Jim Bunning

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about biodiesel, an alternative source of energy. I believe that we have made great strides on this energy bill. A sensible energy policy requires that we boost production of domestic energy sources while also balancing conservation. Biodiesel as an alternative fuel is one good way this energy bill will increase domestic production and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. I am very happy to hear that the Finance Committee's tax proposals were added to this bill. The tax proposals included provisions that promote conservation and expanded use of cleaner burning fuel. Also in these provisions are tax credits for biodiesel. The tax credits are a good start at encouraging the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel source. However, the tax provisions do not treat all biodiesel the same. There are many types of biodiesel including animal fats, recycled cooking oils or restaurant greases, and vegetable oils made up of soybeans, sunflower seed, canola, safflower seed, and flaxseed. In the tax provisions, though, the vegetable oils are treated differently than the animal fat and recycled oils. There should be equal tax treatment for biodiesel. The different tax credits for biodiesel sends a confusing signal to the biodiesel market. It encourages growth only in one area of this beneficial renewable fuel, vegetable oil. In addition, vegetable production has highly federalized subsidies and a lucrative byproduct market. For instance, glycerin from soy refining is used in a variety of food and pharmaceutical processes, and has a value advantage of 10-15 cents per gallon of biodiesel. The rendering industry, the primary source of animal-based biodiesel feedstocks, receives no Federal support and has a more limited byproduct market. The unequal tax treatment is in stark contrast to the remainder of the energy bill. The bill includes all domestic energy sources in its renewable energy provisions and treats animal and vegetable sources biodiesel equally. Kentucky has a large amount of soybean crops. So, I support encouraging the use of vegetable oil and support the tax credits in the bill. However, tax incentives should not discriminate between different kinds of alternative fuels. One of the goals of the pending energy bill is to encourage development of renewable energy supplies. Including all sources in the tax provision will further this effort and maximize the positive impact on U.S. agriculture. I hope that we find a way to encourage all alternative sources of energy. This is important to our production and will strengthen our national security.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mr. Stephen H.T. Lin, a choral music teacher at Atherton High School in Louisville, KY, for being named the 2002 Teacher of the Year for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Stephen Lin conducted his first rehearsal and performance at the age of 10. From that moment on, he knew the joyous sounds of music would determine the direction his life would take. During his junior and senior years of high school, Stephen was named the director of the school choir and discovered that he had a special gift when it came to teaching music to others. Not only did he find that his fellow students responded to his methods, but he also realized how good it felt to share in the learning process with others. Although his father, a music professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary-School of Church Music, tried to discourage him from pursuing a career teaching music because of the lack of financial reward, Stephen could not rightly deny his calling in life. For 26 years now, Stephen Lin has helped students of all ages appreciate the joys of music. He has excelled in his innate ability to make the learning process an enjoyable and exciting experience for all involved. His choirs, through active involvement with parents, students, fundraising and grants, have traveled and performed in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and Switzerland. They have sung pieces in several African dialects, Chinese, Czech, French, Icelandic, German, Hebrew, Latin, Japanese, Krao, Maori, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Somoan, Spanish and Swedish. Under Lin's direction, Atherton's music department was designated a Grammy Signature School, one of only a hundred high school choral programs in the Nation chosen for this distinction. Throughout his teaching career, Lin has introduced his students not only to music but also to the world and all that it has to offer. Winning this year's Teacher of the Year Award for the Commonwealth of Kentucky was not the first time Stephen Lin has been recognized for his diligent work in and outside of the classroom. He has been included in ``Who's Who Among American Teachers'' three times and has been listed in ``Who's Who in the South and Southwest.'' He has also been designated ``Music Teacher of the Year'' by Kentucky District 12 and an ``Outstanding Young Man of America.'' Lin is a recipient of the Ashland Inc. Golden Apple Achiever Award; the Governor's Scholars Program's Outstanding Educator Award; Atherton High School's Excellence in Teaching Award; the Jefferson County Sisterhood/Brotherhood Martin Luther King Award; and the WHAS-TV Golden Apple Award. To say the least, Stephen Lin has taken full advantage of his opportunities in teaching. He has been a teacher, mentor, and friend to all of his students throughout his career. I would like to once more congratulate Stephen Lin on winning such a prestigious and important award. His work shapes the future leaders of Kentucky. I applaud his commitment to the educational community and thank him for not listening to his father so many years ago.