Spencer Abraham

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, the Omnibus Appropriations bill that the Senate is about to consider contains the full text of S. 2107, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, a bill I introduced in April along with Senators Wyden, McCain and Reed. I want to thank Senators McCain, Lott, Wyden, and Hollings for taking the time and effort to work with me in advancing this legislation. Without their active support and participation, this bill would not have progressed as far as it has. Senators Wyden, McCain and Reed joined me in introducing the Government Paperwork Elimination Act in May of this year. On July 15, 1998, I chaired a hearing on this legislation before the full Commerce Committee. Two weeks later, S. 2107 was marked up in the Committee with several modifications. On a voice vote, the bill as amended was ordered to be reported. When the Senate returned to session after the August recess, a unanimous consent agreement was propounded on S. 2107. This unanimous consent request brought the bill to the attention of Senator Thompson, the Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee. Senator Thompson had concerns with the bill because of the extent to which it dealt with Federal agencies. Despite the time constraints--the session was expected to end in two weeks--Senator Thompson generously offered to work with me to address some of his committee's concerns and ensure that the bill as offered did not conflict with current mandates on the Executive. Over the course of the last week in September, Senator Thompson and I modified S. 2107 to address the concerns raised in his committee. On Tuesday, October 7, S. 2107 as amended was added as an amendment to S. 442 by unanimous consent. The Internet Tax Freedom Bill passed the Senate on October 8 and was sent to the House for consideration. However, because the House did not agree with some of the language contained in the bill, House Members proposed adding the text of the House passed Internet Tax Freedom Bill to the omnibus rather than passing S. 442 as amended. On October 15th, the Senate passed S. 2107 independent of other vehicles. On the same day, the text of S. 2107 was included in the omnibus appropriations bill. The next day, October 16th, the Omnibus Appropriations bill was passed by Congress with the text of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act included therein. This legislation amends the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 to allow for the use of electronic submission of Federal forms to the Federal government with the use of an electronic signature within five years from the date of enactment. It is intended to bring the federal government into the electronic age, in the process saving American individuals and companies millions of dollars and hundreds of hours currently wasted on government paperwork. In order to protect the private sector and ensure a level playing field for companies competing in the development of electronic signature technologies, this legislation mandates that regulations promulgated by the Office of Management and Budget and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration be compatible with standards and technologies used commercially in order to ensure that no one industry or technology receives favorable consideration. It also requires Federal agencies to accept multiple methods of electronic submission if the agency expects to receive 50,000 or more electronic submittals of a particular form. This requirement will ensure that no single electronic signature technology is permitted to unfairly dominate the market. This legislation also takes several steps to help the public feel more secure in the use of electronic signatures. If the public is going to send money or share private information with the government, people must be secure in the knowledge that their information and finances are adequately protected. For this reason, my bill requires that electronic signatures be as reliable as necessary for the transaction. If a person is requesting information of a public nature, a secure electronic signature will not be necessary. If, however, an individual is submitting forms which contain personal, medical or financial information, adequate security is imperative and will be available. This is not the only provision providing for personal security, however. Senator Leahy joined me to help establish a threshold for privacy protection in this bill. The language developed by Senator Leahy and I will ensure that information submitted by an individual can only be used to facilitate the electronic transfer of information or with the prior consent of the individual. Also included is legislation which establishes legal standing for electronically submitted documents. Such legal authority is necessary to attach the same importance to electronically signed documents as is attached to physically signed documents. Without it, electronic submission of sensitive documents would be impossible. Finally, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act requires that Federal agencies to send an individual an electronic acknowledgement of their submission when it is received. Such acknowledgements are standard when conducting commerce online. A similar acknowledgement by Federal agencies will provide piece-of-mind for individuals who conduct business with the government electronically. As much as individuals will benefit from this bill, so too will American businesses. By providing companies with the option of electronic filing and storage, this bill will reduce the paperwork burden imposed by government on commerce and the American economy. It will allow businesses to move from printed forms they must fill out using typewriters or handwriting to digitally-based forms that can be filled out using a word processor. The savings in time, storage and postage will be enormous. One company, computer maker Hewlett-Packard, estimates that the section of this bill permitting companies to download copies of regulatory forms to be filed and stored digitally rather than physically will, by itself, save that company $1-2 billion per year. Efficiency in the federal government itself will also be enhanced by this legislation. By forcing government bureaucracies to enter the digital information age we will force them to streamline their procedures and enhance their ability to maintain accurate, accessible records. This should result in significant cost savings for the federal government as well as increased efficiency and enhanced customer service. Each and every year, Mr. President, Americans spend in excess of $6 billion hours simply filling out, documenting and handling government paperwork. This huge loss of time