Barbara Boxer

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I rise today to bring to the Senate's attention the exemplary achievements and outstanding service of Juan Arambula, Supervisor in Fresno County, CA. Supervisor Juan Arambula, now serving his second term as supervisor, is to receive the Rose Ann Vuich Leadership Award for his outstanding leadership and service. Supervisor Arambula is most deserving of this special recognition and the outpouring of admiration from all throughout the community. In his many years of public service as Past President of Fresno Unified School District Board of Trustees, former member of the California School Boards Association Board of Directors and now as Supervisor for Fresno County, he has maintained a sense of honor, purpose and teamwork that not only resonated on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, but throughout surrounding communities. Supervisor Arambula serves Fresno County and his constituents with great distinction. I am honored to congratulate and pay tribute to him and I encourage my colleagues to join me in wishing Supervisor Arambula much continued success in his public service career.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I am going to be supporting this amendment and I want to explain why. I am not happy with the part that strips out the renewables. We can put that back in. What I like about this amendment is that it really protects the States. I have great respect for my friend from New Mexico, but I have to tell him that California's experience with FERC has been nothing less than dismal. FERC is supposed to protect against unjust and unreasonable prices. They have done nothing to help us. They have been unfriendly to us, and the Senator is giving them more power. PUCHA, which is the Public Utility Holding Company Act, which the SEC is responsible for enforcing, is being repealed. I would rather keep the issue of mergers with the SEC any day of the week than give it over to FERC which has not shown itself in any way that I can tell to be particularly friendly to consumers. So I thank the Senator. I know everyone comes at this a little bit differently, but the bottom line is, on the whole I think this is a good amendment and I will be supporting it. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I am pleased to introduce legislation to name the Federal courthouse building to be constructed at Tulare and ``O'' Streets in downtown Fresno, CA the ``Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse.'' It is fitting that the Federal courthouse in Fresno be named for Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Coyle, who is greatly respected and admired for his work as a judge and for his foresight and persistence which contributed so much to the Fresno Courthouse project. Since prior to 1994, Judge Coyle has been a leader in the effort to build a new courthouse in Fresno. In the course of his work, Judge Coyle, working with the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District, conceived and founded a program called ``Managing a Capitol Construction Program'' to help others understand the process of having a courthouse built. This Eastern District program was so well received by national court administrators that it is now a nationwide program run by Judge Coyle. In addition to meeting the needs of the court for additional space, the courthouse project has become a key element in the downtown revitalization of Fresno. Judge Coyle's efforts, and those in the community with whom he worked, produced a major milestone when the groundbreaking for the new courthouse took place earlier this month. Judge Coyle has had a distinguished career as an attorney and on the bench. Appointed to California's Eastern District bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, Judge Coyle has served as a judge for the Eastern District for 20 years, including 6 years as senior judge. Judge Coyle earned his law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1956. He then worked for Fresno County as a Deputy District Attorney before going into private practice in 1958 with McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Coyle & Wayte, where he remained until his appointment by President Reagan. He is very active in the community and has served in many judicial leadership positions, including: Chair, Space and Security Committee; Chair, Conference of the Chief District Judges of the Ninth Circuit; President of the Ninth Circuit District Judges Association; Member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California and President of the Fresno County Bar. My hope is that, in addition to serving the people of the Eastern District as a courthouse, this building will stand as a reminder to the community and people of California of the dedicated work of Judge Robert E. Coyle.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the 150th Anniversary of the City of Santa Clara in my home state of California. As early as 4000 BC, Ohlone Indian settlements were found in the area. The City of Santa Clara began in 1852 as a small Spanish mission. After Santa Clara was incorporated as a city, the fertile valley became a magnet for farmers and Santa Clara was soon filled with bountiful orchards and farms. Today, Santa Clara is located in the heart of California's Silicon Valley, the technology capital of the world. From Indian settlement to Spanish mission, from orchard country to high tech mecca, Santa Clara has been part of the rich history of California. Last year, the National Civic League bestowed the prestigious ``All- America City'' award on Santa Clara. Santa Clara was one of only 10 cities in the U.S. to be given this award for successful community collaboration. Santa Clara has also recently been given top marks as a ``2001 Kid-Friendly City.'' I am delighted that Santa Clara is such an outstanding place for children and families. And Santa Clara's Code of Ethics and Values has been getting national attention as a model for using shared values to guide a city. While Santa Clara receives national attention, a 2000 public opinion survey found that the residents of Santa Clara feel their city is one of the best places in America to live. This local pride is one of the things that makes this city such a California treasure. Santa Clara is home to California's first school of higher learning, Santa Clara University, established in 1851. At the center of campus is the beautiful Mission Santa Clara de Asis, the eighth of the original 21 California missions. I am thrilled that the City of Santa Clara, its local government and its residents maintain such a strong community spirit while its high- tech companies provide new products to change the way we live. Santa Clara's sesquicentennial slogan, ``150 years of democracy, diversity, distinction,'' could not be more appropriate. I hope the people of Santa Clara enjoy this yearlong celebration and I wish them another 150 years of success.