed to the Infantry for 18 months, his early years included assignment as a Platoon Leader for the 549th Quartermaster Company, Air Delivery, and Aide-de-Camp for the Commanding General of the U.S. Army in Japan; Advisory in the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam; and S4, Logistics, and Commander of the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Infantry; Commander of Company C of the 425th Support Battalion; Executive Officer/S3 of the 25th Supply and Transport Battalion. From 1978 to 1982, he served as the S3 of the Division Support Command; Executive Officer of 701st Maintenance Battalion; and Commander of the Materiel Management Center of the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas. His next assignment was Commander of the 87th Maintenance Battalion of the 7th Support Group for the United States Army in Europe. He served as Chief of the Quartermaster Branch of the United States Army Military Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia, from 1985 to 1987. In 1989 he became Commander of Division Support Command for the 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado. He returned to the Pentagon in 1991, serving as the Executive Officer and Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics; and then as Deputy Director, Directorate for Plans and Operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. In 1993, he was promoted to Brigadier General and has served in four consecutive command assignments: Commander of the Defense Personnel Support Center for the Defense Logistics Agency; Commander of the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command; and 44th Quartermaster General and Commandant of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Center and School. In 1997, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and began his service as Director of the Defense Logistics Agency in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His tireless and selfless dedication to serving his country is represented by the many decorations he has earned, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with ``V'' Device, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Parachute Rigger Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge. In closing, I wish to commend General Glisson for his many years of distinguished service to our Nation, protecting our freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I wish him and his wife, Sherry, Godspeed in his retirement.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. To wrap up in response to some of the assertions and comments made in opposition to this amendment, the reason this amendment is necessary is, unfortunately, the other side of the aisle knocked out the amount of the tax cut we wanted and omitted small family farms and small businesses against the research and development tax credit. Senator Hatch was working mightily, with the support of many Members, to try to get this into the tax cut bill. More important than all the procedure is the fact that our economy is going very slowly. I am trying to be positive at this moment. The technology sector is obviously going very slowly. In fact, it is in some regards frozen, especially in new investment. The research and development tax credit being made permanent now matters because now and in the next few quarters is when technology companies, pharmaceuticals, biotechs, all folks in tech, will be making decisions, and those decisions need to be made so they can create the jobs, get our economy going again, and improve our lives. I thank the Senator from Oregon for this amendment and hope my colleagues will support this amendment.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise in support of the amendment and very much thank Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon for his leadership and for giving us the opportunity to vote on this very important amendment and principle and tax policy that is essential for the United States to compete and succeed in the future. I also commend the Senator from Utah, Mr. Orrin Hatch, for all his work over the years, and especially this year, in advocating this measure. As chairman of the high-tech task force on the Republican side of the Senate, we have endorsed this idea. We have been working on this idea. Unfortunately, as the Senator said, it was not included in the tax bill. But the reason that this is so important is that research and technology--generally speaking, research in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals--is at stake with this amendment and this research and development tax credit. Up here in Washington, we are making decisions for a year or so, or even a 5-year budget, and even once in a while we do projections over 10 years. In private industry and business, their planning needs to be long-term. In particular, when you think of research and development into pharmaceuticals, the amount of research that goes into putting forward a drug before getting it to patent, to the market, and so forth, it is not just the research and the labs; there are clinical trials that go on year after year, and hopefully you will get a patent; and for a short period of time you will have a window of opportunity on that prescription drug, for example. So this tax policy is very important so that businesses have certainty, that there is credibility, stability, predictability to devote the millions and, indeed, in some cases, billions of dollars to research and development and technology. The