Jim Bunning

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Major Anthony D. ``Tony'' Sinnott. A former Flatwoods, KY native, Major Sinnott was recently awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for being chosen as the Reserve Officer of the Year for 2002. Major Sinnott was chosen from 560 reserve officers from all the armed services serving the U.S. Central Command in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sinnott received the award from General Tommy Franks, Combatant Commander of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida. The citizens of Flatwoods, KY, and the Commonwealth are proud of Major Sinnott's accomplishments. His example of hard work, determination, and patriotism are appreciated by all across the United States. As we continue to keep our soldiers deployed all around the world in our thoughts and prayers, I rise to also thank the thousands of men and women who wear our uniform and serve our Nation so courageously. Mr. President, I thank the Senate in joining me to congratulate Major Sinnott on his service to the U.S. Marine Corps and our great Nation.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I have the honor of rising today to recognize Ms. Elizabeth Namusoke Kizito of Louisville, KY. Earlier this month, Ms. Kizito was named Woman Business Owner of the Year by the Louisville chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Ms. Kizito is being honored for demonstrating smart business practices that have led to the success of Kizito Cookies located in Louisville. Almost 20 years ago, Ms. Kizito began her entrepreneurial experience by selling cookies as a way to pay for her son's birthday present. Shortly thereafter, she had enough business to begin selling cookies from a street cart. Within a few years she traded her cart for a bakery on Bardstown Road. What sets Kizito Cookies apart from other businesses are Ms. Kizito's superior marketing skills. Dressed in traditional garb from her native country of Uganda, she sells cookies from a basket placed atop her head. Many Louisvillians affectionately refer to her as the ``Cookie Lady.'' Her African heritage plays a dominant part in her life and business. Born in Uganda during the 1950s, she moved to America to attend school. Unfortunately, civil unrest resulting in a civil war prevented her from returning to Uganda. She moved to Louisville in 1978 and began making cookies for coworkers, a skill she learned from her father who ran a bakery in Uganda. Each year she travels to her home country and even provides financial assistance to her relatives. Ms. Kizito continues honoring her roots by passing along to the people of Louisville a piece of her culture. Ms. Kizito's hard work and dedication are inspiring. She has created a great deal from very little, and in the process made an entire community her friend. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Elizabeth Namusoke Kizito on this much deserved honor.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill of critical importance to the over 90,000 participants and beneficiaries of the YMCA pension plan. This issue affects the 656 hard-working YMCA employees in Kentucky that initially brought this problem to my attention. With its presence felt in more than 10,000 communities nationwide, YMCA is the Nation's largest community service organization. Each year YMCA employees deliver important health and social services to over 17.9 million Americans. The YMCA mission to ``put Christian principles in practice through programs that build healthy spirit for mind, body, for all'' is indeed a very noble endeavor. YMCAs serve people of all faiths, incomes, ages, and race. This generous organization never turns people away for inability to pay. YMCA's strength is in both its dedicated employees and the people they bring together through its service. Each local YMCA is tailored to the specific needs of the community in which it serves. The employees of the YMCA do God's work each day. This bill ensures that they will continue to receive the pensions they have earned and deserve. With over $3 billion in assets, the YMCA pension plan has been in place for over 80 years. The plan has always been considered as a ``church pension plan.'' There are no problems with the operation of the plan and the IRS has said it is in full compliance--with one possible exception. Generally, in order to be considered a ``church plan'' the sponsoring organization must be affiliated with a specific church. Traditionally, the YMCA has not affiliated with any one church, but has instead identified with a ``Christian affiliation.'' This bill would clarify that the plan will continue to be a ``church plan'' despite the fact that the YMCA is not limited to one specific church or religious denomination. It is important that Congress clarifies this technicality to ensure that the beneficiaries of the YMCA pension plan receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 413.

