Spencer Abraham

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Brownfield Cleanup Cost Recovery Act. This legislation would repeal the targeted area limitation on the expense deduction for environmental remediation costs and extend the termination date of such deduction to 2004. Mr. President, the Environmental Protection Agency's brownfields program is designed to help communities restore less seriously contaminated sites that have the potential for economic development. Brownfields are defined as abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. In general, costs incurred for new buildings or for permanent improvements to increase the value of a property must be capitalized-- the cost must be deducted over a period of years. Some expenses, such as repairs, are currently deductible--deductible in the year in which the cost is incurred. This is also called expensing. It is a considerable financial advantage to be able to fully deduct an expense in one year rather than over many. The brownfields tax provision would include environmental remediation costs as allowable costs for expensing. This would create the financial incentive needed to bring companies in to remediate brownfields. Prior to the passage of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the tax code discouraged the remediation of environmentally damaged property. In 1996, I introduced legislation to eliminate this bias. This legislation ultimately was included as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which is now law. However, the incentive expires at the end of this year. As part of the Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999, Congress passed provisions expanding upon this important community development legislation. This bill contains the same provisions that were included in the Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999, which Congress passed, but President Clinton vetoed. In addition, Mr. President, current law limits expensing of brownfield sites to those sites within ``targeted'' areas--defined as being a renewal community under section 198. This bill would eliminate the ``targeted area'' limitation, allowing for increased remediation in all areas, not just federal designated zones. Mr. President, encouraging community renewal has long been a very important issue to me. In 1995, my first year as a Senator, I joined with Senators Lieberman, Santorum, DeWine and Moseley-Braun, to introduce the Enhanced Enterprise Zones Act, to stimulate job creation and residential growth in America's most distressed rural and urban communities. More recently, Senator Lieberman and I introduced the American Community Renewal Act. The ACRA would provide benefits to 100 distressed communities around the country, including tax benefits designed to attract businesses and employers to Renewal Zones. It is my hope that this bill will become law this year. In my opinion, Mr. President, brownfield remediation is a crucial component of any policy for community renewal if that policy is to be successful. The provisions provided in this legislation will make such remediation more likely and more common. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to give it their strong support.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a very special event taking place next week in the State of Michigan. The city of Battle Creek and the greater Calhoun County are officially recognizing April 17-21, 2000, as Character Education Awareness Week. Character Unlimited, a group which works to raise awareness of the importance of good character and to train others to integrate character development in their organizations and areas of influence, and the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce are cosponsors of the event. Four goals have been set for the week: first, to inform the public about character education initiatives throughout Calhoun County; second, to raise awareness and interest in the importance of mentoring and role modeling; third, to address youth about the importance of character based decision making and non-violent conflict resolution; and, finally, to raise community awareness of Character Unlimited and the work of the organization. Increasingly, the notion of character has found a place in the national dialogue, particularly in this, an election year. What is getting lost in the debate, I feel, is a look at where character comes from, how it is developed within children and adults alike, and the role communities can play in developing character within their youth. Good character is not innate, Mr. President, it requires conscientious education, effort and role-modeling. While it goes without saying that parents hold the most important role in this process, they are not the only cog in the wheel. Schools, youth organizations, churches, synagogues, temples, civic organizations, even governmental organizations, all of these groups have the opportunity to set positive examples for children, and in doing so provide them with a clear-cut example of what is right and what is wrong. More than this, though, for they also have the ability to teach them how to appropriately fight for what is right and against what is wrong. This is positive character development, and it is within all of our grasps. Mr. President, good character in an individual is not automatic, but it is always attainable. What it requires is hard work by many people. The more positive influences our communities are able to have available to children, the more children we will see developing a strong sense of character. Continuing to use basic common sense as a guide, I think it is easy to imagine what kind of a positive effect this will have on our communities. Mr. President, I am truly excited about what is happening in Calhoun County April 17-21, 2000. I thank Character Unlimited and the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring Character Education Awareness Week. Also, I would like to recognize Mr. Erv Brinker, Chairman of Character Unlimited, and Ms. Pat Maliszewski, Program Director, whose hard work have been essential in making this event possible. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I hope that Character Education Awareness Week is a huge success.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the exceptional work of seventeen students who are being honored on April 18, 2000, at the ``Excellence in Education'' Awards Program. Each year, the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce recognizes a group of students whose ability and enthusiasm have not only proved to be outstanding, but also, I am told, has managed to please their teachers on a daily basis. The purpose of the event is to provide these students with a job- shadowing experience in the field of their interest. For one day, the students work with local professionals in their chosen field, providing them with an unforgettable, and also inspirational, experience. Over the years, the chosen fields have ranged from medical specialties, to creative and performing arts, to business, to technology, and many more. Mr. President, I applaud the following seventeen students for their outstanding efforts, and thank the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce for not only recognizing them, but encouraging them to continue their enthusiastic approach to education: Jeff Austin, Letrice Hudson, Elias Numan, Bryan Phillips, Heather Zygmontowicz, Tenealle Tenwolde, Collin Lasko, Lyndsay McGarry, Kyle Morrison, Brandon See, Jamiecee Baker, Deitra Officer, Ty Bleuenstein, Monique Bramlett, Cristal Moore, Pakou Ly, and Kenneth Venable. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate them on their participation in the ``Excellence in Education'' Awards Program.