issue is jobs and competition for the people of the United States. We, as Americans, need to lead in technological advances. The R&D tax credit is very important in microchips or semiconductor chips. It is important in communications research and development. It is important in life sciences and medical sciences and, obviously, that includes biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Making the R&D tax credit permanent, as Senator Smith says, actually is cost effective. It makes a great deal of sense. Studies suggest every dollar of revenue cost leads to a $1 increase in business R&D spending. These are good jobs and it also allows us as a country to compete. A permanent extension is long overdue. As Senator Smith said, it has been extended every now and then for a few years. Once in a while it lapses. Businesses cannot plan that way. They have to make sure it stays constant. Publicly traded companies have their quarterly reports, their shareholder reports, and the amount of investment they get in their companies based on how they are operating and managing that company. If you have changing tax laws or lack of credible, predictable tax policies that foul up that whole system, that makes them less likely to want to invest and take the risk of billions of dollars in research and development if they are not certain of the long term. This amendment to make the research and development tax credit permanent will spur more American investment; it will create more American jobs--and they are good paying jobs--and that will lead us to better products, better devices, better systems, and better medicines. I hope the Senate will work in a unified fashion on this amendment by Senator Smith to make permanent the research and development tax credit so Americans get those good jobs, but, most importantly, allow America to compete and succeed and make sure America is in the lead on technological advances, whether they are in communications, in education, in manufacturing, or the medical or life sciences. I again thank the Senator from Oregon, Mr. Smith, for his great leadership, as well as that of Orrin Hatch. I yield back the time I have at this moment and reserve whatever time may remain on our side.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise in support of the Sessions amendment which would properly return the ability to the local schools and principals to establish and implement uniform discipline policies applicable to all children in our States and school districts. I have been listening to a lot of comments back and forth. One of the reasons this issue comes back year after year after year is that it is an issue in local schools year after year after year and it becomes an issue in campaigns. The issue is not whether or not we support IDEA or support education and helping those with disabilities. We clearly all agree with that. The issue is whether or not we are going to have a uniform standard of conduct applicable to all students within a public school system. That is the issue. I was involved in this issue from the first month I came in as Governor of Virginia in 1994 where we had these problems with this Federal law. We took the Department of Education to court in Commonwealth of Virginia v. Riley. We went to the appellate court and prevailed. Then in 1997 our victory for maintaining order and discipline in our schools was taken away by the action of the House and the Senate. I can promise the Senator from Iowa, the Senator from Massachusetts, and the Senator from Alabama that discipline or expulsion is not taken lightly in Alabama or Virginia--or I can't imagine in any school. To accuse our educators, our States, our school boards of wanting to unfairly discriminate against students with disabilities and shirking their responsibility by unfairly expelling them is unfounded and wrong. It is not a question of a kid smoking a cigarette in the parking lot. The issues are students who set up cocaine rings, sell explosives that blow off a child's hand, or bloody another student with brass knuckles. If a child has an epileptic fit and breaks a teacher's nose, that is usually a mitigating factor so a child will not be expelled. Here are actual cases in Fairfax County, not too far from here, in public schools. A group of students brought in a loaded 357 magnum handgun. It was recovered in the school building. The non-special- education students were expelled. One student, however, was identified as learning disabled due to the student's weakness in written language skills. The team reviewed the evaluations and found there was no causal relationship between the student's writing disability and the student's involvement in the weapons violation. The student was not expelled. That student later bragged to teachers and students at the school that he could not be expelled. In another recent case in Fairfax High School, a student was part of a gang that was involved in a mob assault on another student. One student involved in the melee used a meat hook as a weapon. Three of the gang members were expelled; the other two who were special ed students were not expelled and are still in the school. These are the real situations where there is not an equal or fair administration of standards of conduct in the schools. I think we all care about good school conduct. We want small class sizes, good academics, good assessments, empowerment of parents, and all the rest. What also is important is a conducive learning environment. We need to trust in and take care to