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

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, this amendment is a much needed amendment. It repeals the Clinton tax increase on Social Security benefits that passed by one vote in 1993. Before 1993, seniors were taxed on 50 percent of their Social Security benefits if their incomes were above $25,000 for individuals and $32,000 for couples. After the increase, individuals who made over $34,000 and couples who made over $44,000 paid taxes on 85 percent of their Social Security income. These figures have not been adjusted for inflation for the past 10 years. The tax hike was unfair in 1993. It is unfair today. On the one hand, we tell the seniors to plan and save for retirement. On the other hand, we tax them for doing just that. That doesn't make any sense. We ought to repeal this tax. Some of us have been trying to undo this mistake for 10 years. The amendment would allow the Finance Committee to finally finish the job. I urge support for the amendment to end this unfair tax on seniors and their Social Security benefits.

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, this is an absolute zero amendment. It is a sense of the Senate, which means nothing in law. The amendment we voted on earlier had the direct effect on $146 billion which is the amount of money that would have been reduced from the tax base if we did what we said we were going to do on the Social Security reduction from 85 percent to 50 percent, with the instructions to the Finance Committee to do just that. This amendment does absolutely nothing to correct that situation.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the 262 employees of Raytheon Company in Louisville, KY, for their vital role in strengthening our Nation's defense. Americans remember the terrorist attack on the USS Cole on October 12, 2000. On that tragic day we lost 17 of our best sailors and 39 more were injured by a small boat laden with explosives that hit the USS Cole as it was refueling in a Yemeni port. The Cole is now a symbol of our Nation's fight against terrorism to many Americans. The destroyer has since been repaired and has rejoined its fleet. The employees of Raytheon in Louisville have been working hard to prevent future attacks against our ships in the U.S. Navy and in the navies of our allies across the globe. Raytheon produces the Phalanx Block 1B Close In Weapon System. Phalanx is a rapid-fire, fully computerized radar and 20-mm gun system that is designed to prevent attacks similar to the Cole tragedy. The Phalanx protects our crews and ships by identifying and shooting down threats from small gunboats, anti-ship missiles, helicopters, floating mines, and many other threats. This week Raytheon delivered a Phalanx Block 1B system to the USS Cole as part of a U.S. Navy effort to upgrade its defense systems onboard its ships. The men and women of Raytheon work hard to produce the best system possible to protect our crews and our ships. Mr. President, I am proud of the employees of Raytheon in Louisville for continuing to give the men and women serving our country the best possible defense to protect the USS Cole and other ships against future attacks.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill of critical importance to the over 90,000 participants and beneficiaries of the YMCA pension plan. This issue affects the 656 hard-working YMCA employees in Kentucky that initially brought this problem to my attention. With its presence felt in more than 10,000 communities nationwide, YMCA is the Nation's largest community service organization. Each year YMCA employees deliver important health and social services to over 17.9 million Americans. The YMCA mission to ``put Christian principles in practice through programs that build healthy spirit for mind, body, for all'' is indeed a very noble endeavor. YMCAs serve people of all faiths, incomes, ages, and race. This generous organization never turns people away for inability to pay. YMCA's strength is in both its dedicated employees and the people they bring together through its service. Each local YMCA is tailored to the specific needs of the community in which it serves. The employees of the YMCA do God's work each day. This bill ensures that they will continue to receive the pensions they have earned and deserve. With over $3 billion in assets, the YMCA pension plan has been in place for over 80 years. The plan has always been considered as a ``church pension plan.'' There are no problems with the operation of the plan and the IRS has said it is in full compliance--with one possible exception. Generally, in order to be considered a ``church plan'' the sponsoring organization must be affiliated with a specific church. Traditionally, the YMCA has not affiliated with any one church, but has instead identified with a ``Christian affiliation.'' This bill would clarify that the plan will continue to be a ``church plan'' despite the fact that the YMCA is not limited to one specific church or religious denomination. It is important that Congress clarifies this technicality to ensure that the beneficiaries of the YMCA pension plan receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Paulette Carey who was selected as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, National Citizenship Education Teacher Award winner for grades 6 through 8. She was chosen for her contributions as a teacher to classroom activities that have benefitted her students. Paulette was chosen among entries received from 53 VFW State and overseas headquarters. As a teacher at Oldham County Middle School, Ms. Carey has demonstrated excellence in her classroom that has made all the difference in the lives of her students. Her commitment towards improving the quality of education in Kentucky's schools has proven her value as an educator. I am glad that Paulette Carey chose to be a teacher in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and it is a source of great pride to call attention to her excellence. The citizens from Oldham County are fortunate to call Paulette Carey one of their own. They are privileged to be served by such a fine educator. Her example should be followed by teachers across Kentucky.