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Robert VanMeter, who on April 22, 2000, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple was married at a simple ceremony on a Friday evening by a clergyman named Grover W. Cleveland. Since that evening, the two have shared the highs and lows of life together, lending support and comfort to the other whenever there has been need. Mr. Robert VanMeter served in the 82d Airborne in Italy. He loved his job, and was particularly fond of taking pictures of his jumps. Mrs. JoAnn VanMeter stayed at home, raising their four children. She baked everything from hamburger buns to apple pie. The children never knew what ``store-bought'' bread and pastries were until they were teenagers and Mrs. VanMeter returned to work. Thirty-nine years ago, Mr. VanMeter completed the house that the couple lives in to this day. It took him two years to build, in part because of his refusal to allow anyone to help him with any part of the process, including the electrical and plumbing. Mr. and Mrs. VanMeter have five grandchildren, ages 12-25. As they did their own children, they continue to show a patience and loyalty to them. They instill into their grandchildren the same principles they passed to their children: hard work, patience, and a willingness to try new things. Mr. President, on this special occasion, I congratulate Mr. and Mrs. VanMeter. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I wish them a happy 50th wedding anniversary, and best of luck in the future.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Brownfield Cleanup Cost Recovery Act. This legislation would repeal the targeted area limitation on the expense deduction for environmental remediation costs and extend the termination date of such deduction to 2004. Mr. President, the Environmental Protection Agency's brownfields program is designed to help communities restore less seriously contaminated sites that have the potential for economic development. Brownfields are defined as abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. In general, costs incurred for new buildings or for permanent improvements to increase the value of a property must be capitalized-- the cost must be deducted over a period of years. Some expenses, such as repairs, are currently deductible--deductible in the year in which the cost is incurred. This is also called expensing. It is a considerable financial advantage to be able to fully deduct an expense in one year rather than over many. The brownfields tax provision would include environmental remediation costs as allowable costs for expensing. This would create the financial incentive needed to bring companies in to remediate brownfields. Prior to the passage of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the tax code discouraged the remediation of environmentally damaged property. In 1996, I introduced legislation to eliminate this bias. This legislation ultimately was included as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which is now law. However, the incentive expires at the end of this year. As part of the Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999, Congress passed provisions expanding upon this important community development legislation. This bill contains the same provisions that were included in the Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999, which Congress passed, but President Clinton vetoed. In addition, Mr. President, current law limits expensing of brownfield sites to those sites within ``targeted'' areas--defined as being a renewal community under section 198. This bill would eliminate the ``targeted area'' limitation, allowing for increased remediation in all areas, not just federal designated zones. Mr. President, encouraging community renewal has long been a very important issue to me. In 1995, my first year as a Senator, I joined with Senators Lieberman, Santorum, DeWine and Moseley-Braun, to introduce the Enhanced Enterprise Zones Act, to stimulate job creation and residential growth in America's most distressed rural and urban communities. More recently, Senator Lieberman and I introduced the American Community Renewal Act. The ACRA would provide benefits to 100 distressed communities around the country, including tax benefits designed to attract businesses and employers to Renewal Zones. It is my hope that this bill will become law this year. In my opinion, Mr. President, brownfield remediation is a crucial component of any policy for community renewal if that policy is to be successful. The provisions provided in this legislation will make such remediation more likely and more common. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to give it their strong support.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to submit a concurrent resolution commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the Katyn Forest massacre. For too long, Mr. President, too much of the world has been silent concerning this horrible crime against humanity, committed by the forces of communism. Through this resolution we may join with the Polish people in reminding the world of the horrors suffered by that nation's people at the hands of Soviet forces. Now that the forces of Soviet communism have been defeated, Mr. President, it is too easy to forget those whose suffering has never been properly recognized. And few suffered as did the Poles. This proud nation, so often torn apart by opposing forces through the centuries, had once again achieved independence after World War I. The infamous Hitler/Stalin pact put an end to that independence, splitting the Polish nation in half, with each half being enslaved to a separate totalitarian dictatorship. The horrors visited upon the Polish people by Hitler's Nazi regime are well known, they are rightly commemorated in monuments and declarations. But the victims of Soviet communism in Poland have not had their story told. For the sake of humanity and freedom around the globe, that story must be told. This resolution is a beginning to that process. It is a first step in telling the world the full, awful truth of what was done to real people in the name of an abstract, unreal vision of Soviet humanity. Sixty years ago, 21,000 Polish military officers, justice and administration personnel were slaughtered in the Katyn Forest. Today the Lower House of the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, is paying homage to these murdered patriots. These ``best sons of the nation,'' as the Sejm calls them, those who refused to give in to Soviet ideology and physical intimidation, remained loyal to the Republic of Poland, and to the values of freedom, faith and nation, to which that Republic was dedicated. They paid for their patriotism with their lives. For too long, Mr. President, the awful story of this massacre has been kept from the light of day. As we pay tribute to the patriots slain in the Katyn Forest, it is only right that we pay tribute to the brave citizens of the then-Soviet Union who risked their own lives and freedom in helping disclose the events we mark today. We also should be grateful to those who, after the fall of Soviet communism, have obeyed their own sense of honor in contributing to the confirmation and documentation of this crime. Now the full story of the Katyn Forest can be told. It is my hope that this story will be told throughout the United States, Europe and the rest of the world as a reminder of the inhumanities perpetrated by those enthralled to the ideology of communism. By telling this story, we can help open the hearts and minds of people everywhere to the dangers of armed ideologies. The U.S. Congress itself has recognized the importance of remembering the victims of communism. That is why, in 1993, we passed a Resolution calling for a Victims of Communism Memorial and commending the work of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation for its work toward that objective. Mr. President, it is my hope that this resolution can serve to bring us closer to our brethren in Poland and to people around the world who love freedom. The price paid by the Polish people for their liberty is one for which all of us owe them a great debt of gratitude and respect. The blood of martyrs was spilled in the Katyn Forest. Martyrs to freedom and humanity. We have a duty, in my view, to pay tribute to the sacrifice they made for us all.