allow the responsibilities for maintaining order and discipline in schools to be where they properly belong and not have a Federal law that really justifies a double standard on discipline for disabled and nondisabled students, despite our shared efforts to ensure equal treatment and inclusion into a mainstream system. The Sessions amendment would return authority for all students back to the States and local schools where it belongs. It is for the parents, teachers, and community, not Washington, to know what is best for students. We want to provide students with a safe learning environment, but we do not need any illogical interference from the Federal Government. I hope my colleagues will support the Sessions amendment. I thank Senator Sessions for his brave leadership on this issue. I ask Senators to stand by your local schoolteachers, stand by your principals, by providing fair and equal standards of conduct for all students, and please support the Sessions amendment. I yield the remainder of my time.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, in response to some of the remarks by the Senator from Massachusetts, let me say this is not an issue about trying to deprive those students with disabilities of an education. This is an issue of standards of conduct. Oh, sure, the Federal Government does put some money into IDEA, but most of it does come from the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of Alabama. That is the whole issue of the Harkin-Hagel amendment in the first place. It has been an unfunded mandate. To cite the comments and cast aspersions on my remarks, which were taken from a court decision--these individuals from Richmond City public schools, Fairfax County public schools, were under oath. Just because a General Accounting Office report doesn't refer to these situations doesn't mean they did not occur. Those individuals presented themselves before a court and swore under oath what happened. There are school records of it. They were subject to cross-examination. For the Senator from Massachusetts to say these are just concocted, falsified stories, unfortunately is not an accurate statement. These are incidents that occur time after time. The Senator from Alabama and I are not saying that disabled students cause trouble all the time. But it does happen, from students who are disabled and students who have no disabilities --they cause problems in schools. We think the standards of conduct should be fair and equal in their treatment, with proper due process and equal protection. That is what the issue is, and no amount of unfair aspersions, raised voices, and histrionics can avoid the facts of what we are trying to do, to preserve local autonomy and safe schools as well as equal and fair treatment. I yield whatever time I had.

Mr. ALLEN. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. ALLEN. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. ALLEN. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. We thought we were going to be introducing this amendment tomorrow morning. Copies are being made now. I believe I can give my remarks in 15 minutes this evening and it would be perfectly fine to vote. I understand people want to move forward.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam President, as President Chen Shui-bian of the Republic of China on Taiwan made his historic visit to the United States last month, I would like to congratulate him on his leadership and vision for Taiwan. President Chen became the second democratically- elected President in Chinese history little over one year ago, and his election was certainly a milestone in Taiwan's continued adherence to democracy and freedom. I believe that President Chen's historic visit deserves the notice and respect of the U.S. Senate. Congress has long supported democratic development around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. Taiwan today is a notable model of rapid and successful democratic reform, as well as an important trading partner of the United States, having maintained amicable ties with our Nation for decades. What may also not be known is that Taiwan imports over 1.6 times as many goods from the United States as does the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is a vital economic partner for the United States. Taiwan's economy offers its people one of the highest standards of living in Asia, including universal education, excellent medical care, and a well-developed social welfare policy. Moreover, Taiwan's Constitution is exemplary, guaranteeing full political freedoms and basic human rights to all citizens. As Taiwan continues its democratic development, President Chen and the people of Taiwan deserve our most sincere praise for their exemplary adherence to individual liberty and freedom. In the future, Taiwan's continued achievements and development will reinforce its regional position and strengthen the good relationship between our two countries.