and money constitutes a significant drain on our economy and we must bring it under control. The easier and more convenient we make it for American businesses to comply with paperwork and reporting requirements, the better job they will do of meeting these requirements, and the better job they will do of creating jobs and wealth for our country. That is why we need this legislation. The information age is no longer new, Mr. President. We are in the midst of a revolution in the way people do business and maintain records. This legislation will force Washington to catch up with these developments, and release our businesses from the drag of an obsolete bureaucracy as they pursue further innovations. The result will be a nation and a people that is more prosperous, more free and more able to spend time on more rewarding pursuits. I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support and urge the House to support this important legislation. I ask unanimous consent that a statement of intent for the Government Paperwork Elimination Act be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Lieutenant William James Lenaghan, II, who is retiring from the Canton Township Police Department in the state of Michigan after 20 years of dedicated service. Lieutenant Lenaghan joined the Canton Township Police Department after serving in various governmental jobs. He started his career in 1962, when he joined the United States Navy. He was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Grosse, IL, where he was assigned as a Fire Fighter Instructor. After serving in the military, he began his police officer career as a patrolman. He served in this capacity as well as Special Investigator, Arson Investigator, a member of the Tactical Response Team, Narcotics/Intelligence Team Commander and Instructor for five years in the Michigan cities of West Bloomfield and Redford Township. Next, he became a Special Agent in the United States Treasury Department Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) where he fulfilled the duties of Instructor and Arson Explosives Team Member. As the burden of traveling with three small children at home became too much, he left his position at the BATF and went to work for Bloomfield Township Police/Tri Cities Fire Department. Here, he continued to expand his experience by becoming Fire Marshal, Tactical Team Officer and Arson Team Member. Longing to once again work for the United States Government, he went to work for the United States Department Bureau of Customs in Detroit, Michigan. Among the many duties that he partook in, he was a Patrol Supervisor and Intelligence Liaison with DEA. In 1978, he began his final expedition as a sergeant for the Canton Township Police Department. Beginning his career as a patrolman, he climbed the ranks to eventually become Senior Lieutenant. While advancing his record as a civil servant, he also took on the responsibilities of shift commander, Emergency Preparedness Director and Community Policing Coordinator. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Lenaghan has received a great deal of recognition for his excellent service. One example that did not go unrecognized was an event occurring on June 23, 1984. While attending to his own responsibilities, he extended much needed aid to help out a fellow officer who was struggling with a mentally deranged person. Responding to the scene, he assisted by providing physical support bringing the subject under control. His actions undoubtedly prevented further injury to his fellow officer and prevented further danger to the citizens in the area. His decisions ad judgements were certainly a credit to himself and his department. This brave act is only one example of the many citations he has received over his career. With over 30 years' experience in public safety and law enforcement at the local and federal levels, Lieutenant Lenaghan has provided quality leadership in public safety management. His extensive training in police, emergency, fire protection, and supervision enabled him to perform multi-level tasks essential to the efficient operation of public safety and police department duties. On behalf of his wife Lois of 31 years, his seven children, his seven grandchildren, the State of Michigan and myself, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge his excellent service, dedication, winning personality and commitment to those with whom he worked. Again, I extend my warmest congratulations to him on his retirement.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a tremendous accomplishment. Middle School South in Harrison Township, Michigan, has been selected as a Michigan Exemplary School and a National Blue Ribbon School for 1997-98. Middle School South of the L'Anse Creuse Public Schools, was one of two schools in the State of Michigan bestowed the honor of National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. This selection is a tribute to the time and effort that the parents, administrators, teachers and students have put into building an excellent learning environment. This prestigious award demonstrates what hard work and commitment can produce. Again, congratulations to all the teachers and students at South Middle School and the entire L'Anse Creuse Public School District. This is a distinguished award, and they deserve it. I wish them continued prosperity, and many more years of success.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a recent article in the Washington Times dealing with the large proportion of Nobel Prize winners in the United States who are immigrants. As reported in this article, while only approximately 8 percent of the American population was foreign-born as of 1990, approximately one third of American winners of the Nobel Prize have been immigrants. The Times also reports that, according to the National Research Council, ``immigrants have won 32 percent of the U.S. Nobel Prizes for physics, 31 percent of the medicine and economics prizes, and 26 percent of the chemistry prizes.'' This year, Austrian-born American Walter Kohn won the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Daniel Tsui, born in China, won the Nobel Prize in Physics as a naturalized American. Mr. President, I believe every American should take great pride in these gentlemen's accomplishments. By keeping American society free and open we attracted them to our borders. Through our willingness to seek out and hire the most talented people available we gave them the opportunity to excel. By rising above considerations of national origin and family background all of us have benefitted from the discoveries, the intelligence and the hard work of literally millions of immigrants--from my own grandparents to the ancestors of our Founding