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I am pleased to introduce legislation to name the Federal courthouse building to be constructed at Tulare and ``O'' Streets in downtown Fresno, CA the ``Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse.'' It is fitting that the Federal courthouse in Fresno be named for Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Coyle, who is greatly respected and admired for his work as a judge and for his foresight and persistence which contributed so much to the Fresno Courthouse project. Since prior to 1994, Judge Coyle has been a leader in the effort to build a new courthouse in Fresno. In the course of his work, Judge Coyle, working with the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District, conceived and founded a program called ``Managing a Capitol Construction Program'' to help others understand the process of having a courthouse built. This Eastern District program was so well received by national court administrators that it is now a nationwide program run by Judge Coyle. In addition to meeting the needs of the court for additional space, the courthouse project has become a key element in the downtown revitalization of Fresno. Judge Coyle's efforts, and those in the community with whom he worked, produced a major milestone when the groundbreaking for the new courthouse took place earlier this month. Judge Coyle has had a distinguished career as an attorney and on the bench. Appointed to California's Eastern District bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, Judge Coyle has served as a judge for the Eastern District for 20 years, including 6 years as senior judge. Judge Coyle earned his law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1956. He then worked for Fresno County as a Deputy District Attorney before going into private practice in 1958 with McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Coyle & Wayte, where he remained until his appointment by President Reagan. He is very active in the community and has served in many judicial leadership positions, including: Chair, Space and Security Committee; Chair, Conference of the Chief District Judges of the Ninth Circuit; President of the Ninth Circuit District Judges Association; Member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California and President of the Fresno County Bar. My hope is that, in addition to serving the people of the Eastern District as a courthouse, this building will stand as a reminder to the community and people of California of the dedicated work of Judge Robert E. Coyle.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today, Senator Smith and I are proud to introduce the International Tuberculosis Control Act of 2002. This bill will provide $200 million during each of the next three years for U.S. efforts to combat international TB. Our bill also sets as a goal the detection of at least 70 percent of the cases of infectious tuberculosis, and the cure of at least 85 percent of the cases detected by the end of 2005 for those countries with the highest tuberculosis burden. Why is this bill important? Consider the facts: Tuberculosis kills 2 million people each year; someone in the world is newly infected with TB every second; nearly one percent of the world's population is newly infected with TB each year; TB is the single leading cause of death among women between the age of 15-44; and half of all people living with HIV-AIDS will develop TB because of suppressed immune systems. TB is an airborne disease. You can get it when someone coughs or sneezes. And with the increased immigration and travel to the United States, we are seeing it re-emerge in many of our communities. That is why it is in the national interest here in the United States to fight TB throughout the world. This is especially true when you consider that in the year 2000, 46 percent of TB cases detected in the U.S. occurred to foreign-born persons, up from 22 percent in 1986. In California, of the 3,297 cases detected in 2000, 72 percent were among foreign born individuals. Two years ago, Senator Smith and I teamed up to triple TB funding and get the authorization level up to $60 million. We are teaming up again so that USAID can work with its international partners like the World Health Organization to expand the most effective program to stop the spread of TB--DOTS or Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course. DOTS is so effective because it reduces the chance of Multi-Drug Resident TB from developing. In the early 1990s, New York City spent nearly $1 billion to control an outbreak of drug-resistant TB. However, a 6-month course of TB drugs under the DOTS programs can cost just $10. That is why we feel that our bill is a wise investment that will reduce the cost of treating TB over the long run and, most important, save lives throughout the world. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to share with the Senate my thoughts on the 30th Anniversary of the Delancey Street Foundation. It is my great pleasure to honor the extraordinary contributions of the Delancey Street Foundation. Thirty years ago, Delancey Street began offering outstanding self-help services to former felons, substance abusers and the homeless who wanted to build a new life. Today, Delancey Street is one of the most successful drug treatment programs in the Nation and has earned a reputation as an international model for rehabilitation. At no cost to the taxpayer or client, Delancey Street has offered thousands of residents the necessary academic, vocational and interpersonal skills to turn their lives around and become productive members of society. Recently, Delancey Street began a unique partnership with San Francisco State University to provide residents with college degrees. Delancey Street is a shining light for people who have nowhere else to turn. Delancey Street is all the more impressive because its training schools provide important skills to its residents while providing wonderful services to the community. It now operates five facilities throughout the country, including its headquarters in San Francisco. Delancey Street has many thriving enterprises such as a moving company, print and copy shop, Christmas tree lots, automotive services center and the renowned Delancey Street Restaurant, all run entirely by the residents. None of this would be possible without the amazing Mimi Silbert, President and Co-Founder of Delancey Street. Her dedication, foresight, business sense and compassion embody the spirit of Delancey Street. I send my warmest congratulations to Mimi and all of the staff, residents, volunteers and alumni on 30 years of success and my best wishes for even better decades ahead.