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. This amendment we are working on in a bipartisan manner is supported by parents and the technology community, and it will be beneficial to the schoolchildren all across America. Thank you, Mr. President. And I thank both mangers of the bill. Exhibit 1 ITT Industries, Inc., White Plains, NY, April 12, 2001. Ms. Rachael Bohlander, Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator George Allen, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Ms. Bohlander: I write to thank you for your recent communication to ITT Industries concerning the Education Opportunity Tax Credit Act, a bill introduced by Senator Allen to provide educational assistance through tax credits and for other purposes. ITT Industries strongly favors efforts to strengthen education in the United States. As a global engineering and manufacturing company with nearly 19,000 employees in this country, ITT Industries shares Senator Allen's interest in assisting American students to prepare for technology jobs in the digital economy. We are also following the administration's proposals concerning education, and will take appropriate account of Senator Allen's initiative. Thank you for bringing Senator Allen's bill to our attention. Sincerely yours, Thomas R. Martin, Senior Vice President, Director of Corporate Relations.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I thank the chairman, Senator Grassley, and the ranking member, Senator Baucus, as well as their staffs, for their hard work and dedication on this tax bill, but, in particular, I thank them for working with me to include an amendment, No. 673, which is my education opportunity tax relief amendment. This bill, with the education savings account, will be a good help for parents who have children in kindergarten through the 12th grade. The education savings accounts previously were only available for those who had children in college or a university. It is now expanded for K-12, for up to $2,000 a year that you can get in tax relief for that allocation of your funds, reducing your taxes, and making it a tax-free withdrawal for education-related expenses. What my amendment makes clear is that if a parent with a child in K- 12 wants to buy their child a computer or educational software, or Internet access at home, that is permissible. The way the measure right now is worded, very few schools--certainly not public schools--would actually require parents to purchase a computer or education-related technology as a term of enrollment. So what this does is empower parents to purchase those computers or educational software or Internet access. It is very important for us to understand that computers are important in schools, in community centers, and in libraries, but computers need to be in the home. Studies show that children who have computers at home stay in school, do better academically, and go on to better jobs because they are more technologically proficient. This is an idea which will specifically allow parents of K-12 school- aged children to use education savings accounts for the purchase of computers, related technology, and peripherals, educational software, and Internet access. And the purchase would not need to be a requirement of enrollment or attendance at a school. This also is supported by many groups in the technology area, such as the Information Technology Industry Council, the Computer and Communications Industry Association, Global Learning Systems, and many others. I ask unanimous consent that letters I have in support be printed in the Record immediately following my remarks.

Mr. ALLEN. There is a great deal of discussion about slowdowns or breaking on tax cuts. In my view, there ought to be an accelerator if more revenues come in than anticipated. Too often the Federal Government reminds me of the Jerry Reed tune: The Federal Government gets the gold mine but the taxpayers get the shaft. In my view, if more gold is coming in for surplus, the taxpayers ought to get a few of those nuggets and they ought to get the first claim on surplus revenues coming in at a greater rate than anticipated. This amendment makes sure if there are breaks, there also is an accelerator for the taxpayers. I hope it would be the pleasure of the Senate to adopt my amendment in the event that the amendment of the Senator from Indiana is adopted.

Mr. ALLEN. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment that I send to the desk.

Mr. ALLEN. So, Mr. President, and Members of the Senate, I thank you all for working with me.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise to note what should be a happy occasion but is instead a somber, worrisome, troubling and disconcerting situation. Today is the 39th birthday of Gao Zhan, a woman of Chinese descent who on her 38th birthday lived in Northern Virginia with her husband Dong Hua Xue and her 5-year-old son Andrew. Far from spending this 39th birthday in the day in the warm embrace of her loving family, maybe opening a present that her son Andrew made for her, or blowing out candles, she is somewhere else--enduring her 87th day of detention by the officials of the People's Republic of China, some 7,000 miles away from home in an unknown location and in unknown condition, with no contact whatsoever with her husband and her son. Gao Zhan, who has permanent resident status in the United States, is a scholar at American University studying women's and family issues, especially as they relate to China and Taiwan. She was held for 43 days before she was even charged with a crime. At that time, the Chinese officials alleged that she was a spy for a foreign government but presented no evidence, aside from asserting that she had supposedly confessed. Also very troubling was the fact that when she and her husband and son were attempting to leave Beijing after spending the Chinese New Year with her family, her husband and 5-year-old son were also detained and held separately from her for 26 days before being released. In fact, the 5-year-old son was held separately. Indeed, the