Fathers to the latest immigrant, intent on making a better life for himself and his family. I ask that the full text of the article from the Washington Times be printed in the Record. The article follows: [From the Washington Times, Oct. 17, 1998] Immigrants Help U.S. Bring Home Nobel Bacon (By Ruth Larson) This week's announcement of the Nobel Prizes for science continued America's long-standing dominance of the prestigious awards, thanks in large part to a wealth of foreign-born talent. A National Research Council report last year found that about a third of all U.S. Nobel Prizes were won by scientists born overseas. Immigrants have won 32 percent of the U.S. Nobel Prizes for physics, 31 percent of the medicine and economics prizes, and 26 percent of the chemistry prizes. Although the report does not state where the immigrants were born, the last 16 winners since 1987 have come from places like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Canada, Mexico and Korea. ``There's no doubt about it: Immigrants represent a very high proportion of Nobel Prize winners,'' said Cato Institute economist Stephen Moore. The number of foreign-born Nobel Prize winners is all the more striking, given that the U.S. foreign-born population reached just 8 percent in 1990, the report said. The Nobel Prizes, considered the ultimate symbols of scientific achievement, show how America in the 1990s has become a high-tech melting pot, recruiting science and engineering talent from around the world to fuel the growth of industries from computers and electronics to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. In 1993, 23 percent of those holding science and engineering doctorates were born overseas, according to the National Science Foundation's latest figures. Shirley Malcom of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said, ``The best and the brightest come here because there has been a tremendous research establishment built up in this country.'' Mr. Moore agreed: ``If you're one of the world's top scientists, you want to be at Stanford or Harvard or MIT, where they have some of the bsst academic research facilities. History has helped, too. Obviously, World War II played a major role, with many of the more repressive regimes discriminating against scientists of a particular heritage or background,'' Ms. Malcom said. ``In many cases, scientists had no choice but to leave. They came to the U.S. because they were offered opportunities to pursue their life's work without regard to those extraneous issues.'' Roald Hoffman, a 1981 winner of the Nobel Prize for chemistry, fled with his family in 1949 from their native Poland. ``I was one of the last generations of Hitler's gifts to America,'' he said. A wave of Central European scientists, including physicists Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi, fled the rise of Nazism and anti-Semitism and came to America. The scientific research structure established after World War II flourished, with the help of a strong economy and generous government funding from agencies like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, he said. ``The freedom to do the scientific research you want . . . is tremendous, as is the ease of interaction with other scientists,'' Mr. Hoffman said. Success then breeds success: ``Once you have built up a good reputation in a particular area, it attracts other scientists, as we've seen in the biomedical field.'' Ms. Malcom predicted that a similar influx of scientists fleeing the former Soviet Union would be reflected in future Nobel winners. ``Not just because of the Cold War, either,'' she said. ``They've lost much of the infrastructure needed for research and development, as well.'' But wars and repressive regimes cannot account for the success of immigrants once they arrive on American soil. ``We're getting people with the motivation and ambition that leads to high achievement,'' Mr. Moore said. ``There's a certain amount of risk-taking associated with success.''

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to discuss language that has been added to this legislation, the Government Paperwork Elimination Act. In May, I introduced S. 2107 to enhance electronic commerce and promote the reliability and integrity of commercial transactions through the establishment of authentication standards for electronic communications. S. 2107 was reported by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last month. After the bill was reported, it was discovered that the bill was erroneously referred to the Commerce Committee and should have been referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. S. 2107 deals with Federal Government information issues and, according to the parliamentarian, falls directly within the jurisdiction of Governmental Affairs. I understand a similar bill had been approved by Governmental Affairs last Congress. Obviously, this was discovered late in the session. Nevertheless, Senator Thompson, the chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, worked with me to develop language which combines language from the bill reported by his committee last Congress and S. 2107. I want to thank my colleague from Tennessee for his help and insight. He spent a great deal of time assisting me with this legislation and, in my opinion, his language makes many improvements to the original bill.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge an important event in the state of Michigan. The Islamic House of Wisdom will be holding its Semi-annual fundraising dinner Sunday, October 18, 1998. The Islamic House of Wisdom, has served an invaluable role in educating both Muslims and non-Muslims on important moral and social issues. They have worked diligently to promote a positive image of Islam in the Detroit metropolitan area, and their interfaith symposiums have helped to bridge the gap between the diverse peoples and faiths that make up our Metro Detroit community. Again, I offer my congratulations to Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi and all the members of the Islamic House of Wisdom for hosting this successful event and wish them continued success in their journey of faith and teaching.