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today, Senator Smith and I are proud to introduce the International Tuberculosis Control Act of 2002. This bill will provide $200 million during each of the next three years for U.S. efforts to combat international TB. Our bill also sets as a goal the detection of at least 70 percent of the cases of infectious tuberculosis, and the cure of at least 85 percent of the cases detected by the end of 2005 for those countries with the highest tuberculosis burden. Why is this bill important? Consider the facts: Tuberculosis kills 2 million people each year; someone in the world is newly infected with TB every second; nearly one percent of the world's population is newly infected with TB each year; TB is the single leading cause of death among women between the age of 15-44; and half of all people living with HIV-AIDS will develop TB because of suppressed immune systems. TB is an airborne disease. You can get it when someone coughs or sneezes. And with the increased immigration and travel to the United States, we are seeing it re-emerge in many of our communities. That is why it is in the national interest here in the United States to fight TB throughout the world. This is especially true when you consider that in the year 2000, 46 percent of TB cases detected in the U.S. occurred to foreign-born persons, up from 22 percent in 1986. In California, of the 3,297 cases detected in 2000, 72 percent were among foreign born individuals. Two years ago, Senator Smith and I teamed up to triple TB funding and get the authorization level up to $60 million. We are teaming up again so that USAID can work with its international partners like the World Health Organization to expand the most effective program to stop the spread of TB--DOTS or Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course. DOTS is so effective because it reduces the chance of Multi-Drug Resident TB from developing. In the early 1990s, New York City spent nearly $1 billion to control an outbreak of drug-resistant TB. However, a 6-month course of TB drugs under the DOTS programs can cost just $10. That is why we feel that our bill is a wise investment that will reduce the cost of treating TB over the long run and, most important, save lives throughout the world. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I say to Senator Feingold, thank you very much for your work on this bill that we are about to pass. You and Senator McCain were steadfast, and you never gave up. You focused and you fought, and every time there was back sliding, you refused to give up. I think it is a model for all of us, and it is a model for young people to see that if you have a goal and you stick with it, and it is right, you are going to win in the end--eventually. Having said that, I just hope this is the start of going back to one of the original ideas of Senators Feingold and McCain, which was really to limit campaign spending. There are a couple of wonderful things about the bill on which we are about to vote for which I want to say thank you. No longer will Federal candidates have to go and ask for unlimited sums of money for our parties and be put in a position where, even if, of course, we are not going to give special privilege to the people giving it, it has that appearance of a conflict of interest. And the American people have every right to question what we do if they look and see the large sums of money we receive. I think the Enron scandal brought this home. I think people felt terrible that they had taken these sums. That was the system. They may have done absolutely nothing to help a company that had gone astray, but it looks bad. I say to Senators Feingold and McCain, thank you for that provision. Soft money is out of the picture for Federal candidates, and that is a good thing for us. We still have to raise, however, large sums of money. In the case of California, it is an obscene amount of money because of the cost of television, the cost of mail, the cost of grassroots organizing in a State of 34 million people--we are talking about sums required in excess of $20 million. Believe me, when I say $20 million, that is on the low side of what you really need to spend in order to get your message across in light of vicious attacks that will come. Another good thing about McCain-Feingold: Those vicious attacks that have come from large soft money contributions will not be able to come 60 days before your election. That is a big plus because that is what we find--that candidates at the end simply cannot respond to this barrage of activity. So I feel personally grateful, going into an election cycle, that in 2004 candidates will not have this burden to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from one source in soft money. That will not be allowed. I think that is good for the candidate. I think that is good for the country, it is good for the legislative process. We will not be hit by these last-minute ads with unregulated soft money at the end, to which we will be unable to respond. I want to work on this further. We still have a big problem. One thing got knocked out of the bill, which was ensuring that the lowest rates would be available to us on television. That got knocked out of the bill. I am still forced, and so are my colleagues from these high- cost States, to have to scramble to raise funds from individuals to get our message out on TV. Unfortunately--although I always run a grassroots campaign, as many of my colleagues do--in these large States, even if one works 24 hours a day, morning, noon, and night, one cannot meet all the voters, the millions of voters. We have to rely on TV and radio. It is very costly. We will still have to do that, a few thousand dollars at a time, which means we are going to be very busy. Until we can limit campaign spending, we are going to be in this terrible situation. We all know, including Senator Feingold, this bill is not the be-all or the end-all, but it is a strong start, and I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues on this one. I hope we get an overwhelming vote and can celebrate the fact that, after all these many years, we are moving to get control of a system that is out of control. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, what is the pending business?