coerced separation of young Andrew, who is a U.S. citizen by birth, violated consular agreements with China. But according to Andrew's father, this detention has also traumatized this youngster psychologically. This once outgoing, talkative little boy has turned inward. He literally clings to his father's leg almost constantly, and he continues to suffer nightmares, emotional withdrawal, and other adverse effects. Sometimes he will be eating supper and he will ask his father, ``Where is my mother?'' It is often said that we fear what we do not know. For 87 days, Gao Zhan's family and friends have known precious little about her situation, and they are afraid. They don't know her location. They do not know her physical condition. They do not know the basis for the charges against her. No one has been permitted to see her--not our consular officials, who have lodged more than a dozen official protests with the Chinese, not the lawyers in Beijing or New York, who are authorized to practice law in China, whom her husband hired. This denial is even a violation of Chinese law. They have not even allowed international humanitarian organizations, such as the Red Cross, to see Gao Zhan. On April 5, I introduced legislation, S. 702, which would grant Gao Zhan her desire to become a U.S. citizen. Her son, as I mentioned previously, is also a U.S. citizen. Her husband recently completed his oath in the naturalization process--he took the oath 2 months ago--and is a U.S. citizen. Gao Zhan has met all of the requirements necessary to become a citizen, except for one--raising her hand and taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. She has established residency for at least 5 years prior to her application. In fact, she has lived in the United States since 1989. She passed the INS test on U.S. history, government, and language. And she passed the FBI background investigation. Gao Zhan has clearly demonstrated her intent and desire to become a U.S. citizen. S. 702 would help effectuate her desire in her absence. At the same time, I believe taking this unprecedented action might help afford her the full range of protections that are accorded to U.S. citizens all around the world. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has notified the Senate that Gao Zhan meets the requirements for naturalization, including good moral character. I therefore urge my colleagues, both on the Judiciary Committee and in the full Senate, to move this bill to make Gao Zhan a citizen as quickly as possible. While this legislation may not guarantee that China will begin respecting human rights of its own citizens and visitors, it might help reunite a wife and mother with her husband and child. Gao Zhan's detention is part of a larger and disturbing pattern of arrests, of which Senator Jeffords is well aware, in China and the pattern of arrests of United States-based academics and residents that predates the incident involving detention of our 24 Navy crew members. Over the past several months, we have become aware of the detention of two American citizens of Chinese descent and three Chinese-born holders of American green cards, including Gao Zhan and another scholar who is a resident of Hong Kong. I have been made aware that one of these permanent U.S. residents, Liu Yaping, a businessman whom the Chinese have accused of fraud and tax evasion, is reportedly suffering from an aneurysm and his life could be in serious jeopardy. In addition, Gao Zhan also suffers from a chronic heart condition, and her family is understandably concerned about her health. A number of my colleagues and I have already petitioned the Chinese Embassy for Gao Zhan's release on humanitarian grounds, to no avail. At the very least, Gao Zhan and others being held in China deserve humane treatment, contact with our consular officials, their families, and legal representation. This sort of treatment of U.S. citizens and residents over the course of the past several months is clearly not the way to mend the frayed and unsettling relations between China and the United States. I call on our administration to continue doing everything in its power to seek Gao Zhan's return. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation granting her citizenship, and I call on the Chinese Government to release Gao Zhan and return her to her family. Knowing that the Chinese authorities do not allow any communications--even an e-mail, not even allowing a birthday card-- wouldn't it be nice to just get a birthday card signed by her 5-year- old son and her husband, to know that they are OK. Knowing that is not going to be allowed, on behalf of the freedom-loving people of this country and all around the world, I still express our happy birthday wishes and hope our thoughts and prayers and actions will result in Gao Zhan spending her 40th birthday back home with her friends and family, and especially her 5-year-old son who needs his mother. I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I will simply say the compassionate speeches we have heard are interesting and certainly true. Earlier today we had Senator Kennedy's amendment, which will give billions of additional dollars to localities for teachers so that children can have more individualized attention, or whether it is paying teachers more, or for teacher development, or stipends. That is a very good idea to empower local school boards to meet local needs as regards teachers. (The remarks of Mr. Allen are located in today's Record under ``Morning Business.'')