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the Worker Economic Opportunity Act. This bipartisan legislation, also supported by the Department of Labor, will encourage employers to provide stock options to all employees, not just executives, ensuring that all of our workers will continue to have the opportunity for an ownership stake in their company. In recent years, there have been revolutionary changes in the workplace, creating new opportunities for our working families-- opportunities, which for a long time, frequently existed only for a select privileged few. One of the most positive developments has been the significant increase in the availability of stock option plans for workers, specifically hourly workers. The decades-old employment laws do not accommodate newer workplace innovations and their application would unfairly punish hourly workers by making their stock-option programs disproportionately expensive and complex for employers. Subsequently, recent Department of Labor legal interpretations and policies have threatened the availability of stock option plans for hourly employees. Mr. President, it is imperative that Congress send a clear message that the positive developments taking hold around the country should be encouraged, not thwarted. The Worker Economic Opportunity Act would send just a message, ensuring that all employees will continue to have the opportunity to share in the economic growth and success of their company formerly enjoyed only by corporate executives. Moreover, companies, especially smaller companies with high capital costs in development, will be able to maintain the capital resources necessary to compete in the rapid evolving global economy and, at the same time, reward and retain highly qualified and valued employees. Finally, Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to thank Senator McConnell for his work and dedication toward this legislation and the Department of Labor for recognizing the need to accommodate today's employee and workplace innovations. I yield the floor.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act. This legislation will make permanent provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that set aside 10,000 visas per year for ``special immigrants.'' Up to 5,000 of these visas annually can be used for ministers of a religious denomination. In addition, a related provision of the law provides 5,000 visas per year to individuals working for religious organizations in ``a religious vocation or occupation'' or in a ``professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation.'' This has allowed nuns, brothers, cantors, lay preachers, religious instructors, religious counselors, missionaries, and other persons to work at their vocations or occupations for religious organizations or their affiliates. The key component of the law will expire on September 30 of this year unless Congress acts. Under the law, a sponsoring organization must be a bona fide religious organization or an affiliate of one, and must be certified or eligible to be certified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Religious workers must have two years work experience to qualify for an immigrant visa. Prior to 1990, churches, synagogues, mosques, and their affiliated organizations experienced significant difficulties in trying to gain admission for a much needed minister or other individual necessary to provide religious services to their communities. However, this improvement in the law in 1990 was not made permanent and, as such, has required reauthorization every two or three years, which has created uncertainly among religious organizations. Bishop John Cummins of Oakland has written: Religious workers provide a very important pastoral function to the American communities in which they work and live, performing activities in furtherance of a vocation or religious occupation often possessing characteristics unique from those found in the general labor market. Historically, religious workers have staffed hospitals, orphanages, senior care homes and other charitable institutions that provide benefits to society without public funding. Bishop Cummins noted that, The steady decline in native-born Americans entering religious vocations and occupations, coupled with the dramatically increasing need for charitable services in impoverished communities makes the extension of this special immigrant provision a necessity for numerous religious denominations in the United States. The sentiments expressed by Bishop Cummins are widely held. Indeed this program has won universal praise in religious communities across the nation. In the past, our office has received letters from religious orders and organizations throughout the nation. As a nation founded by people who came to these shores so they and their children could worship freely, it is only appropriate that our country welcome those who wish to help our religious organizations provide pastoral and other relief to people around this nation. That is why I have introduced the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act. The bill will eliminate the sunset provisions in current law and extend permanently the religious workers provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It is clear that religious organizations' ability to sponsor individuals who provide service to their local communities should be a permanent fixture of our immigration law, just as it is for those petitioning for close family members and skilled workers. No longer should religious institutions have to worry about whether Congress will act in time to renew the religious workers provisions. I am pleased Senators Kennedy, DeWine, and Leahy are cosponsoring this legislation. Finally, I would like to close by reading a passage from a letter sent to me in 1997. It's a letter that at the time helped convince me of the need to move toward permanent extension of the religious workers provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The letter read as follows: Dear Senator Abraham: I am writing to ask you to help us in solving a very urgent problem. My Sisters in New York have told me that the law which allows the Sisters to apply for permanent residence in the United States expires on September 30, 1997. Please, will you do all that you can to have that law extended so that all Religious will continue to have the opportunity to be permanent residents and serve the people of your great country. It means so much to our poor people to have Sisters who understand them and their culture. It takes a long time for a Sister to understand the people and a culture, so now our Society wants to keep our Sisters in their mission countries on a more long term basis. Please help us and our poor by extending this law. I am praying for you and the people of Michigan. My Sisters serve the poor in Detroit where we have a soup kitchen and night shelter for women. Let us all thank God for this chance to serve His poor. Signed: Mother Teresa. My office received this letter only a few weeks before her death. In honor of her great deeds for humanity I hope that this year we can finally extend the religious workers provisions of the INA permanently. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act. This legislation will make permanent provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that set aside 10,000 visas per year for ``special immigrants.'' Up to 5,000 of these visas annually can be used for ministers of a religious denomination. In addition, a related provision of the law provides 5,000 visas per year to individuals working for religious organizations in ``a religious vocation or occupation'' or in a ``professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation.'' This has allowed nuns, brothers, cantors, lay preachers, religious instructors, religious counselors, missionaries, and other persons to work at their vocations or occupations for religious organizations or their affiliates. The key component of the law will expire on September 30 of this year unless Congress acts. Under the law, a sponsoring organization must be a bona fide religious organization or an affiliate of one, and must be certified or eligible to be certified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Religious workers must have two years work experience to qualify for an immigrant visa. Prior to 1990, churches, synagogues, mosques, and their affiliated organizations experienced significant difficulties in trying to gain admission for a much needed minister or other individual necessary to provide religious services to their communities. However, this improvement in the law in 1990 was not made permanent and, as such, has required reauthorization every two or three years, which has created uncertainly among religious organizations. Bishop John Cummins of Oakland has written: Religious workers provide a very important pastoral function to the American communities in which they work and live, performing activities in furtherance of a vocation or religious occupation often possessing characteristics unique from those found in the general labor market. Historically, religious workers have staffed hospitals, orphanages, senior care homes and other charitable institutions that provide benefits to society without public funding. Bishop Cummins noted that, The steady decline in native-born Americans entering religious vocations and occupations, coupled with the dramatically increasing need for charitable services in impoverished communities makes the extension of this special immigrant provision a necessity for numerous religious denominations in the United States. The sentiments expressed by Bishop Cummins are widely held. Indeed this program has won universal praise in religious communities across the nation. In the past, our office has received letters from religious orders and organizations throughout the nation. As a nation founded by people who came to these shores so they and their children could worship freely, it is only appropriate that our country welcome those who wish to help our religious organizations provide pastoral and other relief to people around this nation. That is why I have introduced the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act. The bill will eliminate the sunset provisions in current law and extend permanently the religious workers provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It is clear that religious organizations' ability to sponsor individuals who provide service to their local communities should be a permanent fixture of our immigration law, just as it is for those petitioning for close family members and skilled workers. No longer should religious institutions have to worry about whether Congress will act in time to renew the religious workers provisions. I am pleased Senators Kennedy, DeWine, and Leahy are cosponsoring this legislation. Finally, I would like to close by reading a passage from a letter sent to me in 1997. It's a letter that at the time helped convince me of the need to move toward permanent extension of the religious workers provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The letter read as follows: Dear Senator Abraham: I am writing to ask you to help us in solving a very urgent problem. My Sisters in New York have told me that the law which allows the Sisters to apply for permanent residence in the United States expires on September 30, 1997. Please, will you do all that you can to have that law extended so that all Religious will continue to have the opportunity to be permanent residents and serve the people of your great country. It means so much to our poor people to have Sisters who understand them and their culture. It takes a long time for a Sister to understand the people and a culture, so now our Society wants to keep our Sisters in their mission countries on a more long term basis. Please help us and our poor by extending this law. I am praying for you and the people of Michigan. My Sisters serve the poor in Detroit where we have a soup kitchen and night shelter for women. Let us all thank God for this chance to serve His poor. Signed: Mother Teresa. My office received this letter only a few weeks before her death. In honor of her great deeds for humanity I hope that this year we can finally extend the religious workers provisions of the INA permanently. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, on April 18, 2000, the Kiwanis Club of Plymouth, Michigan, with the assistance of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, the District Library, the Plymouth Historical Society, and the City of Plymouth, will honor three men whose commitment to that community has earned them a place in the Plymouth Hall of Fame. These men are being recognized because over the years their dedication and many efforts have played a large role in making Plymouth the wonderful town that it is today. With this having been said, I rise today in honor of Mr. James Jabara, Mr. James B. McKeon, and Mr. Jack Wilcox, who are rightfully taking their place among the ``Builders of Plymouth.'' Mr. McKeon came to Plymouth after graduating from a school that I myself am quite familiar with, Michigan State University. He has served Plymouth both as City Commissioner and as Mayor. He has been president of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, and was named Volunteer of the Year by that organization. Mr. McKeon is chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, and sits on the Board of Directors of Growth Works and the New Morning School. In addition, he is a member of the Schoolcraft College Development Authority Board and a benefactor of the Plymouth Community Arts Council. Mr. President, I applaud Mr. McKeon for his many efforts to better the quality of life for every resident of Plymouth, Michigan. His dedication to the town over the years is truly admirable, and I am glad that the Kiwanis Club has taken this opportunity to recognize his many contributions. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Mr. McKeon on his induction into the Plymouth Hall of Fame.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, on April 18, 2000, the Kiwanis Club of Plymouth, Michigan, with the assistance of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, the District Library, the Plymouth Historical Society, and the City of Plymouth, will honor three men whose commitment to the community has earned them a place in the Plymouth Hall of Fame. These men are being recognized because over the years their dedication and many efforts have played a large role in making Plymouth the wonderful town that it is today. With this having been said, I rise today in honor of Mr. James Jabara, Mr. James B. McKeon, and Mr. Jack Wilcox, who are rightfully taking their place among the ``Builders of Plymouth.'' A graduate of Plymouth High School and the University of Michigan, Mr. Wilcox is a retired U.S. Navy captain. He has served the community of Plymouth in many, and varied, ways. A semi-professional actor, he is a charter member of the Plymouth Theater Guild. He is a past president of the Plymouth Historical Society, as well as a lifetime member of this organization. He has served as City Commissioner, and helped to organize the Plymouth Council on Aging and the Plymouth Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Wilcox is a trustee of Riverside Cemetery, a member of the Munipal Tree Board, and a member of the Block Grant Citizen's Advisory Commission. In addition, Mr. Wilcox is the host of the local cable television show ``Profiles in Plymouth.'' Mr. President, I applaud Mr. Wilcox for his many efforts to better the quality of life for every resident of Plymouth, Michigan. His dedication to the town over the years is truly admirable, and I am glad that the Kiwanis Club has taken this opportunity to recognize his many contributions. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Mr. Wilcox on his induction into the Plymouth Hall of Fame.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, on April 18, 2000, the Kiwanis Club of Plymouth, Michigan, with the assistance of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, the District Library, the Plymouth Historical Society, and the City of Plymouth, will honor three men whose commitment to that community has earned them a place in the Plymouth Hall of Fame. These men are being recognized because over the years their dedication and many efforts have played a large role in making Plymouth the wonderful town that it is today. With this having been said, I rise today in honor of Mr. James Jabara, Mr. James B. McKeon, and Mr. Jack Wilcox, who are rightfully taking their place among the ``Builders of Plymouth.'' Mr. Jabara has been an outstanding leader in the Plymouth community since arriving there after his graduation from Michigan Technological University. He has served Plymouth as City Commissioner, Mayor, and Chairman of the 35th District Court Building. He is a board member of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, the Fall Festival and the Ice Festival. He is Chairman of the Advisory Board, sits on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army, and is a member of the Plymouth Library Board. He is a charter member of the Colonial Kiwanis Club, and its first president. In addition, his many successful business ventures have contributed greatly to the growth and development of the Plymouth community. Mr. President, I applaud Mr. Jabara for his many efforts to better the quality of life for every resident of Plymouth, Michigan. His dedication to the town over the years is truly admirable, and I am glad that the Kiwanis Club has taken this opportunity to recognize his many contributions. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Mr. Jabara on his induction into the Plymouth Hall of Fame.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dr. Peter Levine, who on April 13, 2000, will be honored by the American Lung Association of Michigan-Genesee Valley Region as its Individual Health Advocate of the Year. Each year, the organization recognizes one individual whose efforts have greatly contributed to supporting the health, education and overall well-being of the Genesee Valley community. Since 1986, Dr. Levine has served as the Executive Director of the Genesee County Medical Society in Flint, Michigan, which represents over 600 physicians. As Executive Director, Dr. Levine oversees the day-to-day operations of the Medical Society, ranging from the responsibilities of its financial, policy and staffing actions, to its lobbying activities, educational programming and media relations. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Society's three subsidiaries: the Medical Society Foundation, a 501C-3 educational and social policy charitable foundation; the Physicians Programs, Inc.; and the Emergency Medical Centre of Flint, an urgent care center designed to provide a low cost alternative care site for the community at large. The Emergency Medical Centre provides care for approximately 18,000 visitors per year. Prior to 1986, Dr. Levine served as Program Director for the Greater Flint Area Hospital Assembly. In this capacity, Dr. Levine directed a six-hospital cooperative venture enabling these hospitals to provide better cancer care services to their patients. He developed and implemented strategies for cooperation in research, education, bioethics, resource coordination, standards of care, fiscal strategies, communication with hospital staffs, promotion of member hospitals outside of the region, innovative programming, cancer screening, and computerized tumor registry and data system. He staffed a multi- hospital joint venture to implement Magnetic Resonance Imagery technology in the Flint area, and served as the Executive Director of Community Hospice, Inc., a multi-hospice association designed to foster hospice growth in the region. Dr. Levine is also a founding board member and volunteer for the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic, and a charter member of the Michigan Hospice Organization Board of Directors. He serves on the Medicare Advisory Board for the Ninth Congressional District of Michigan, sits on the Board of Directors of Health Education Systems, Inc., and is a Consultant to Michigan State Medical Society Committees on Bioethics, on Membership Recruitment and Retention, and on Medical Economics. He is also the State Medical Society's Liaison with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and a member of its task force on professional liability. Mr. President, I applaud Dr. Levine for his outstanding work for not only Genesee County, but the State of Michigan. His efforts have contributed to a higher standard of medical care throughout the state. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Dr. Levine on being named the Individual Health Advocate of the Year by the American Lung Association of Genesee Valley. He is truly deserving of this honor.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to today to recognize Mott Community College, which on April 13, 2000, will be honored by the American Lung Association of Michigan-Genesee Valley Region as its 1999 Corporate Health Advocate of the Year. Mott Community College is being awarded for promoting lung health in the workplace, for encouraging its employees to participate in local non-profit organizations, for demonstrating financial support to these organizations, and for exhibiting an overall dedication to improving the quality of life of residents in the Genesee Valley area. Mott Community College has a definitive plan to promote lung health in the workplace consistent with the mission of the American Lung Association of Michigan. There is a ban on smoking in all college buildings, the college's health insurance providers offer various educational programs to support employees who want to quit smoking, and smoking cessation material and counseling is available at the annual Mott Community College Health Fair. The college also has a program of assistance available to all students and staff who are disabled or suffering from disease, and has expended millions of dollars to make its campus fully accessible to the whole community. Mott Community College is by its very nature a community service, but the college works hard to provide more to Genesee County than educational opportunity. Within its educational programs, and particularly in the health sciences, there is an interactive community component: senior nursing students work with area schools to provide health education classes, along with basic health screening, for students; faculty and staff work with the Genesee County Health Department to train teams, working through area churches, to provide citizens with health information; and the community has access to diverse facilities and programs on campus, programs which are all aimed at improving the health of the community. Mott Community College also hosts many important events where health education is the theme. The annual Mott Community College Health Fair is a popular event which brings health professionals and the community together. The college holds national mental health town meetings, including a recent public forum which Ms. Tipper Gore chaired. On February 5, 2000, the college hosted the first annual ``Family Asthma Day,'' in which three asthma specialists presented informal sessions on the management of asthma. The event also included interactive sessions for adults and children. Mr. President, for over seventy-five years, Mott Community College has worked to improve the quality of life of residents in the Genesee Valley area. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Mott Community College on being named the Corporate Health Advocate of the Year by the American Lung Association of Michigan- Genesee Valley Region. This award is the representation of the hard work of many people who truly care about the Genesee County community.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to recognize Mrs. Katherine Grayson Graham Heideman, resident of Hancock, MI, who today is celebrating her 90th birthday. It is my pleasure to honor her not only for having reached this landmark birthday, which is quite an accomplishment in itself, but also, and I think more importantly, for having lived her life in a manner truly worthy of commendation. Mrs. Heideman was born in Audubon, Iowa, the daughter of Katherine Grayson Brown and James Melville Graham. She was the youngest of six daughters. After attending high school in Audubon, she headed out west to continue her education, first receiving a B.A. from the University of California-Los Angeles in 1931, and then in 1934 earning an M.A. from the University of Southern California. For the next twenty years, Mrs. Heideman taught English literature classes to intermediate students in four different states: California, Michigan, Illinois, and the District of Columbia. On July 6, 1934, Katherine married Bert Heideman. The couple remained together until in 1991, when Mr. Heideman passed away. They had three children together, Eric, Bert, and Eric. The eldest child unfortunately died just six months after he was born, and Mr. and Mrs. Heideman named their third child in his honor and memory. In 1958, Mrs. Heideman became the first woman to be named Houghton County, Michigan, Superintendent of Schools. She served in this capacity for four years, then spent twelve years as Superintendent of the Copper Country Intermediate School System, which includes Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw counties. During these years, Mrs. Heideman was a pioneer in developing special education initiatives. All of her efforts culminated in 1974, when the Heideman Bill, HB5013, was passed into law in the State of Michigan. This law made it possible for an intermediate school district to own and operate a school for handicapped children. In 1982, Mrs. Heideman was elected to the Hancock City Council, and there she has continued to fight not only for the rights of disabled individuals, but also for the environment and the historic preservation of Houghton county. She is the author of a resolution forbidding any nuclear or toxic waste to be transported through the city of Hancock, and of a resolution condemning the dumping of iron ore tailings into Lake Superior. Mrs. Heideman was a charter member of the Hancock Historic Preservation Commission, and continues to be a strong voice in the efforts to retain the city's old world charm. She has played an instrumental role in the attempt to get the city of Hancock recognized as being the Finnish American culture center of the United States. And, due to her efforts, a sister city relationship was formed with the citizens of Porvoo, Finland. A candidate seven times, she now begins her eighteenth year representing the first ward. Mr. President, I applaud Mrs. Heideman for her selfless dedication to improving the quality of life for individuals not only in the city of Hancock, but the entire State of Michigan. She is a remarkable woman and a true role model. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I wish Mrs. Heideman a happy ninetieth birthday, and best of luck in the future.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Madam President, I rise today to recognize Mr. Donald T. Storck, who on Tuesday, April 11, 2000, will be honored by the Lutheran Luncheon Club of Metropolitan Detroit as its Lutheran Layman of the Year 2000. This is the 46th year the Luncheon Club has named a Layman of the Year, and I cannot imagine that any have been more deserving than Mr. Storck. For over thirty-five years, he has displayed a dedication to both his community and his church that are representative of an incredible desire to help others. Mr. Storck was born in raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. He began working for General Motors in their St. Louis Chevrolet Plant in 1957. In 1964, after graduating from Washington University, he was transferred to the G.M. Building in Detroit, where he worked as an engineer. He and his wife, Ethel Steinmann, settled down in Royal Oak, Michigan, and they have lived there, and been members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, ever since. In his thirty-six years in Royal Oak, Mr. Storck has contributed to the community in many ways. Before recycling had become popular, he was part of a paper drive activity that raised over $60,000 for building projects. He has been very active in supporting the Boy Scouts of America, involving himself in a program at the G.M. Willow Run Transmission Plant. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Royal Oak Penguins, a youth swimming club. As a volunteer for Focus: HOPE, he has spent one Saturday per month delivering food to elderly and shut-in individuals. He has worked on many Habitat for Humanity projects, is a teacher of an after-school elementary woodworking class for 1st and 2nd grade youth at the Huntington Woods Community Center, and a regular donor of blood and blood platelets. His devotion to the religious community has been equally impressive. He currently serves on the Board of Elders and the Board of Trustees of St. Paul Lutheran Church, and sings in the Men's Chorus and Chancel Choir. This is in addition to serving as chief chef of the men's breakfast, a tradition which he founded. He is the current president of the Lutheran Choralaires, a popular male chorus which performs regularly throughout the metropolitan Detroit area. He has been a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League Retreat Committee, and volunteers time at the group's annual retreat. He has also been very active in the Lutheran Luncheon Club, serving as its president in 1984- 85, its secretary from 1986-1995, and has sat on the Board of Directors for the last five years. Recently, he has donated much of his time to helping Grace Lutheran Church in Durham, North Carolina. This ministry provides for the transport of children to and from Belaruse and places these children with host families while they receive needed surgical and medical care at the Duke University Hospital. Mr. Storck discovered the ministry when he was at the Duke University Hospital visiting his youngest grandchild, Mollie, who died at the age of two after a battle with leukemia. At a time when Mr. Storck's faith was put to the test, it never wavered; he remained committed to the church and to helping others in the name of God. Madam President, I applaud Mr. Storck on his many contributions to both his church and his community. He is truly a role model, and I applaud the Lutheran Luncheon Club for taking the opportunity to recognize him as such. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Mr. Donald R. Storck on being named the 46th Lutheran Layman of the Year.