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I rise to speak in behalf of the Feinstein derivatives amendment which I think is a very important amendment for us to adopt. Senator Feinstein's amendment, of which I am a cosponsor, narrows a gap in the oversight of the energy market. It is very simple. It would require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to regulate the energy derivatives market. We all know that derivatives are very complicated, and I know Senator Feinstein has spent a good deal of time educating the Senate on derivatives. The point is very clear. It used to be that the energy derivatives market was regulated by the CFTC. It is the way it used to be, and it is the way it should be. The CFTC should have the ability to obtain information critical to market oversight and to make market information public if the CFTC determines that it is, in fact, in the public interest to do so. Senator Feinstein has gained the support of the New York Mercantile Exchange and various consumer organizations. I have to say, as someone who has long fought for the rights of consumers, this amendment is crucial for consumers. We know in California what can happen when energy markets go secret and you do not know what is happening, except one day you wake up and find you cannot afford to heat or air-condition your house, and if you are a business, you can no longer afford to pay the energy bill. I have to say from my heart that if the Senate walks away from this amendment, then it is giving a message to the country that we do not care much about this whole Enron scandal. Enron worked very hard to change regulations and laws to remove all government oversight. In my home State, they actually were under no oversight at all. One of the places there was oversight was the derivatives market under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and that was changed. Therefore, there was no oversight, and there was no way to ensure that the market was transparent--in other words, you could see the various transactions that led to the final energy bill--and it allowed, after they got out of the CFTC, for this online trading to go on in secret. Clearly, in my opinion, Enron manipulated the electricity market for one reason, and one can explain it in one word: secrecy. They operated in secrecy. There was only one agency to mind the store, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This administration was wined and dined by Enron, and they did nothing to help California--zero, nothing--for almost a whole year. We saw the biggest transfer of wealth from ordinary working people to these energy companies. Enron had a methodical plan to free itself of any and all Government oversight so they could cooperate in secret and trade up the price of energy in secret through financial arrangements, including derivatives. Senator Feinstein has a very good amendment that will restore transparency to these sales. That is why I am very proud to support it, and that is why I say to you that it will be the first test vote on whether we learned anything from this Enron scandal, and more than that, are we willing to do something about the problems that led to the whole crisis in California. In 1992, Enron worked to remove energy derivative contracts from Government regulations. This resulted in Enron being able to hide information about individual trades from Government oversight. That is why Senator Feinstein has written this amendment. Let's go back, she says, to the days when there was oversight over these online trades. Once the contracts were outside Government oversight, Enron lobbied Congress to remove the trading itself from Government regulation, and in 2000, Enron was successful and was allowed to create an unregulated subsidiary that could buy and sell electricity, natural gas, and other energy commodities in huge volumes without any Government oversight. As I said, we know what happened. The prices soared in my home State. My State suffered a devastating economic crisis. I have a chart that shows the demand went up in that 1 year that Enron got out of any oversight 4 percent; energy prices in toto went up 266 percent. I will never forget meeting with Vice President Cheney after trying desperately to get a meeting with him--this goes for me, Senator Feinstein, and other Members of the California congressional delegation. Do you know what he said to us? We told him to look at the prices: How can we sustain this? All of California spent $7.4 billion on energy in 1999, and then in 2000 when Enron got out of oversight, it shot up to $27 billion? How can we sustain it? He looked at us and said with a straight face: You are using too much energy. I say again to the Vice President and anyone who happens to be watching, California on a per capita basis is the most energy efficient State in the Union. We use less energy than any other State. We are a model in that regard. We have 34 million people plus, but on an individual basis we use less. Our energy went up by only 4 percent and our prices went up by 266 percent, and one of the reasons for this is Enron was allowed to trade online in secret. They sold the same energy over and over, sometimes, they say, as many as 14 and 15 times before it got to the consumer. No oversight. People can make the argument that deregulation everywhere is a wonderful thing, and I am willing to listen to it, but I have to say, when it comes to a commodity that people need to live, they need it to heat their homes; they need it in hospitals to make sure an operation will not be terminated in the middle of it because of the loss of energy. The Chair was talking about how many proud farmers are in her State. I say to the Chair, in my State I went to a meeting in the central valley--and the Chair has been there, I know--where they have all kinds of farming. One of the big industries is the poultry industry. They were so fearful that the refrigeration would go out and this poultry would spoil, some of it would make people sick, or they would have to throw it out. The bottom line is, energy is not a luxury, it is a requirement. So when we go ahead and take the whole energy area outside of any type of reasonable regulation, we are setting up a horror story for people. I can truly say, we went through that and I want to spare that from happening in the State of the Chair--the Senator from New York has already gone through enough trauma for any Senator--and I want to stop it from happening anywhere in this great country of ours. The first test case is the Feinstein amendment to restore some type of oversight to this online trading. There is a gentleman from San Marcos, CA, who wrote to President Bush. He sent me a copy. This was during the electricity crisis. He said: I am a father and a husband in a single income family. My wife and I very carefully planned our family economics in order to give our daughter the