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the Western Kentucky University men's basketball team for their success on the court this season. The Hilltoppers, led by Coach Dennis Felton, overcame injuries and illness, to finish the season at 24-8 and earn a trip to the NCAA tournament. They are a deep, veteran team with plenty of skills and NCAA experience. The Hilltoppers also had a great scoring balance, with five players averaging at least 9.8 points a game. The Hilltoppers earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a 64-52 victory over Middle Tennessee in the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship. This makes Coach Felton the first coach in WKU's history to lead the Hilltoppers to three consecutive Sun Belt and NCAA tournament appearances. Unfortunately, the Hilltoppers were unable to carry on their winning momentum against the University of Illinois, losing to the Fighting Illini in a valiant effort the first round of the NCAA tournament. Overall, the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers had a very successful and productive season. They overcame numerous hurdles to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and earn their 19th invitation to the NCAA tournament. They worked as a team all year to prove their dedication and skill and showed that they have the hearts of champions. I applaud Coach Felton and his players for all that they accomplished this season and I wish them further victories.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise to express my support for the budget resolution. First I would like to say that it is nice to actually have a budget on the floor in the Senate. We didn't ever get to vote on one last year, and I would like to compliment Chairman Nickles on moving this resolution swiftly through the budget committee and to the Senate floor. We have to remember that part of our responsibility to our constituents is not to just listen to and be their voice in Washington. We also have to respect and follow the traditions, rules and processes of our duties that have been entrusted to us. Whether it is following the committee process to get a bill to the floor, or allowing an up or down vote on a president's judicial nominee, we have to remember that the Senate is only as great as those who serve in it. I think the Senate suffered last year when for the first time in nearly three decades we did not even consider a budget resolution. It then took us almost a full year to get all of our work done. We didn't pass last year's appropriations bills until just 2 months ago. Last year we failed and we have to improve. The result was a broken process that limped along for months and months. This year we have to do better and I believe we will. We face a tough budget for 2004. While I am happy the budget resolution before us balances the budget within 10 years, we do face some large deficits in the near term. These large deficits primarily occur because we have had a steep decline in revenue. Contrary to what some of my colleagues try to argue, our revenue problems are caused by a weak economy and not tax cuts. The evidence is overwhelming that tax cuts stimulate the economy. They create jobs, and increase economic activity, that leads to more revenue. And that is why we need tax cuts now--to get the economy out of a rut and to help improve the budget forecast. If American businesses are not generating profits, if American workers are not working, the result is a lot less money coming into the Federal Government through various taxes. Decreased tax receipts do not mean taxes are too low; they mean the economy is too slow. We cannot make these budget numbers look better in the long term without a strong economy. Many of my friends argue against tax cuts and at the same time complain about falling revenues. If they really want to increase federal receipts and provide more funding for their favorite programs, tax cuts are the answer. Our budget committee, under the leadership of chairman Nickles, has crafted a strong budget. Besides this budget outlining our federal spending priorities, it also addresses one of the most important challenges facing our country today--strengthening the economy. At its core, this budget recognizes that we must grow our economy. That is why the budget committee chose to include a jobs and growth package at the very core of this budget and to include that package in reconciliation. We have a fundamental responsibility to the American people to make this economy stronger and to return it to a growth pattern we have enjoyed in the past. Many here have expressed concerns for our men and women who are fighting for our freedoms and to liberate the people of Iraq. We all pray for their safety and their quick return home to their loved ones. But in addition to our responsibility to do what we can to insure their safety overseas, we