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to welcome five new citizens to the United States of America. Mackenzie, Mikayla, Alyxandra, Allyssa and Arianna, beautiful sisters from Romania, are now happy additions to the Cornfield family. I hope they now enjoy the rewards of citizenship and assume the responsibilities that accompany this privilege. As citizens of the United States these sisters will share in the ideals of a nation founded on the belief that all people are created equal; a nation where the power of the government comes from the consent of the people; and a nation which has respect for individual rights. The United States is truly the land of diversity and opportunity. The Cornfield sisters are now citizens of a country that openly welcomes the views and opinions of all its citizens. Their unique thoughts and ideas, formed by their native culture, are now a part of the rich tapestry known as the American culture. My congratulations also go out to Doctor and Mrs. Cornfield and their son, Nicholas for demonstrating the compassion, love and understanding in bringing together five sisters to live in this great country. Once again, I welcome Mackenzie, Mikayla, Alyxandra, Allyssa and Arianna to their new nation, the United States of America.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to thank my colleagues for the unanimous support they have given for the Wei Jingsheng Freedom of Conscience Act. This bill will grant lawful permanent residence to writer and philosopher Wei Jingsheng, one of the most heroic individuals the international human rights community has known. I particularly want to mention Senators Hatch, DeWine, Hutchinson, Brownback, Helms, Roth, and Wellstone, all of whom cosponsored the bill. Mr. President, Wei has spent literally decades struggling against an oppressive Chinese government. He has called for freedom and democracy through speeches, writings, and as a prominent participant in the Democracy Wall movement. His dedication to the principles we hold dear, and on which our Nation was founded, brought him 15 years of torture and imprisonment at the hands of the Chinese communist regime. Seriously ill, Wei was released only after great international public outcry. Now essentially exiled, he lives in the United States on a temporary visa and cannot return to China without facing further imprisonment. By granting Wei permanent residence, Mr. President, we will show that America stands by those who are willing to stand up for the principles we cherish. We also will help Wei in his continuing fight for freedom and democracy in China. I commend my colleagues for sending a strong signal about America's commitment to human rights, human freedom, and the dignity of the individual. I yield the floor. The committee substitute was agreed to. The bill (S. 2476), as amended, was considered, read the third time, and passed. The title was amended so as to read: ``For the relief of Wei Jingsheng.''.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today in support of S. 2263, the Advancement in Pediatric Autism Research Act, introduced by Senator Slade Gorton. Infantile autism and autism spectrum disorders are biologically-based, neuro-developmental diseases that cause severe impairments in language and communication. This disease is generally manifested in young children, sometimes during the first years of life. Estimates show that 1 in 500 children born today will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and that 400,000 Americans have autism or an autism spectrum disorder. The cost of caring for individuals with this disease is estimated at $13.3 billion per year. Rapid advancements and effective treatments are attainable through biomedical research. S. 2263 improves research on pediatric autism in the following areas: networks five Centers of Excellence combining basic research and clinical services; appropriates funds for an awareness campaign aimed largely at physicians and professionals and designed to aid in earlier and more accurate diagnosis; appropriates monies for gene and tissue banking, and funds current proposals at NIH in autism. Michigan families who have been affected by autism or an autism spectrum disorder have contacted my office in support of this legislation. They have impressed upon me the need for better research into this disorder. With three young children of my own, I too am concerned for millions of children afflicted with childhood diseases and birth defects. I have long been committed to supporting policies that encourage research into this and other afflictions, particularly those conditions that directly impact children. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important piece of legislation. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Meredith Bixby of Saline, Michigan. Mr. Bixby is the father of the Meredith Marionettes Touring Company and is donating his collection of marionette puppets to the Saline Culture and Commerce Center for permanent exhibit. For more than forty years, Mr. Bixby toured with his Meredith Marionettes Touring Company across the Midwest and South staging shows in schools, theaters, and community centers. Each year nearly a quarter of a million children enjoyed the marionette magic Mr. Bixby brought to them. Mr. Bixby has been a leader in puppeteering for nearly five decades. He is affectionately known as the ``Master of the Marionettes'' and built his own marionettes and produced many original shows. He is also one of the original founding members of The Puppeteers of America, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. This permanent exhibit is a cooperative effort of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the City of Saline, the Bixby Project Group, and Saline Area Chamber of Commerce. This exhibit will preserve the memory of Meredith Bixby's work and educate new generations of children of the art and entertainment of marionettes. I once again congratulate Meredith Bixby for his years of providing quality entertainment and the gracious donation of his collection to the community of Saline.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I ask to be recognized to speak as if in morning business.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a very important organization in the state of Michigan. The Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) is an umbrella association of Chaldean Civic Organizations in Metropolitan Detroit. The CFA has been in existence since 1980 and represents more than 100,000 Chaldean- Americans. Its primary goal is to assist Chaldean youth in their pursuit of academic success. It is also involved in other community programs such as race relations, youth and senior citizen programs, and social services. The CFA will be celebrating its 6th Annual Dinner Awards Banquet on Tuesday, October 27, 1998. Dr. Jacoub Mansour, CFA Chairman, and co- chairs Rosemary Bannon and Kays Zair have a wonderful evening planned. It will undoubtedly be a great success. I extend my congratulations and best wishes to all of this year's award recipients, and everyone who has contributed to making this organization so strong. I congratulate my good friends at the CFA on their sincere dedication to improving the lives of those around them and wish them many more years of success.