benefits of having a full-time parent at home. We are currently spending money on electricity bills that should be going into family investments for college or retirement planning. This gentleman was so right. What happened was no regulation, the ability for Enron and others to completely manipulate the market. Senator Feinstein's amendment, which has been second-degreed by a whole different subject about judges--and I am all for voting on that, but it should not have been done to this. We need a clean vote on her amendment to restore some sense of transparency and honesty to the electricity business. This is another story I read about in the San Diego Union-Tribune when we were having our troubles. There is a pizza store called Big Top Pizza where the electricity bill went from $200 to $646--a 223-percent increase. It kind of mirrors what happened to my State. That happened in 1 month. Imagine as a business person seeing that kind of increase. I also read about a florist where their electricity bill went up 135 percent. When we talk about these things, they may not sound as though they are so related to the amendment. The amendment talks about making sure we have an electricity business we can monitor to make sure it is fair and just and we do not have unjust and unreasonable prices. If we cannot see through this system--which is currently the case because no one is monitoring it--this is going to happen again. It is going to happen to other good people in other States. In closing, I cannot say enough about how much I thank Senator Feinstein for coming to the Senate with this amendment. What she is doing is looking at our experience in California and saying, how can we do something quite simple, which we always did before, which is to make sure we do not have people facing this type of escalation in costs, manipulation of prices, all done in secret, nobody looking over their shoulder, and who pays the price? The good American people and the good consumers of this country. I hope we will have an outstanding vote in favor of the Feinstein amendment, and I hope we can begin then to attack the basic causes of what happened in my State--an unregulated industry, out of control, insider trading going on by the people at the top without one care in the world for the shareholders, for the consumers, and for the people. Jeffrey Skilling, the CEO of Enron, made a ``joke'' about California which was: California and the Titanic are very much alike. The one difference is at least the Titanic went down with its lights on. That was supposed to be a humorous joke. The bottom line is Enron turned out to be the Titanic, and if we do not learn lessons and if we do not move now to correct what happened, I do not know why we are here. That is how strongly I feel. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today, I speak with great pain in my heart as our country remembers the victims of September 11. Monday was the 6- month anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Once again, I want to offer my condolences for the people who lost family members, friends, and loved ones. The amazing generosity and outpouring of love expressed by so many people in our country over these past six months has been heartwarming, and I have never seen such unity. Our country has been through a very difficult time. Each of us will remember where we were when we heard the news that commercial planes were turned into weapons against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Each of us will remember how we felt when we realized the incredible devastation of terrorism in our midst. On that day I was in the Capitol in a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and several other Senators when the planes struck the World Trade Center. As we evacuated the Capitol building, our brace Californians on Flight 93 were bringing down the plane, hijacked by the terrorists and most likely headed for us. I truly believe that those Californians on Flight 93 that day have made it possible for me to be here today. Even as time has gone on, all I can think of is the people on those planes, every one of whom had a family. It is the families today that are coping with the results of September 11, and it is the families that will continue to keep the memory of the victims alive in all of our hearts. We have decided to fight and stand up for them and their memories. I want to read the names of the victims--in the planes, in the Towers, and in the Pentagon--from the State of California: David Angell and Lynn Angell, Seima Aoyama, Barbara Aresteguis, Melissa Barnes, Alan Beaven, Berry Berenson, Yeneneh Betru, Carolyn Beug and Mary Alice Wahlstrom, Mark Bingham, Deora Bodley, Touri Bolourchi, Richard Guadagno, Daniel Brandhourst and David Brandhourst, Charles ``Chic'' Burlingame III, Thomas Burnett, Suzanne Calley, Jefferey Collman, Jason Dahl, Dorothy Dearaujo, Darlene Flagg, Dee Flagg, Wilson Flagg, Lisa Frost, Ronald Gamboa, Andrew Garcia, Edmund Glazer, Jeremy Glick, Lauren Grandcolas, Andrew Curry Green, Stanley Hall, Gerald Hardacre, John Hofer, Stephen Hyland, Barbara Keating, Chandler Keller, Jude Larson, Natalie Larson, Daniel John Lee, Maclovio ``Joe'' Lopez, Dora Menchaca, Hilda Marcin, Nicole Miller, Mildred Naiman, Laurie A. Neira, Christopher Newton, Jacqueline Norton and Robert Norton, Ruben Orneda, Jerrold Paskins, Thomas Pecorelli, Robert Penniger, Mari-Rae Sopper, Hilda Taylor, Douglas Stone, Alicia Titus, Otis Tolbert, James Trentini and Mary Trentini, Pendyala Vamsikrishna, Timothy Ward, John Wenckus, John Yamnicky, Sr. Every generation has its time of testing. For my parents it was World War II, and for their parents it was World War I. Now, this our time, and this our challenge.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, this week, celebrations throughout the Nation will mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouts. I would like to take a few moments to acknowledge this great organization and the profound impact it makes in the lives of girls and young women. Ninety years ago, Juliette Gordon Low assembled a group of girls in Savannah, GA, for the first meeting of Girl Scouts. Her goal was to provide an environment where girls could develop physically, mentally and spiritually. Those goals are unchanged today, with nearly 4 million girls and adults currently holding membership in Girl Scouts. Even more impressive is that more than 50 million women in the United States today claim a Girl Scout experience in their past. While focused on its goal to help individual girls thrive, Girl Scouts has also known that it can make an important difference in our Nation's cultural life. From its beginnings, Girl Scouts has maintained a commitment to inclusiveness. It has encouraged diversity in its ranks, in its leadership and in the broad variety of public service programs Girl Scouts pursue. I ask my colleagues to join me today in acknowledging the anniversary of Girl Scouts. I think that if Juliette Gordon Low were to visit a Girl Scout Troop today, she would rightfully be very proud of what she would see.