must also focus upon our responsibilities to them when they return. While we continue to pray for a quick and decisive end to this war, we have to think about what our soldiers and sailors will have to come home to. An economy with an unemployment rate of 5.8 percent is not good enough. An economy that's barely growing is not good enough. We have to do better. We have to make sure they have choices and opportunities in the American job market that will allow them to support themselves and their families. It is not going to do us any good to win the war and lose the economy. We have to do both at the same time. We have to get this economy moving and Americans working. And the jobs and growth package included in this budget resolution is the answer to our economic troubles. The council of economic advisors estimates that this economic growth plan will create 510,000 new jobs in 2003 and another 891,000 new jobs by the end of 2004. The business roundtable estimates that around 3.5 million jobs will be created over that same time frame. Between these two estimates, that is 1.5 million to 3.5 million Americans that will not be working over the next two years if we eliminate the President's growth package from this budget. The majority of the Budget Committee believe strongly in the wisdom of this jobs and growth package. And that is why we provided for the package under the special procedures of reconciliation. Through the accelerated procedures provided by reconciliation, we will be able to enact changes to help our economy sooner rather than later. The faster we can implement these policies, the better it will be for all of us. While the details of any growth package will be determined by the Senate Finance Committee, I hope that any bill that comes out of that committee, on which I serve, will include many, if not all, of the proposals that have been put forward by President Bush. High on the list are the acceleration of a number of proposals we passed in 2001 which are scheduled to totally phase-in and become effective in later years. The President's plan will immediately increase the child tax credit to $1000. This will benefit over 25 million American families--342,000 of them in Kentucky. The President's plan will accelerate the expansion of the 10 percent tax bracket--which benefits all American taxpayers. Over 69 million taxpayers will benefit from this provision, including 879,000 Kentuckians. Over 35 million married couples--almost 500,000 of them in Kentucky-- will benefit from the President's acceleration of marriage penalty relief. We also accelerate the reduction of the marginal tax rates. It is estimated this will provide 28 million taxpayers with a tax cut-- including the 85 percent of America's small businesses which pay personal income taxes rather than corporate taxes. Approximately 79 percent of the tax relief provided by accelerating the reduction in the top bracket to 35 percent would go to small business owners. As my colleagues are aware, it is the entrepreneurs and small business owners which create two-thirds of the new jobs in the United States. Another component of the President's jobs and growth package is the elimination of the double taxation of dividends. This could be the most effective provision of all of the President's proposals contained in the President's budget. But because of the usual class warfare mantra from its opponents, it may be the toughest to sell. Half of all households in America own stock and 50 percent of all dividend income goes to our country's seniors. So a reduction in the tax rate that dividends face--currently in the range of a 60 to 70 percent marginal rate--could have a real impact on our economy by allowing more dollars to be spent by consumers. This reduction in the double taxation of dividends not only assists current dividend recipients, but it assists all who own stock. Some private-sector estimates indicate that market increases from this proposal could be up to 20 percent. This would be welcome news to Americans who have been hard hit by the loss of about $7 trillion in the value of U.S. stocks since March 2000. An added bonus to eliminating the double taxation is the change it will have on the debt-to-equity ratios of American businesses. Treasury Secretary Snow estimates we could see changes in the debt- to-equity ratios in the range of 5 to 8 percent. This movement of corporations toward the use of more equity and less debt would leave them less vulnerable to economic downturns. And before we hear the usual cries from the opponent's of the President's tax relief package--who say we are raiding the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for tax cuts for the rich--let me set the record straight. As the law requires, we invest social security funds in government bonds which are the safest and most reliable investment out there. These bonds are kept in a secure facility in Clarksburg, WV. And no one has shown up there to grab these bonds and hand them out to the rich. That is just a bogus claim. The President's growth package is just that--an economic growth package. We recently passed an extension of unemployment benefits and President Bush signed that into law. While this may provide a quick-- yet short--stimulus to the economy, what we really need is a long-term jobs and economic growth plan. We cannot spend our way into prosperity. We have seen governments try this and fail. It may make some of us feel good to write check after check from the government, that is simply the wrong approach. Governments don't create