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Before he leaves the floor, I would like to pay tribute, as several of our colleagues have, to our distinguished friend, the Senator from the State of Indiana, Dan Coats. Obviously, his career in the Senate is coming nearly to the end here, but those of us who have had the chance to serve with him and who are friends of his will miss him greatly in this body. When I came to the Senate 4 years ago, I thought about the kinds of people whose advice and counsel I wanted to have. And the first name on the list as I was planning my first trip to the Senate after the election was Dan Coats. From that point on, he has been a friend, a mentor, somebody whose judgment and advice I have respected as highly as anyone's in this Chamber. He has served his State with great distinction, but those of us who live in Michigan have a special fondness for him because, of course, he is a native of our State. He grew up in Jackson, MI, so although he represents Indiana in the Senate, to many Michiganites and many of my constituents when I am in the southern portion of my State, they look at Dan Coats as their third Senator. So he has not only been a great friend to Michigan as a native but also as a Senator who has worked closely with us. I wish to say to him before he leaves the floor how much I value his friendship, how much I look forward to working with him in the future on other causes, and how much I hope that, at whatever point I bring my career in the Senate to an end, I will be thought of even half as fondly and with half as much respect as he has, because I think all of us who serve here hold him in the very highest of esteem.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I would like to turn my attention briefly to the issue which was discussed by the Senator from Iowa in raising objection to proceeding with the legislation aimed at trying to expand the number of H-1B entries as permitted on an annual basis to be employed by American businesses. The Senator focused on a very narrow issue in raising his objection-- specifically, the argument based on several newspaper stories that there is not a shortage of skilled workers in the high-tech industries. Virtually every study that I have seen--and as the principal sponsor of the legislation when it was in the Senate, I made most of those available as part of the Record--indicates that, indeed, we have a very severe shortage in these high-tech worker job slots. Virginia Tech University conducted a recent study which indicated over 340,000 vacancies in information technology positions that exist today in this country. Our Department of Commerce conducted a study which revealed it is anticipated that in each of the next 10 years we will generate over 130,000 new information technology jobs and yet the combined resources of our colleges, universities, and job training programs and high schools is only likely to fill a fraction of those every year. This is a severe problem, and it is especially severe at this time. The Senator from Iowa talks about moving us to next year. Well, next year just happens to be the last few months prior to the year 2000. By the time this legislation might be brought back before us, we will be in a situation where the Federal Government as well as the companies from one end of America to the other are going to be confronted with the final crisis stages of trying to prepare our high-tech systems for the Year 2K problems that we have all been raving so much about. If we do not pass this legislation, it is going to be Senators such as the Senator who raised this objection and others who have impeded the progress in this legislation who are going to have to explain to all of those whose systems break down why it is that happened, because one of the problems we are having confronting the Year 2K problems is an inadequate number of people to perform all of the various information technology jobs required to be conducted for those problems to be fixed. That is just one aspect of it. It is late in the evening so I am not going to go into all of the many others, but I think that any study that has been conducted by serious researchers reveals that there not only exists, but will continue to be, an ever larger number of vacancies in this area. This legislation that was stopped tonight not only covers increasing the number of high-tech workers, it also is a very important piece of legislation to our academic institutions--in two respects. First, regarding many of the high-tech jobs, many of the H-1B visa users are in fact employed on our campuses teaching American kids how to perform these high-technology jobs so we can meet the demand in this area in the future. If we do not have these scientists, these educators, we are going to continue to fail to meet the challenge. In addition, our academic institutions were relying on the passage of this legislation to address a very serious problem created by the Hathaway decision with regard to the prevailing wage they must pay people who come in under the H-1B Program. So this does not just affect the private sector, it affects our academic institutions as well. In addition, the Senator from Iowa and others who question the problem do not need to just listen to people on our side of the aisle. They can listen to the President of the United States who, I believe just 2 weeks ago this evening, was in Silicon Valley in California before a group of executives from the high-tech industries there talking about this issue. The day after his staff and my staff and I reached agreement on the legislation that has been blocked this evening, he took credit for the ability, that we were then apparently going to have, to move forward to it and acknowledged the need for the legislation in taking credit for the settlement and agreement we had reached. Obviously, whether it is the White House, the Department of Commerce, Virginia Tech University, or any one of a number of other sources, there is an acknowledged existence of a problem here that has to be addressed. I am extremely disappointed at what has transpired this evening. I would just say, in conclusion, we have not, obviously, reached the end of this session. There is still some time, hopefully, for reconsideration by the Senator from Iowa and any others who may have concerns. I hope they will rethink this. I hope they will realize, in undermining this legislation, in stopping it at this time, they are going to be hurting not just the business sector and the information technology sector, but the academic sector. They are also going to prevent us from instituting a whole new array of job training programs and scholarship programs that were going to be launched by this legislation. So I hope they will take a look at that, reconsider, and if they look at the numbers a little more closely, I think they will reach the same conclusions we have. Mr. President, I close by saying I hope the Senator from Iowa, and others who might share his position, again will look closely at the statistics I have talked about tonight, examine all the other aspects of this legislation and what it will mean if it does not move forward in all the different contexts I have outlined and the many others I have not had time for, rethink whether or not it is appropriate to put this off to some future date, and think about the consequences, whether it is in the context of the Y2K problems or the current economic conditions we have in the world marketplace where America's high-tech industries' growth is essential to the maintenance of our economic strength, and reconsider their position. I yield the floor.