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendments be set aside. I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, having listened to the impassioned words of the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy, and knowing the great leadership that he and Senator Jeffords, chairman of the HELP Committee, have provided on education, it is very good for the American people to recognize how important education is to those of us at the Federal level. Education is not just a Federal responsibility; it is primarily a State and local responsibility. The actions that have been taken so far and will be taken in the days to come will result in the Federal Government being there to be of help and assistance to local schools, to parents, and, most importantly, to students in getting a good education. Indeed, all of us can agree that ensuring that our children receive the best possible education is one of the most important responsibilities to the people in our States and all across America. Quality education, why do we care about it? Because a quality education is absolutely necessary for our children and all children across this country to be able to compete, succeed, and lead a fulfilling life. It is key for their future success, personally and professionally. It allows them, with a good education, economic freedom and financial security. A good education allows someone greater career opportunities and choices and mobility. It also allows them to provide for themselves financially as well as for their family. Education also is very important to society and for our American civilization to compete and succeed internationally. I was made chair of the Senate Republican high-tech task force. One of our key policy agenda items is in promoting education and technology. I quote from our policy agenda: Without a workforce fully capable in math, science and computing skills, our competitiveness is at risk. Without a consumer base able to utilize the latest technological advances, our economic growth may wane. The task force believes that a top priority in education should be the development of policies that encourage the use of technology. I speak as a father. I speak with my previous experience as Governor and also as a candidate with certain promises I made to the people of Virginia, should I be elected, in the area of education. We talked about the need for more teachers, allowing the localities to determine what those needs would be as far as funding for teachers, whether they use increased salaries for existing teachers, pay stipends for math and science teachers; whether it is hiring more teachers; that is important to reduce class size so children in the early grades get more individualized attention. There is action, activity so far on this measure and will be in the days to come to improve it. The early reading initiative, which we started in Virginia, is part of the package. It is very important to make sure youngsters at the earliest grades--kindergarten, first and second--are reading at speed. Of all the academic subjects, nothing is more important than reading. We have testing in Virginia, as do many other States. Testing and standards are very important for identification of children who need additional help as well as giving parents a school performance report card. I agree with the outstanding amendments Senator Jeffords put forth last week to make sure the Federal requirement of testing in a couple subjects would not become an unfunded mandate. What we ought to do is empower and help local schools, certainly not add unfunded mandates. Senator Jeffords' leadership in that regard was essential, and, fortunately, it passed overwhelmingly. Another good thing about this measure so far is that it seems the Federal Government is trusting localities and States with greater flexibility to identify what their specific needs are in that particular school district. That is important. Now, in addition to all of this, the President has gotten involved, so obviously it has been a priority. The House and Senate have been involved, and we have made it a priority. As important as our local school boards and State governments and the Federal Government are, parents are important. For a good student, you will find that you need good teachers, yes, and they need to be in a good environment. But also key is good parents. I want to take this opportunity to focus on increasing access to technology for those students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. We all understand, and I think the Presiding Officer today sure understands, how technology has fueled the unprecedented growth and transformed the way Americans conduct business and communicate with one another. As the global economy brings in new opportunities and greater prosperity, all families will need ready access to the technical and technological skills and tools necessary for students to succeed in a classroom and also in the digital economy. Together schools, communities, and government have worked to bring computers to the classrooms and integrate technology into daily classroom curriculums. Classroom connectivity has soared from 14 percent in 1996 to 63 percent in 1999. When I was Governor, we finally were able to get the Goals 2000 money and put it into Network Virginia, to connect all our colleges, community colleges, and schools. So that has been going on across the country. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides a separate funding stream for teacher technology training, which is important. There are tax incentives for companies to donate computers to schools. That is going on in Virginia and across the U.S. However, it is not enough that there be a computer present in the classroom or in a community center. I think it is great what Intel is doing with the Girls and Boys Clubs with their computer club houses. That is really good. But I also would like to see people have computers at home. Only through consistent access to technology can students develop the necessary technical skills to succeed and compete in the future marketplace and economy. Children must have access to the Internet at home so they can better complete afterschool homework. If you want the children to be able to have access to information or to do word processing, all that ought to be done on a computer at home, and they should not have to go to the school or a library or a community center. The homework assignments are done after school and on weekends, and I think also by having the children working on computers at home, that increases their programming and technological skills. It also allows them to discover additional academic opportunities. There are some great educational software programs in geography, history, math, science, and the language arts, which all go at the pace of the student who is on the computer. E-books are coming around and that is another way of having children get interested in reading in a more easy way. All of this, again, is gathered at the pace of the students. Studies have shown that the presence of a computer in the home has a positive impact on a student's level of academic achievement and performance in the school. For example, a study using NAEP data found that eighth graders who use computers frequently at home demonstrated higher levels of academic achievement than those who do not. Parents in those situations became more involved with the daily assignments, and it also increases their communication with teachers through the use of e-mail. There was a study in a New York project where children actually were given laptops, personal computers--they weren't just in the classroom and the library--and they were allowed to bring the personal computers home. The training was provided in this project in New York. Not only did it increase academic performance, but it had long-term benefits. The results were that the participants were more likely to stay in school, graduate, and go on to college. Earlier this year, with the support of my colleagues, Senators Warner, Allard, Hutchinson, Craig, and Hutchison, I introduced the Education Opportunity Tax Credit Act, which would provide financial relief for the purchase of technology and tutorial services for K-12 educational purposes. My proposal would provide a $1,000 tax credit per year, up to $2,000 per family, for the cost of their children's education-related expenses--specifically computer peripherals and computer-related technology, educational software, Internet access, and tutoring services. However, the tax credit would not apply toward the cost of private school tuition. This proposal would significantly help defray the cost of educational expenses by empowering families financially and thereby increasing educational spending, which would mostly be on technology. Even more important, the education opportunity tax credit would improve the quality of educational experiences for students by allowing families to provide their children with access to a far greater range of educational opportunities suited to their individual needs. It would encourage parental involvement in their children's education. Indeed, parents are the ones who know their childrens' needs, know their names, and know their specific problem areas, and we need to empower parents. Furthermore, this idea of providing this tax relief for the purchase of educational technology would also help bridge the digital divide. It is very important that everyone has an equal opportunity--whether it is tax policies, regulatory policies, or educational and technological policies--so that everyone can seize the opportunities in this digital age and this information technology economy. Mr. President, the amendment I am introducing today would provide for a sense of the Senate in affirming how important it is that we increase opportunities for home access to technology for school-age children. While I am unable to offer the education opportunity tax credit to S. 1 because tax provisions cannot generally be added to a program authorization bill, by voting to support this sense-of-the-Senate amendment, we will be setting the foundation for future progress on this important matter. Generally, I believe we are on the right track, for the most part, on educational reform at the Federal level with this bill. There is more trust and decisionmaking at the State and local levels. There are more funds and will be more funds for teachers, early reading initiatives, and protecting against unfunded mandates. This is due in no small part to Senators Jeffords and Gregg and other Members and the White House and leadership from both sides of the aisle. Remember how we get a good student: You need good schools and parents. We need to not only thank the leaders in the Senate for the good work they are doing but also make sure that we don't forget the parents. We need to empower parents to provide these technological educational schools for their children so their children have the same opportunities as all children, and also make sure that our country can compete and succeed. As we move forward on educational reform, I am confident that we will also be able to increase access to education- related technology for all children in their homes and pass the education opportunity tax credit into law. I believe if we work on both sides of the aisle, we would