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, if I might, in the Budget Committee as we prepared the resolution to come to the floor, we were successful in making the lockbox mechanism a permanent part of the budget process and making it enforceable with a 60-vote point of order. I consider that to be a victory on this matter. In the interest of setting a good precedent today, I therefore seek unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment at this time, and hope others who have similar kinds of amendments will help us to expedite the process.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Since no objection was raised, apparently, to the amendment, and since there may be an ability to have an immediate voice vote, I am happy to accept the proposal of the Senator from New Jersey and voice vote the amendment rather than withdrawing it to save time.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Mr. Burton H. Boyum, who on April 13, 2000, is being honored by the Board of Directors of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association. Mr. Boyum is being recognized for his many contributions to the history and preservation of the iron and copper mining heritage in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Mr. Boyum was born in Minnesota in 1919. In 1941, he came to the Upper Peninsula, and from that time until his retirement in 1984, he served Cleveland Cliffs International as a Mining Engineer. Mr. Boyum is considered the foremost expert on the geology, mineralogy, and mining heritage of the Upper Peninsula. He has published two books and two historical videos on the subject, and has also provided many fortunate citizens with free tours of the area. In his time there, Mr. Boyum has been an active member of many groups that help to preserve not only the history, but also the pure natural beauty, of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. What is important to note, I believe, is not only Mr. Boyum's involvement in these organizations, but his leadership within them. In 1957, he served as Chairman of the U.P. Section of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, and worked to preserve the World's largest steam hoist. He is the only serving member of the Board of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association who took part in its foundation in 1961, and thus has played a pivotal role in making the Association the premier preserved mine site in the State of Michigan. He hosted the first Michigan State Historical Society Annual Meeting in Marquette. He organized the first Marquette County Historical Society county-wide conference. He led the charge in forming the Michigan Iron Industry Museum; the Marquette Range Iron Mining Heritage Theme Park; the National Ski Hall of Fame, located in Ishpeming, Michigan; and the Great Lakes Olympic Training Center, located in Marquette, Michigan. And in 1996, under President Boyum's leadership, the Quincy Mine Hoist Association built the first Cog Railroad in the Midwest. In 1998, due to his incredible efforts for the organization, Mr. Boyum was named the Quincy Mine Hoist Association's first Chairman of the Board. He was also recognized in perpetuity by his peers, who created the Burton H. Boyum Award in his honor. On behalf of the entire Senate, I extend a much deserved thank you to Mr. Boyum for all of his incredible work.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 85th Anniversary of the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Since April 30, 1915, this chapter has faithfully served the citizens of Monroe County, Michigan, providing aid and comfort in times when it is needed most. The Monroe County Chapter was founded by several prominent citizens of the community, many of whom were members of the National American Red Cross. During that first year, the founders conducted a membership drive, recruited an anti-tuberculosis visiting nurse, provided funds to aid the starving in Mexico and began a Red Cross Christmas Stamp campaign. These activities were just the beginning of an 85-year tradition of services that have carried the generosity of Monroe County's residents to people in need in all parts of the world. In addition to its emergency disaster relief efforts to residents countywide, the Monroe County Chapter has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, enabling it to continue to meet both changing local and global needs. Since the inception of the chapter's annual blood drive, Monroe County donors have generously given over 4,000 units of blood each year. The chapter offers courses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, water safety, babysitting and HIV/AIDS education, and remains the primary link between U.S. armed forces personnel and their families in Monroe County. Mr. President, as I was preparing this statement I was reminded once again of the essential role the American Red Cross plays in our communities. Born from the mythic efforts of Clara Barton during the Civil War, the organization currently has more than 1.3 million volunteers working under its banner, providing disaster relief services for victims of more than 66,000 disasters per year. More importantly, the American Red Cross still holds firm to the principles it was founded upon. The mission remains to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. That is why, when things are at their worst, it continues to be the American Red Cross and its volunteers that are there to make them better. Mr. President, I applaud the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross on eighty-five years of successful service to the Monroe Community, and I extend a much deserved thank you to the many staff and volunteers whose efforts throughout the years have made this event possible. On behalf of the entire Senate, I wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 281 submitted earlier by Senator Levin and myself.

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

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I will speak briefly about the resolution. I know my colleague, Senator Levin, will as well. We rise together today to offer this resolution and to congratulate the Michigan State University Spartans men's basketball team for their outstanding victory in the NCAA championships which took place Monday night. As a graduate of Michigan State, I am proud of the skill and dedication shown by our Spartans as they defeated the Florida Gators by a score of 89-76. This was a well-earned victory and the culmination of a splendid season. Their 32-7 record is a sign of hard practice, teamwork and an overwhelming desire to excel. It also is the result of a long history of dedication to success on the court. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and A.J. Granger, three seniors who have been playing together for four years, spurred this team to victory throughout the year. Mateen with his incredible leadership. Morris with his clutch shooting. And A.J. with his consistent long marksmanship. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Charlie Bell, all hail from Flint, Michigan. As a result, thousands of fans known them by their nickname, ``The Flintstones.'' These three players have been playing basketball together since elementary school. Their comradeship and loyalty to one another carried out onto the floor throughout the season, and made the Spartans team a family off the floor as well. Andre Hutson, the man in the middle, was often called on to shut down the teams top player, particularly in the 1999-2000 tournament. He handled his job with a workmanlike approach that defined professionalism. Mike Chappell, Jason Richardson, and Aloysius Anagonye, each provided the Spartans with quality minutes off the bench all year, and particularly in the championship game, where they held their own against the vaunted Florida bench. David Thomas and Adam Ballinger, provided valuable contributions throughout the season and the tournament, both on and off the court, often providing the Spartans with the lift they needed. And Steve Cherry, Mat Ishbia, and Brandon Smith demonstrated the total devotion of the Spartans players to the team concept both on the court and in practice. Finally, a special mention must go to Head Coach Tom Izzo, who hails from Iron Mountain, Michigan, and is in only his fifth year coaching the team. Coach Izzo has proven himself to be one of the finest coaches in men's college basketball. He and his staff instilled into the Spartans a will to win second to none, exemplified by their cutthroat defense, which suffocated many potent offenses throughout the season, and particularly in the second half N.C.A.A. Tournament games. Coach Izzo has served as in inspiration to his team, and to young men throughout Michigan and the nation who share the spirit and excitement of the sport of basketball. I acknowledge his and his family's contribution. In fact, I had the pleasure of attending high school with his wife, Lupe. Mr. President, I had the opportunity to attend the championship game, and I want to compliment everyone associated with the Spartans for the courage and class they exhibited throughout the game, and during the entire season. Everyone in Michigan--from Copper Harbor to Monroe, to Niles--should be proud of what this team has accomplished. In closing, let me say, as a graduate of Michigan State University and as one who attended Michigan State at a time when our basketball program was not as successful as it has been since Magic Johnson's arrival in 1978 and in the time since, how proud I am of my alma mater for this great victory for the Spartans green and white. I yield the floor to my colleague.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to compliment the Senator from Maine for this proposal. I am happy to join as a cosponsor of the legislation, as I have on previous efforts on her part to address the home health care issues. I add my support to the legislation and compliment the Senator from Maine. I sincerely hope that as it moves forward with a variety of proposals before us, in the budget and elsewhere, to address Medicare issues we make sure we don't address those reform proposals without making sure our home health care programs are strong and of high quality. I yield the floor.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Travel, Tourism, and Jobs Preservation Act. This bill makes the Visa Waiver Pilot Program permanent and strengthens the documentation and reporting requirements established under the pilot program. This legislation is important not only because it facilitates travel and tourism in the United States, thereby creating many American jobs, but also because it benefits American tourists who wish to travel abroad, since visa requirements are generally waived on a reciprocal basis. The Visa Waiver Pilot Program authorizes the Attorney General to waive visa requirements for foreign nationals traveling from certain designated countries as temporary visitors for business or pleasure. Aliens from the participating countries complete an admission form prior to arrival and are admitted to stay for up to 90 days. The criteria for being designated as a Visa Waiver country are as follows: First, the country must extend reciprocal visa-free travel for U.S. citizens. Second, they must have a nonimmigrant refusal rate for B-1/B-2 visitor visas at U.S. consulates that is low, averaging less than 2 percent the previous two full fiscal years, with the refusal rate less than 2.5 percent in either year, or less than 3 percent the previous full fiscal year. Third, the countries must have or be in the process of developing a machine-readable passport program. Finally, the Attorney General must conclude that entry into the Visa Waiver Pilot Program will not compromise U.S. law enforcement interests. Countries are designated by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary of State. Nations currently designated as Visa Waiver participants are Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Greece has been proposed for participation in the program. The Visa Waiver Pilot Program was established by law in 1986 and became effective in 1988, with 8 countries participating for a period of three years. The program has been considered successful and as such has been expanded to include 29 participating countries. Since 1986, Visa Waiver has been reauthorized on 6 different occasions for periods of one, two, or three years at a time. The time has come to make the Visa Waiver Pilot Program permanent, and, in the process, to strengthen further current requirements. Its status is no longer truly experimental. No serious disagreement exists that the program should continue in place for the foreseeable future, and no significant problems have been raised with the fundamentals of how it has been operating for the past 14 years. To the contrary, failure to continue the program would cause enormous staffing problems at U.S. consulates, which would have to be suddenly increased substantially to resume issuance of visitor visas. It would also be extremely detrimental to American travelers, who would most certainly find that, given reciprocity, they now would be compelled to obtain visas to travel to Europe and elsewhere. Finally, there are costs to continuing to reauthorize the program on a short-term rather than a permanent basis, as it periodically creates considerable uncertainty in the United States and around the world about what documents travelers planning their foreign travel have to obtain. Accordingly, I am today introducing the Travel, Tourism, and Jobs Preservation Act. This legislation eliminates the need for frequent extensions of Visa Waiver by making the program permanent. I am pleased to see that the House bill on Visa Waiver also makes the program permanent. Second, the current requirement that countries be in the process of developing a program for issuing machine-readable passports will be replaced with a stricter requirement that all countries in the program as of May 1, 2000 certify by October 1, 2001 that they will have an operational machine-readable passport program by 2003 and that new countries have a machine-readable passport program in place before becoming eligible for designation as a Visa Waiver country. The bill also establishes a deadline of October 1, 2008 by which time all travelers must have machine-readable passports to come to the United States under Visa Waiver. The judgment of everyone involved in these issues is that the technology is now sufficient that it is time for everyone to move from the concept and planning to the prompt implementation of these requirements. Finally, under the Travel, Tourism, and Jobs Preservation Act, the Attorney General must submit a written report at least once every five years evaluating ``the effect of each program country's continued designation on the law enforcement and national security interests of the United States.'' This will ensure that the operation of the program is periodically reviewed. I should note that under current law the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may for any reason (including national security) refrain from waiving the visa requirement in respect to nationals of any country which may otherwise qualify for designation or may, at any time, rescind any waiver or designation previously granted'' under Visa Waiver. I think the additions in the bill strengthen the program while preserving the significant job creation benefits Americans gain from the Visa Waiver program. International travel generates $95 billion in expenditures and created one million U.S. jobs last year, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. An estimated half of all visitors to the United States enter the country under Visa Waiver. I would like to thank my cosponsors Senators Kennedy, Leahy, DeWine, Jeffords, Akaka, Graham, and Inouye for supporting this important legislation.