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Dr. David A. Spencer, President and CEO of Walsh College, on his new appointment as president of the newly formed Michigan Virtual University. Dr. Spencer has brought new ideas, enthusiasm, and a love for innovative learning to Walsh College. His vision of the future of Walsh College had no limits. And while he helped make Walsh College a world- class business institution, he made sure to showcase the brilliance and innovation of the students and faculty. This is a man who is not only creative and thoughtful, but willing to share credit that he deserves with many, many others. I, personally, will hate to see David leave Walsh College. He has been an invaluable partner to me and my office in our efforts to reach out to and learn more about the Michigan business community. We worked hand-in-hand on an annual small business conference through which I have gathered extremely valuable information about the needs of the business community. On many occasions, I have been able to use the information I gathered at these conferences as examples during legislative debates. These conferences have also helped illustrate to me the most important legislative priorities of the business community. David Spencer was invaluable in putting together these innovative, informative conferences. David is one of those people who believes anything is possible through technology. I am confident that he is the right person to lead the Michigan Virtual University. Walsh College will surely miss him. My staff and I will miss having him here, but I am hopeful that his new position as president of the Michigan Virtual University we will have many new opportunities to work together. I wish Dr. David Spencer much continued success.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Shannon Grace Clark, who was crowned as Miss Michigan USA 1999 on Sunday, May 24, 1998. I am very proud to have her represent the State of Michigan, for Shannon is a shining example of service above self. Through her dedication to family, church and local community, she has made a tremendous impact on helping those who are less fortunate in society, enabling them opportunities of self-sufficiency. Her role has enabled her many opportunities, however, Shannon has shared them with homeless women and children throughout the State of Michigan. She has tirelessly dedicated herself to directly assisting those in need and to heightening public awareness to the importance of helping people facing unfortunate circumstances. Shannon's platform ``People Helping People,'' comes to her naturally because she comes from a family dedicated to the importance of family, church and local community. Her parents, the Reverend and Dr. Pam Clark run the Pontiac Rescue Mission, a homeless and rehabilitation center in Pontiac, Michigan, which helps reclaim and rehabilitate the downtrodden of society. Through the program, Reverend and Doctor Clark designed and implemented, many individuals have reclaimed their lives, strength, pride, character, their children and themselves. They have developed into productive members of society, and loving families, free from the chains of addiction and destructive lifestyles. To build upon the accomplishments of her parents, she has formed a committee to raise additional financial support for the women and children program at the Pontiac Rescue Mission. Her efforts indeed are a fine model of leadership and selfless dedication that will help those in need as well as serving as an example for those to follow. I want to express my congratulations to Shannon Grace Clark and wish her luck in the Miss USA pageant in February. Most importantly, I would like to thank her for her commitment to those who are less fortunate in society.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Birmingham Rotary Club on the occasion of their 75th Anniversary of service to the community. The Birmingham Rotary Club was organized on March 19, 1924, by fifteen of the community, business and professional leaders. The club has an illustrious past with many local activities attributed to or begun by the Rotary Club including The Halloween Parade. At Seaholm High School, they dedicated the Rotary Memorial in 1950 to those who have died in service to our country, sculpted by Marshall Fredericks, also a Birmingham Rotarian and in 1992, a baseball scoreboard. The J.B. Howarth City Park was dedicated and named for a Birmingham Rotarian. Kenning Park is named for Bob Kenning (Retired City Manager of Birmingham), also a Birmingham Rotarian and past club president. The Club has made numerous contributions to the community from furnishing the Rotary Room at the Baldwin Library and computer system at the Community House to the elevator and picnic shelter at Springdale Park. In addition, they support numerous schools, community groups and those who are less fortunate during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Rotary has hosted international exchange students and has sponsored local students to go abroad through the International Rotary Scholarship Foundation. Currently, the Birmingham Rotary Club is helping establish an Interact Club at Seaholm High School to involve high school age students in ``Service Above Self''. They are also supporting Polio Plus, to eradicate Polio worldwide by the year 2000, with a sizeable donation from all of the membership. Over the past 75 years, the Birmingham Rotary Club has had a positive influence in the community and around the world. Through the tireless dedication and leadership of their 140 person membership, the Club's influence will only continue to grow and benefit those in the community and those who are less fortunate. As one of Michigan's finest examples of volunteerism, I want to express my congratulations to all members of the Birmingham Rotary Club in recognition of their 75th Anniversary.