jobs and wealth. Free individuals with an idea and a source of capital create jobs and wealth. We can grow ourselves into prosperity. We have done it before. The fundamental question is: Who knows better what is good for Americans-- the Federal Government or the American people? The strength of the American economy is not from the government and more Federal programs. It is the American people--the workers, entrepreneurs, investors, and risk takers--who keep the American dream alive. It is better to allow Americans to keep more of their money to make spending, savings and investment decisions. We cannot decide here what job skills different people need, or what new equipment companies should purchase, or how to organize a small business' growth plan. The Federal Government cannot make these investments for them. Big brother does not know best. We in Congress do not know what investments will best suit the particular interests of American families, entrepreneurs and business owners. But what we can do is allow Americans to have access to more of the money they work for and earn. And then we have to trust them to make the necessary decisions within the economy to invest and create more jobs. But to do this, we need to pass this budget resolution with its jobs and economic growth package in tact. And therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution as it was passed by the Budget Committee. Finally, I want to say a few words about the Medicare prescription drug benefit provision in the resolution. We all agree that Medicare is an important program. It provides health coverage to 41 million Americans, including almost 630,000 Kentuckians. When Medicare was created back in 1966, it ensured that seniors would be able to receive health care coverage. However, medicine has advanced so rapidly and prescription drugs play a major role in the health care of many. For years, Congress has debated various proposals for adding a drug benefit to Medicare. So far, we haven't gotten the job done. I am hopeful this year will be different for several reasons. First, our seniors need our help now more than ever. They shouldn't have to make tough decisions about which prescriptions they can afford to fill each month, or whether or not they should divide pills or skip meals. This is one of the biggest issues we hear about from our constituents. There are a lot of Kentuckians who would benefit. Almost 144,000 seniors in Kentucky are below 200 percent of poverty, and almost 58,000 are below the poverty level. Second, this budget resolution sets aside $400 billion over the next 10 years to create a medicare drug program. This is a great increase over what the President proposed before and shows his dedication to this issue. In fact, the President proposed $153 billion for Medicare prescription drugs in his fiscal year 2002 budget. For fiscal year 2003, this number increased to $190 billion. And for fiscal year 2004, President Bush has more than doubled last year's amount to $400 billion. For Congress's part, this $400 billion figure is also a substantial increase. In the fiscal year 2001 budget resolution, we set aside $40 billion over five years for a Medicare prescription drug benefit. In the fiscal year 2002 budget resolution, Congress allocated $300 billion over 10 years. Of course, last year, we didn't pass a budget. And, this year, we have set aside $400 billion over 10 years. Third, the finance committee will be allowed to consider and report a bill to the floor this year. And I am hopeful we can avoid many of the problems we encountered last year. Last year we voted on four prescription drug proposals. But because the bill didn't come from the finance committee as it should have, all these proposals required 60 votes to pass. Needless to say, none came close. Also, these four proposals ranged widely in price from as low as $295 billion to over $600 billion. The tri-partisan plan, which I and many of my colleagues voted for, was estimated to cost $370 billion over 10 years. We have a real chance for a bipartisan effort this year. An overwhelming majority in this body have indicated their support for a Medicare prescription drug benefit. I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution. It will create jobs if we can pass it with the President's job and tax package in tact. And the Medicare prescription drug benefit package it includes is what seniors not only need, but what they deserve.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. Res. 95. As the United States and her allies begin the campaign to defend the world against the tyrannical rule of Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein, we must all rally behind our Commander in Chief and Old Glory. The military action underway in Iraq is both just and lawful. We must rise and stand for humanity and help liberate the Iraqi people. After months of deception and noncompliance from the Iraqi regime about their weapons of mass destruction, the United States and over 30 allies decided to take military action to enforce United Nations resolution 1441 and disarm Saddam. Along with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of my colleagues in the Senate, I voted in favor of authorizing this use of force last fall. The brave men and women of our Armed Forces come from all across our great Nation, but I wish to specifically recognize the vital role that Kentucky is playing in this noble effort to disarm Saddam. I am confident that the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles, 5th Special Forces