understand that children need to have computers at home, access to the Internet, and the world of information that comes from having an individualized Library of Congress right there at home for our children. I thank the Chair and I thank the chairman of the committee for allowing me this time to speak on this amendment. I thank Senator Kennedy also for yielding some time. I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I ask that a ``Passover Message from Rabbi Israel Zoberman'' be printed in the Record. The message is as follows: The Biblical account of the Exodus from Egypt became the Leitmotif of Rabbinic theology, perceiving in the Israelites' redemption from a House of Bondage God's guidance and goodness. Thus the three Pilgrim Festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, revolving around the common theme of the Exodus, point at the divine gifts of both freedom and responsibility as essential requirements for fulfilling the human potential. The awesome and complex journey-physically, spiritually and psychologically--from servitude to liberation of the people of Israel was to be a model for the entire human family, culminating the Messianic vision of a world redeemed in the prophetic promise. We have chosen to transform the bitter herbs of our exile into the sweet charoset of homecoming in all. It is the symbolic hovering presence at the Seder table of the prophet Elijah for whom we open the door and set aside a special cup of wine, which provides the eternal hope for universal shalom. It is the peace we have kept alive as a flickering light in the darkness of a trying and challenging history. Our Passover joy is diminished through by the continued detention in China of the twenty-four-member crew of the U.S. Navy plane as we pray and call for their release, as well as the release of Dr. Gao Zhan, who has been separated for too long from her husband and child in Virginia. The festival's promise by a compassionately passionate heritage is ultimately rooted in its revolutionary view of the infinite worth of each of the Creator's children, recalling that God silenced the angels on high when jubilant at the drowning of the Pharaoh's troops. When we particularly preserve our adversary's humanity, difficult as it is, we maintain our own essential human stature. We rejoice in the presence of our special guest, Adam Nguyen, who escaped from Vietnam in 1971 and is president of the Zen Buddhism Association of Hampton Roads and whose first Seder it is. As we share our celebration with him, we protest the destruction and desecration of the irreplaceable, precious and priceless two giant Buddha statues from the third and fifth centuries respectively, by the oppressive and repressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Pleas from the world at large, including Muslim countries along with its ally Pakistan, to desist from such an unwarranted act fell on deaf ears. An assault on one religion is an assault on all religions and on civilization itself. We congratulate neighboring Tajikistan for restoring another historic Buddha relic. We suffer the ongoing lethal violence substituting for life-enhancing vision in our American society sacrificing its precious youth, tomorrow's promise, on the alien altars of the false gods of wanton conduct and perverted values. The plight of the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers and their agonizing families, including Benny Avraham from our sister city of Pardes Katz, remains of grave concern to us. We are in pain given the deadly deadlocked scenario in our beloved Land of Israel, ancient source of shalom's holy wellspring of blessings, still so tragically eluding it and the vastness of a wondrous universe designed to reflect the Divine's loving embrace. Rabbi Israel Zoberman, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach, is President of the Hampton Roads Board of Rabbis and Chairman of the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. He was born in Kazakhstan in 1945 to Polish Holocaust Survivors.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment for another day on the tax committee, and hopefully they will have this for parents and education spending and technology for our youngsters across our Nation.

Mr. ALLEN. This amendment is an amendment to empower parents in education spending, especially if they have children in kindergarten through 12, in purchasing technology such as computers, educational software, Internet access, and tutor funding--but not tuition. The amendment had some problems on the other side of the aisle. This amendment was never intended to allow a tax credit for tuition. I very much appreciate the work of the staff of Senator Domenici and the folks with Finance. I appreciate working with Senator Conrad and Senator Reid, and Senator Daschle brought forward some of the problems this would cause with a flood of further amendments. I thank the Presiding Officer, Senator Miller, for his support and Senator Nelson of Nebraska. I say to the fellow Members of the Senate I was hoping to achieve a goal and I will continue to do so and hope the Finance Committee, when acting on tax relief, will take into account giving tax relief to hard- working families who have children in schools. We need to reduce their tax burden. Parents ought to be making education decisions for their children. This idea is supported by the technology community, and it also helps bridge the divide to make sure that all children have computers at home or make it more affordable to have computers at home and access information on the Internet. Again, it should not be used for tuition.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.