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, today I would like to honor two national collegiate championship teams from my State of California. They are great examples of team spirit and cooperation: the Santa Clara University women's soccer team and the Stanford University women's volleyball team. The Santa Clara University women's soccer team won the 2001 NCAA College Cup Championship this past fall. The team won its first national title in their fifth trip to the College Cup, and this is the first outright NCAA championship in the school's history. The members of the 2001 Santa Clara University women's soccer team are: Holly Azevedo; Jessica Ballweg; Emma Borst; Lana Bowen; Jaclyn Campi; Kristi Candau; Ynez Carrasco; Kerry Cathcart; Devvyn Hawkins; Bree Horvath; Anna Kraus; Leslie Osborne; Erin Pearson; Chardonnay Poole; Erin Sharpe; Katie Sheppard; Danielle Slaton; Alyssa Sobolik; Taline Tahmassian; Allie Teague; Aly Wagner; and Veronica Zepeda. I congratulate the team and their head coach, Jerry Smith. The Stanford University women's volleyball team won the 2001 NCAA National Championship this past fall. The team won its fifth national championship, which is a record. The members of the 2001 Stanford University women's volleyball team are: Michelle Chambers; Tara Conrad; Sara Dukes; Leahi Hall; Jennifer Harvey; Jennifer Hucke; Ashley Ivy; Emily Lawrence; Robyn Lewis; Sara McGee; Ogonna Nnamani; Anna Robinson; Sara Sandrik; and Logan Tom. I congratulate the team and their head coach, John Dunning. Both teams are an inspiration to all, especially to young women and girls who are themselves members of sports teams. I wish all the team members the best in whatever road they find themselves on after this great accomplishment.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I am so delighted today to welcome Reverend Jackson to our Senate family. Senator Feinstein and I are so very proud of him and of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. Anyone who has visited the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles comes away uplifted and comes away in many ways a changed person. It is an ecumenical experience, if I might say that, because what the Reverend said today is what guides that church--that all of us should be righteous and seek justice and seek the truth. Of course, if we did that every day in this Senate and justice prevailed and truth prevailed and righteousness prevailed, this country would be on the best course. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for that message which he gave us so quickly, but it is a very deep message which I hope we will all take to heart. Welcome, Reverend Jackson. Thank you, Madam President. I yield the floor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, on March 6, 2002, the Children's Spine Foundation will hold its Fourth Annual Gala, ``The Art of Giving.'' I would like to take a moment to inform the Senate of the organization's great work. Spinal deformities present a serious health problem for many children each year, and many cases are life threatening. The Children's Spine Foundation helps detect spinal deformities early and treats them effectively. The foundation has helped save many lives. Founded in 1994 by Dr. Thomas and Salma Haider, the Children's Spine Foundation provides much needed services to people in the Riverside and San Bernardino communities who might not otherwise have access to quality spinal health care. The foundation connects children in need with renowned orthopedic surgeons at local hospitals. It also provides screening for spinal abnormalities and raises awareness through educational programs, health fairs, workshops and conferences. I would like to express a special word of commendation to Dr. and Mrs. Haider, whose care and compassion have made the Children's Spine Foundation a reality. CSF would not be the wonderful foundation it is today without their guidance and vision. They are truly the pioneers behind CSF's important mission. I send my best wishes to the Children's Spine Foundation on the special day of its annual gala event, and wish the staff and volunteers much continued success.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic shooting at Santana High School in Santee, CA. This shooting claimed the lives of two innocent teenagers: Brian Zuckor and Randy Gordon, and sent an entire community into mourning. The community of students, faculty, family and friends at Santana High School is still mourning. The healing process is difficult and long, and I offer my thoughts, condolences, and support to the entire community. I look with great respect at the way they have reacted to this senseless act of violence; both immediately, in the aftermath of the shootings, and in the year that has followed. Youth and adults alike have shown great compassion, strength and bravery in coping with this tragic event. To commemorate this one-year anniversary, the school held a ``Santana Safe School Tribute 5k Run/Walk'' on Saturday morning. Proceeds from the walk will benefit the creation of Santana's Community/Family Resource Center, a center aimed at providing youths the physical, emotional and intellectual support they need. In addition, Santana High School will have a day of private remembrance today, with a flag ceremony in the main quad, a moment of silence, and a luncheon for the entire school community. On this day, the anniversary of Santana High School's shooting, I once again extend my support for the families and friends affected by the tragedy. I offer special condolences and thoughts to the Zuckor and Gordon families. I assure them that I continue to hold this incident close to my heart as I fight to pass common sense gun legislation, put police officers in schools, and keep our children and communities safe.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I would like to set aside a moment to reflect on the work of Dr. Daniel Maydan, the latest recipient of the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award. This distinguished honor recognizes those who personify the League's ideals of equality and justice. Dr. Maydan, President of California-based Applied Materials, is a true leader in the technology industry and broader community. He spearheaded the development of the company's plasma etch technologies, leading to the creation of a manufacturing system central to California's semiconductor industry. This revolutionary technology has been included in the Smithsonian Institution's breakthrough technologies collection. Bridging the digital divide both at home and abroad, Dr. Maydan helped strengthen Israel's presence in the global economic sphere, earning the Israel Trade and State of Israel Jubilee Awards. In addition, he established scholarship programs at Hebrew University and a Center for Advanced Materials Study at the Israel Institute of Technology to encourage and support others pursuing studies and careers in the sciences. In addition to his many other activities, he serves on the Board of Directors of the San Jose Symphony. Dr. Maydan has helped shape our technology field and helped make it possible for others to follow his lead. It is clear that he is most worthy of this honor.