Group, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment will continue to make Fort Campbell, KY, and our great Nation proud. Thousands of our soldiers now in the Middle East completed vital and comprehensive training at Fort Knox. Fort Knox is the Home of Mounted Warfare where tank training is performed and perfected. These soldiers who trained at Fort Knox in mostly Abrams tanks are now on the front lines against the Iraqi Republican Guard. I guarantee our tank soldiers will prevail. Also, our men and women at the Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond, KY, continue to make sure that our troops have the munitions they need to defeat the enemy. Thousands of enlisted and reserve troops from Kentucky have answered their Nation's call to duty. From the Bluegrass Army Depot, they load munitions onto trains which end up in guns and the weapons systems of our ground forces and air power. They are helping freedom ring throughout the world. It is also important to thank our civilian workforce on our military bases and those who indirectly support the military and war effort. They play a key role in ensuring our installations are maintained and our soldiers are housed and fed and given the support they need to secure our freedoms. Their work and contribution must not be overlooked. This resolution reinforces that now is the time for America to be united and show our unconditional support for our troops and their mission. Freedom and democracy do not come easy and our soldiers are willing to sacrifice even their own lives to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to embrace such concepts as liberty and human rights and lead the world to more peaceful and secure days. We all hope and pray our troops come back safely and quickly after successfully disarming Saddam's brutal regime and liberating the Iraqi people. The cause of our military and allies is noble and just. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the family and loved ones of our soldiers. God bless them all.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I have the privilege and honor of rising today to recognize the Louisville Ballet, the State Ballet of Kentucky. Last week, this organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in the performing arts. This occasion was marked by special performances and educational events throughout the week. This company originally started as a civic ballet company, performing on a production-by-production basis. It was not until 1975, when eight dancers were hired as an ensemble company, that the company achieved professional recognition and status. Now, 50 years later, the Louisville Ballet employs over 30 dancers, occupies the award-winning Louisville Ballet Center, administers the Louisville Ballet School, and reaches over 100,000 people every year. Their reputation for excellence in the arts drew the world-famous dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov to perform with the company for two seasons during the late seventies. In addition to bringing excellence in performing arts to thousands of ballet fans, the company takes immense pride in its educational outreach programs offered to students. Through in-school, in-theater, and in-studio programs, students gain a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the ballet world, from early production planning basics to viewing a live performance. More importantly, these programs emphasize the importance of physical activity and positive self-esteem. I appreciate the tradition of excellence created by the Louisville Ballet Company and their efforts to reach out to communities. Please join me in congratulating artistic director Mr. Bruce Simpson and the Louisville Ballet Company and wishing them another wonderful 50 years and beyond.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the students of St. Albert the Great School in Louisville, KY. In September of 2001, 13-year old student Jamie Deibel was diagnosed with leukemia. Jamie was unable to attend school with her classmates all last year since she was frequently in and out of the hospital. Jamie's treatment forced her to lose her hair twice. Even though she will be in treatment until next January, Jamie fortunately feels well enough to attend class at St. Albert's and participate on the volleyball, softball, basketball, and swim teams. Jamie's friends at St. Albert showed their support for their classmate this week by raising money for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. In a show of solidarity with Jamie, more than 60 students shaved their heads to donate their hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love makes wigs for children like Jamie who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments and other reasons. Beauticians from all over Louisville donated their services for this worthwhile cause. Students, teachers, and parents from St. Albert have so far raised over $3,500 and hope to raise at least $5,000 for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in honoring Jamie's courage and the gracious efforts of the students from St. Albert to support one of their classmates. I believe we all can learn from St. Albert's example of caring for and serving others. My thoughts and prayers are with Jamie and her classmates.