Mr. ABRAHAM

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

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Donald and Shirley Stanbridge on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married on November 5, 1948. Don and Shirley were introduced by Shirley's mother in 1945 and began dating shortly thereafter. Don entered the service in 1946 and asked for Shirley's hand in marriage in 1947. They have resided in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, for 45 years where they raised two children, and now enjoy three grandchildren. Throughout their fifty years together they have dedicated themselves to their family, their church--Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Eastpointe and now St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Roseville, and their local community. A long and successful marriage is truly a cause for celebration, well worthy of recognition by the United States Senate. The Stanbridge's commitment to each other and their family is commendable and a great contribution to the tradition of strong American families. Martin Luther once wrote: There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.'' They are blessed to enjoy the special bond of a strong, enduring marriage. I want to express my congratulations and happy anniversary to Donald and Shirley Stanbridge on this day, November 5, 1998, and I wish them many more years of joy in marriage.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Waterford Senior Center which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary of serving the local senior population on Thursday, October 22, 1998. The mission of the center has been to offer services, administer programs, and sponsor activities for older adults which are designed to enhance the independence and dignity of their lives. The center has served as a focal point for older adults in the community and has proven that it will continue its tireless dedication to the Waterford area seniors for many years to come. I want to express to the Waterford Senior Center my congratulations and best wishes on their 25th anniversary. I wish them many more years of success.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, the Senate today will pass compromise legislation worked out between the House and Senate, and between Congress and the President, regarding migratory birds. I thank Senator Daschle, who is an original cosponsor of this legislation, along with Senator Chafee, for their support and assistance in formulating legislation which I have been told the President will sign. Mr. President, the ``Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1998'' is designed to protect over 90 endangered species of bird spending certain seasons in the United States and the rest of the year in other nations of the Western Hemisphere. In doing so, it will protect the environmental, economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits these birds provide to the United States and to the Western Hemisphere as a whole. Every year approximately 25 million Americans travel to observe birds, and 60 million American adults watch and feed birds at home. Bird-watching is a source of great pleasure to many Americans, as well as a source of important revenue to states, like my own state of Michigan, which attract tourists to their scenes of natural beauty. Bird-watching and feeding generates fully $20 billion every year in revenue across America. Healthy bird populations also prevent hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses each year to farming and timber interests. They help control insect populations, thereby preventing crop failures and infestations. Despite the enormous benefits we derive from our bird populations, many of them are struggling to survive. Ninety species are listed as endangered or threatened in the United States. Another 124 species are of high conservation concern. The primary reason for these declines is the degradation and loss of bird habitat. What makes this all the more troubling is that efforts in the United States to protect these birds' habitats can be of only limited utility. Among bird watchers' favorites, many neotropical birds are endangered or of high conservation concern. And several of the most popular neotropical species, including bluebirds, robins, goldfinches, and orioles, migrate to and from the Caribbean and Latin America. Because neotropical migratory birds range across a number of international borders every year, we must work to establish safeguards at both ends of their migration routes, as well as at critical stopover areas along their way. Only in this way can conservation efforts prove successful. Mr. President, this is the motivation behind the ``Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.'' This legislation will protect bird habitats across international boundaries by establishing partnerships between the business community, nongovernmental organizations and foreign nations. By teaming businesses with international organizations concerned to protect the environment we can combine capital with know-how. By partnering these entities with local organizations in countries where bird habitat is endangered we can see to it that local people receive the training they need to preserve this habitat and maintain this critical natural resource. This act establishes an account with $8 million appropriated from the treasury, to be supplemented by donations from private or public sources, to help establish programs in the U.S. Latin America and the Caribbean. These programs will manage and conserve neotropical migratory bird populations. Those eligible to participate will include national and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations and business interests, as well as U.S. government entities. This act was formulated with the understanding that the key to environmental success is cooperation among nongovernmental organizations. Thus the federal share of each project's cost will never exceed 33 percent. In order to foster support in communities here and abroad, the nonfederal share for projects may be in cash or inkind contributions. The approach taken by this legislation is different from all-too many existing programs. It is proactive, and it avoids a crisis management approach. I am convinced that it will prove significantly more cost effective than current programs. In addition, Mr. President, this legislation will bring needed attention and expertise to areas now receiving relatively little attention in the area of environmental degradation. By establishing partnerships between business, government and nongovernmental organizations both here and abroad we can greatly enhance the protection of migratory bird habitat throughout our hemisphere. Mr. President, this bill is a major step forward for us, and I think it will be seen as one of the key environmental measures passed by this Congress. I thank my colleagues for the support of this legislation that I have received.