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am introducing two bills to help prevent terrorists from using false identification to gain access to our Nation's airports and airplanes. The tragic events of September 11 taught our Nation and the world a very harsh lesson about the safety of our skies. Congress responded by drafting and passing legislation to ensure enhanced security at our airports and on our airplanes. I worked hard with my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee to increase the security of our Nation's skies, and we succeeded in passing an airline security bill. However, there is still more we can do. Current law does not go far enough when it comes to guarding against the use of fake IDs by terrorists. The importance of this fact cannot be underestimated. As we now know, some of the terrorists who hijacked the planes on September 11 did indeed use fake IDs to board the planes. My two bills include three ``T''s to prevent terrorists from using false identification-- technology, training, and tough sentences. First, the legislation I am introducing today will mandate training for airline personnel who are responsible for checking the identification of passengers. Second, my legislation would provide technology to catch fraudulent IDs. It would require the placement of ID technology in every airport across the Nation. This technology would check the validity of passengers' IDs, and could also include optical or facial scanners to determine if an individual is in a terrorist database. These technologies are out there, they're ready for use, and our airports should be using them starting now. Finally, I propose legislation to mandate prison time for anyone who produces, transfers, possesses, or uses a fake ID in connection with terrorism. Currently, in Federal law, there is no mandatory imprisonment for the production, transfer, possession, or use of a fake ID. Under any circumstances, even in relation to terrorist acts. This, to me, seems wrong. If you at any point and time facilitate an act of terrorism by providing someone with a fake ID, making a fake ID, possessing a fake ID, or using that fake ID, you should go to jail. Period. My bill makes sure that principle is reflected in Federal law. Last, my bill closes the loophole that punishes people for fake IDs used in acts of international terrorism, but not domestic terrorism. Under the USA PATRIOT Act the Congress passed last year, a definition of ``domestic terrorism'' was added to the criminal code. My bill makes sure that fake ID offenses related to domestic terrorism get the same punishment as those relating to international terrorism. It simply is not enough to have sporadic safeguards in a handful of airports. The bills I am introducing today will help close loopholes that currently serve as wide open doors for terrorists.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am introducing two bills to help prevent terrorists from using false identification to gain access to our Nation's airports and airplanes. The tragic events of September 11 taught our Nation and the world a very harsh lesson about the safety of our skies. Congress responded by drafting and passing legislation to ensure enhanced security at our airports and on our airplanes. I worked hard with my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee to increase the security of our Nation's skies, and we succeeded in passing an airline security bill. However, there is still more we can do. Current law does not go far enough when it comes to guarding against the use of fake IDs by terrorists. The importance of this fact cannot be underestimated. As we now know, some of the terrorists who hijacked the planes on September 11 did indeed use fake IDs to board the planes. My two bills include three ``T''s to prevent terrorists from using false identification-- technology, training, and tough sentences. First, the legislation I am introducing today will mandate training for airline personnel who are responsible for checking the identification of passengers. Second, my legislation would provide technology to catch fraudulent IDs. It would require the placement of ID technology in every airport across the Nation. This technology would check the validity of passengers' IDs, and could also include optical or facial scanners to determine if an individual is in a terrorist database. These technologies are out there, they're ready for use, and our airports should be using them starting now. Finally, I propose legislation to mandate prison time for anyone who produces, transfers, possesses, or uses a fake ID in connection with terrorism. Currently, in Federal law, there is no mandatory imprisonment for the production, transfer, possession, or use of a fake ID. Under any circumstances, even in relation to terrorist acts. This, to me, seems wrong. If you at any point and time facilitate an act of terrorism by providing someone with a fake ID, making a fake ID, possessing a fake ID, or using that fake ID, you should go to jail. Period. My bill makes sure that principle is reflected in Federal law. Last, my bill closes the loophole that punishes people for fake IDs used in acts of international terrorism, but not domestic terrorism. Under the USA PATRIOT Act the Congress passed last year, a definition of ``domestic terrorism'' was added to the criminal code. My bill makes sure that fake ID offenses related to domestic terrorism get the same punishment as those relating to international terrorism. It simply is not enough to have sporadic safeguards in a handful of airports. The bills I am introducing today will help close loopholes that currently serve as wide open doors for terrorists.