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Taylor Agathen, winner of the Conservation Art Contest. Over 100,000 students ranging from first to fifth grade throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky participated in the Conservation Art Contest. As part of the Conservation Art Program, the contest's purpose is to teach students about the importance of soil conservation in their communities. This year's theme was ``Kentucky Soil . . . It touches all of us.'' Taylor's poster, titled, ``Kentucky Soil . . . it touches my life,'' detailed erosion problems throughout Taylor County and ways to prevent it. Along with the help of her family, Taylor discovered that such ways to prevent erosion included the use of rocks, logs, and cement walls, and had pictures in her poster to prove it. It was a creative design that underscored the need to address the erosion problems throughout our Commonwealth. Taylor Agathen's first grade teacher, Ms. Laura Dickens, informed her of the Conservation Art Contest. As the first place recipient, Taylor will receive a $500 savings bond and will be an honored guest at The Courier-Journal Awards Luncheon on May 22. She worked hard for this achievement and has earned these rewards. One day Taylor hopes to be a marine biologist and I am sure she will make a good one.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today in the Senate to honor and pay tribute to Kentucky State Police Trooper Craig Stalker for being named the Southern Region Trooper of the Year. This honor was bestowed upon Trooper Stalker by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Trooper Stalker was nominated for this prestigious award after he rescued several people from two burning cars in Johnson County, KY, while off duty. After receiving this distinction he was presented with a 35-pound eagle trophy. The citizens of eastern Kentucky are fortunate to have Trooper Stalker protecting their communities. His example of leadership, hard work, and compassion should be an inspiration to all throughout the Commonwealth. Congratulations, Trooper Stalker for receiving this award. Trooper Stalker is just one of the many Kentucky State Police officers which put others before themselves by vowing to protect and serve Kentuckians. They have earned our admiration and respect, and for this we will always be grateful.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise to thank my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee for unanimously passing the language of the Arming Cargo Pilots Terrorism Act as an amendment to the Air Cargo Security Act. As was made so terribly clear on September 11, 2001, we must be ready for terrorist threats in places and times we never before thought we would. Congress has acted deliberately to increase our security and make it harder for terrorists to repeat the destruction of September 11. One step Congress took was to arm pilots of commercial aircraft who volunteered for a rigorous training program. At the last minute, commercial cargo pilots were left out of the program while their counterparts flying for commercial passenger carriers were armed. That makes no sense because cargo pilots fly the same planes with the same or larger fuel loads as the passenger aircraft that were hijacked on September 11. Last week, I introduced the Arming Cargo Pilots Against Terrorism Act to close that dangerous loophole. Today, Senator Boxer offered our bill as an amendment in the Commerce Committee and it passed unanimously. I thank her for all her hard work on this issue and I thank the Commerce Committee for acting expeditiously. I am hopeful this bill soon become law and the loophole will be closed. We need to protect our cargo pilots and the general public from any possible threat.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I speak in recognition of Dr. R. Brent Wright of Glasgow, Kentucky. Dr. Wright is a recipient of the American Medical Association's AMA Foundation Leadership Award at the 2003 AMA National Advocacy Conference held in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Each year the AMA takes an opportunity to honor young physicians who, in addition to offering patients quality medical attention, show a strong dedication to community affairs and leadership in the medical community. Only 25 young physicians in the nation receive this distinguished honor and I am proud that a fellow Kentuckian has been recognized for his innovative and hard work. Dr. Wright serves as a family physician at the University of Louisville Health Science Center in Glasgow, Kentucky. No stranger to serving the needs of the community, he is Chair of the Community Medical Care Clinical Committee which offers assistance to uninsured and employed individuals. Dr. Wright is also active with medical associations, such as the AMA and the Kentucky Medical Association Congress of Delegates, and he serves as the Acting Program Director of the University of Louisville/Glasgow Family Medicine Residency Program. His commitment to improving the health care system one patient at a time is certainly serving Kentucky well. I look forward to seeing the future accomplishments of his promising career, and I am pleased the Senate is joining me in honoring Dr. R. Brent Wright.