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Clover Technologies as they celebrate the Grand Opening Ceremonies for their new 93,000 square foot headquarters in Wixom, Michigan. Established in 1952, Clover Technologies' new headquarters makes Clover one of the largest employers in Wixom with over 400 employees. With the high-tech industry playing an increasingly important role in the Michigan economy, expansions such as this serve as a testament to the competitiveness of Michigan-based industries in the global market. Clover Technologies has proven that the right combination of quality and dedication can lead to a prosperous future. The vision and leadership of Clover have made them an industry leader, and have enabled them, the employees of Clover, and others in the community to continue sharing in the American Dream. Their worldwide commitment to excellence in the automotive industry and customer service is to be commended. I want to express my congratulations to Clover Technologies on the dedication of their new headquarters, and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Omer O'Neil of the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. He has announced his retirement after serving as President of the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce since 1987. Omer O'Neil has been a true leader with the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and in the Downriver communities of Metropolitan Detroit. During his tenure as President, the Chamber saw a growth in its membership as well as its leadership role in the communities it serves. The Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce represents over 1,200 member businesses and has become a leader in redefining the economic landscape of the Downriver area. Omer O'Neil's service expands beyond his role with the Chamber. He served on the Allen Park City Council and was twice elected Mayor Pro- Tempore and has volunteered numerable hours to local charitable organizations and causes, including Right to Life of Michigan. I want to once again express my sincerest appreciation and congratulations to Omer O'Neil for the service and leadership he has provided the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and the Downriver communities. I wish Omer well in his retirement years.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a very important organization in the state of Michigan. The CHARACTER COUNTS!sm coalition, a national grassroots organization which promotes character education with a program utilizing six components: respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship and trustworthiness. Across the country, individuals, organizations, and entire communities are coming together on a united front dedicated to enforcing a set of ethical values which are the very foundation of a free, democratic society. My colleagues and I truly appreciate their dedication to educate and improve the character of our nation's youth . As the Honorary Chairman for CHARACTER COUNTS!sm in Michigan and in light of National CHARACTER COUNTS!sm week, I extend my best wishes to Pat Malijewski the CHARACTER COUNTS!sm in Michigan Project Coordinator and everyone involved in making CHARACTER COUNTS!sm a tremendous success in Michigan and across this great country.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Mr. Charles Chuck'' Davey on the occasion of the Detroit Athletic Club's Fall Boxing Classic. This year's honoree began his impressive boxing career while at Michigan State University. Remarkably, Chuck won his first NCAA Championship at age 17, a collegiate record, and was the NCAA's only four time boxing champion in four different weight classes. He also served as Captain and was recognized as an Outstanding Boxer from 1947- 1949. Deservedly, he is viewed to be the greatest collegiate boxer of all time.'' He was a member of the 1948 Olympic Team and is one of the finest professional boxers ever to come out of Detroit. From October 1949 to January of 1953, Chuck went through 39 bouts without a loss, scoring 25 kayos, taking 12 decisions and participating in two draws. When Chuck turned professional as a welterweight, Davey defeated champions Rocky Graziano, Johnny Saxton, Carmen Bassilio and Ike Williams. At Chicago stadium in 1953, before the largest ever paid indoor attendance in boxing history, Davey fought world champion Kid'' Gavilan. Chuck proved to be a true sports hero. Since retiring from boxing in 1955, he was a color broadcaster on WCAR with Bruce Martin for MSU football games. He also served as Michigan's Boxing Commissioner from 1965 to 1980 and was one of the founders and the first President of the United States Boxing Association. In addition, he served four terms as Vice President of the World Boxing Association. For his lifetime of accomplishments in the sport of boxing, he was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and just this year was elected to the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Throughout his life, Chuck has been a dedicated family man and grandfather. He is married to Patricia and they are the proud parents of nine children and enjoy nineteen grandchildren. I want to express my congratulations to Chuck Davey for his impressive achievements both inside and outside of the ring. He is truly an inspiration.