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, the shock of September 11 has been replaced with a focus on rebuilding and recovery, but the abduction and death of Daniel Pearl remind us that cold-blooded terrorism continues and that its casualties are too often innocent individuals: moms, dads, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, and children. A writer for The Wall Street Journal since 1990, Daniel Pearl, was abducted in Karachi, Pakistan on January 23, while going, he thought, to conduct an interview about the Islamic militant underground. Instead of being granted that interview, Mr. Pearl was abducted, and it is now clear that his kidnappers intended all along to kill him, in the most horrifying fashion. Born in Princeton, NJ, Daniel Pearl moved as a young man with his family to California's San Fernando Valley, where his parents still reside. He attended Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, and went onto Stanford University where he graduated with a degree in Communications. Journalism was clearly his calling, and he returned to the northeast to begin his career. Following a stint with a newspaper in Massachusetts, he joined the staff of The Wall Street Journal. Over the next decade, he would see the world, beginning with postings in Atlanta and Washington, and later in London and Paris. Wherever he went, people were drawn to and delighted by Daniel Pearl. His warmth and wit, his kindness and intelligence, defined him as a person and were gifts that he shared generally with those around him. I offer my deepest condolences to Daniel Pearl's wife Mariane, 7 months pregnant with their first child; to his parents Dr. Yehuda and Ruth Pearl, and to his sisters Tamara and Michelle, who describe their brother, son and husband as ``such a gentle soul . . . the musician, the writer, the storyteller, the bridge builder.'' Their courage and dignity in the face of this tragic loss is nothing short of inspirational, and my heart goes out to them. It is time for the terrorism to stop. In the name of Daniel Pearl and the other innocent victims, we must seek to understand the roots of terrorism in the world and bring to an end the ever-escalating cycle of violence.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, since 1998, Americans have celebrated ``Read Across America'' in March to honor Dr. Seuss' birthday. Millions of Americans take part in this nationwide effort to promote reading among our children while paying tribute to Dr. Seuss' great legacy. It is hard to imagine our childhoods without the delightful books of Dr. Seuss. Such classics as ``The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham'' taught us life lessons we will never forget. My personal favorite is ``Oh, the Places You'll Go!'' because it encourages children to reach for their dreams. I loved reading the book to my children, and now read it to my grandson. I also enjoy reading it to students while visiting schools in California. Schools throughout the Nation hold special events to celebrate ``Read Across America.'' This year, schools plan to have breakfasts of green eggs and ham, reading relays, birthday parties for Dr. Seuss, choral readings and museum exhibits. Celebrities and elected officials will join in the fun by reading books to children. ``Read Across America'' is a day to celebrate the joy of reading and a return to our childhood, but it also provides an opportunity to address a very important issue: children's literacy in the United States. It has been proven that if children read more at home, they will do better at school. ``Read Across America'' can help prepare our children for success. I take great pride in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the National Education Association's ``Read Across America.'' Books introduce children to a wealth of knowledge and a world of imagination. Last year, celebrations took place in every State in the Nation, involving more than 35 million people. This year, NEA expects an even bigger turnout. I extend my best wishes to participating schools, and encourage all Americans to get involved in this wonderful celebration of reading.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise to reflect on the work of California Speaker Robert M. Hertzberg, who has left the post of Speaker after presiding over the Assembly for 2 extraordinary years. Most of all, Bob Hertzberg will be remembered as a leader at a time of crisis, first with the State's energy crisis, and then the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. When California came face-to-face with its energy crisis, Bob worked to identify the problems and craft legislation to solve them. Bob's leader ship and unwavering commitment helped California to avoid blackouts and control utility costs. On September 11, we experienced events that changed our Nation forever. Bob Hertzberg swiftly established a State Task Force on the Impact of Terrorism on California to assess what California needed to do to protect itself from future terrorist attacks. The task force heard testimony from law enforcement officials, business leaders, economists and health officials, and drafted thorough reports for the State Legislature. Bob Hertzberg is a leader to create a better future for our children. In 1998, he helped pass, with the help of former Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, what was the largest school construction bond in America's history. The $9.2 billion bond included record funding for schools, colleges and universities. This funding helped construct more than 500 schools and modernize more than 2,000 existing schools throughout the State. On December 14, 2000, Bob introduced the Kindergarten, University, Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2002, an even larger bond that would allocate $12 billion for the construction and modernization of elementary schools, colleges and universities. Similar to the previous measure, it would help schools meet the needs of a rapidly growing student population. Bob Hertzberg is a great representative of the San Fernando Valley and a leader for all of California. He has been a strong leader when we needed it the most. I thank Bob for his great contributions to our State over the years, and wish him well in the future.

Mrs. BOXER

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I join my colleagues in paying tribute to a man who is in many ways larger than life. Today we celebrate the 70th birthday of Senator Edward Kennedy, someone who personifies public service in our country. Senator Kennedy is a member of a family that has dedicated itself to public service. His entire family has followed the credo that ``One person can make a difference and every one should try.'' Senator Kennedy truly has made a difference, and he has so often made a difference for the people who work hard day in and day out. Senator Kennedy has been a champion of working Americans since he became involved in public service. He is today our most outspoken and eloquent advocate for their causes. He has worked tirelessly for increasing the minimum wage, for quality health care for all Americans, and for education reform. He is a leader for civil rights in our country and for strengthening Medicare and Social Security. Senator Kennedy has had tremendous accomplishments during his nearly four decades in the U.S. Senate, many more than I can articulate in this short amount of time. Suffice to say, Senator Kennedy has been an inspiration to generations of Americans. He has been a friend and colleague to all of us serving in this body. I am so very proud and honored to serve with him.