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise in support of S. 3, the Partial- Birth Abortion Ban Act. It is totally unbelievable to me that Congress yet again is working on legislation to make partial-birth abortions illegal. This is the fourth Congress in which the Senate will have considered this issue. In that time, innocent babies have been killed by this cruel and horrible practice. It is time to finally end it once and for all. The Senate voted to ban partial-birth abortions in the 104th Congress, the 105th Congress, and the 106th Congress. The first two attempts to ban this gruesome act were sent to the White House and vetoed by President Bill Clinton. In the last Congress, the House passed a partial-birth abortion ban. However, the Senate leadership refused to bring the issue up for consideration. I commend our leader, Senator Frist, for moving quickly to address this issue early in the 108th Congress, and I commend Senator Santorum for his lead in this effort. I am confident that the President at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue will act in defense of life by signing this proposal into law. All forms of abortion are gruesome procedures, but I cannot imagine anything more hideous than partial-birth abortion. I will spare my colleagues a detailed description of this heinous procedure since it is so repulsive. We have already seen graphic pictures and illustrations outlining this infanticide. It is really hard to believe we have to go through this exercise every Congress because nobody, with a straight face and a clear conscience, can stand up and defend this procedure. The only way anyone can justify it is to say, hey, it doesn't matter because not that many partial-birth abortions are actually performed or they can try to cloud the issue by saying partial-birth abortions are only utilized in cases where the mother's life is in jeopardy. We know this just is not true. We know that some of the most ardent and visible defenders of abortion have actually lied about the numbers. It is not just a few hundred a year--it is in the thousands. But the numbers really should not make any difference. If it is wrong and inhumane, we should ban it, whether it affects 1 or 1 million. But misleading facts about the numbers--trying to play down the prevalence and frequency of this procedure--are no justification for allowing this practice to continue. This bill does not ignore the health needs of women. It clearly makes an exception when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. The plain language of this legislation clearly says that the ban on partial-birth abortions does not apply when such a procedure is considered necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. So even though many medical experts insist that there is never any medical justification for a partial- birth abortion, this bill goes the extra mile and permits it if the mother's life is in jeopardy. Personally, I don't think this makes much sense, but it just goes to show that those of us who support the bill are doing what we can to try to find a middle ground and to answer concerns that some of our colleagues still have. No one can deny that partial-birth abortion is cruel. No one can deny that it is patently inhumane. No one can deny that it is gruesome and grotesque. In fact, in the 8 years we have been debating this bill, no one has really come up with a defense of partial-birth abortions that holds any water. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, support this ban; it is simply a matter of respect for human life. I yield the floor.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Fort Knox civilian employee Jeannie Bright. As a technical publications editor with Fort Knox's Directorate of Training, Doctrine, and Combat Development, Ms. Bright was recently named the Training and Doctrine Command's Editor of the Year. She will be honored at the Secretary of the Army Awards ceremony in the Pentagon on March 14. Ms. Bright began her civilian career with the Army in 1974. Over the past 22 years, she has poured over millions of words in search of errors and in pursuit of accuracy in Army publications for soldiers. She recently said, ``Sometimes it can be monotonous stuff, but if we're talking about nuclear, biological, and chemical gear and we go to war, then this is pretty important stuff.'' While the Army recognizes the dedicated efforts of Ms. Bright, her award should also serve to acknowledge the vital role that all civilian employees play in our Nation's defense. As we continue to keep our soldiers deployed all around the world in our thoughts and prayers, I rise to also thank the thousands of civilian employees like Ms. Bright who also serve our Nation. I congratulate Ms. Bright on her tremendous service to the soldiers of Fort Knox, the entire Army and our great Nation. Thank you, Jeannie.

Mr. BUNNING

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

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, in the upcoming days of the 108th Congress, this legislative body may be called upon to tackle the very important and very difficult issue of Social Security reform. As it currently stands, the Social Security System needs strengthening for the sake of our children and grandchildren. I recently read an article, written by Mises Institute Scholar John Attarian, which takes us back to December 1981, when President Ronald Reagan, alone with House Speaker Tip O'Neill and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, created a bipartisan commission to study Social Security and recommend reforms. Alan Greenspan was picked by President Reagan to head-up this commission. This article will provide my fellow colleagues with insightful information regarding past experience with Social Security reform. If we refuse to learn from our previous mistakes and mishaps, we are doomed to travel down the same erroneous and errant path. We can't just kick the can down the road. Raising taxes on benefits and reducing benefits are not an option for Social Security reform. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.