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I rise to honor Roxanne Grider of Bullitt Central High School in Shepherdsville, KY. I am extremely proud to announce that Ms. Grider is one of only 10 special education teachers in the Nation to receive the 2002 Shaklee Award for outstanding teachers of students with disabilities. She also is the first Kentuckian to receive this distinction since the award's inception 5 years ago. This award is given by the Glenda B. and Forrest C. Shaklee Institute for Improving Special Education and includes a $1000 prize and a trip to Wichita, KS for a conference featuring previous award winners and representatives of the Shaklee Institute. After receiving a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education from Centre College in Danville, KY, Roxanne looked for a job as a high school history teacher. Fortunately for the special education community, she had no luck finding a teaching job in the field of history. Due to the rising demand for special education teachers, Roxanne was immediately offered a position in the Hopkins County School system. After going through an emergency certification process, Roxanne headed back to the classroom to focus her studies on helping those less fortunate individuals. She eventually received her master's degree, special education certificate, and Rank 1, which means she took 30 hours beyond her master's degree, from the University of Louisville. Ten years has now passed since she took that first job, and I believe Roxanne has taken full advantage of what appeared to be a professional mishap. In her teaching career, Roxanne has set herself apart due to her innovate mind and enduring spirit. In the classroom, she empowers her students with real-life responsibilities such as planning and cooking meals, cleaning, and shopping. In the fall, her class has its own business, the B.C. Cookie and Candle Co., which sells glass jars filled with layers of cookie ingredients and topped with fabric covered lid. She wants all of her students to believe in themselves and what they can accomplish in life. It would be very easy and probably convenient for her to treat these children as if they were helpless, but she refuses to look at them in such a manner. For Roxanne, these children have the opportunity to live a proactive life full of adventure and action. Ultimately, she wants all of her students to have a job when they finish. Although it may not have been the field she wanted to enter, special education turned out to be the field Roxanne was destined to enter. She has touched many lives and truly made a difference. I once again congratulate Roxanne for being honored with such a prestigious award. I am proud to have such an amazing and talented women looking after Kentucky's special children.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today in order to thank and honor the 50 members of the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville, Ky for participating in Monday's Pro-Israel rally held outside our Nation's Capitol. I truly believe these individuals along with the entire Jewish Community Federation of Louisville deserve to be honored for their commitment to Israel and all that it stands for. Monday's rally was quite a sight to see. Over 100,000 supporters gathered, including former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former mayor of New York Rudy Guilani, to demonstrate support for Israel in its current struggle against terrorism. Since September 11, the citizens of the United States of America have unfortunately and tragically been forced to face the realities that accompany terrorism; the fear, the pain, and the struggle. The American people now have an understanding of what it means to live in fear of a cowardly and radical enemy. The terrorist threat and presence Americans currently fear and feel everyday has been a reality for the people of Israel since 1948, when the state of Israel was officially established and recognized. For 54 years now, the Israeli people have fought for their freedom and right to exist. In recent weeks, the Israeli government has come under fire for their aggressive but necessary military actions in Palestinian- controlled areas of the West Bank. While I pray for the innocent Palestinians who suffer the consequences of their leader's failures, I cannot find it in myself to condemn Israel, doing all it can to protect its families, future, and freedom. Since the time he was a 17-year old arms dealer in Cairo fighting to rid Palestine of all British and Jewish influence, Yasser Arafat has dedicated his time, thoughts, and efforts to bringing terrorism to the homes and streets of the Jewish people. In 1958, Arafat founded the Al- Fatah movement, an underground network of terrorist cells working as one to bring about the demise of the Jewish state. Just one year after the organization was established, Al-Fatah was publishing a radical magazine advocating the armed struggle against Israel and its people. Since Al-Fatah, under the leadership of Arafat, took control of the PLO in 1969, both Jordan, for attempting to overthrow King Hussein, and Lebanon, for using Palestinian refugee camps as bases for cross-border attacks against Israel, have expelled Arafat and his terrorist group from their land. Even today, Arafat continues to support the terrorist activity of such barbaric groups as Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad by agreeing to compensate the families of their homicide bombers. These homicide bombers are no different from the 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists who piloted two planes into the World Trade Centers, and one into the Pentagon killing thousands of innocent American citizens. They are all willing to kill innocent civilians as well as themselves for fanatical leaders such as Osama bin Laden and Yasser Arafat. In 1988 at a special session of the UN, Arafat showed signs that he was willing to negotiate for peace. He renounced terrorism and vowed to prosecute those who took part in terrorist activities. This empty rhetoric however proved to be short-lived. In 1991, Arafat fully supported Saddam Hussein and Iraq in the Persian Gulf War just three short years after he gave his UN speech. He has also refused to take a tough stance on terrorism, failing to live up to his promise to prosecute those responsible for such horrific acts as we have seen in the past six months. Arafat has now had the opportunity to deal with multiple Israeli Prime Ministers and U.S. Presidents but to no avail. He has been offered land, statehood, and a peaceful existence with the state of Israel. In every instance, talks ended and violence ensued. I once again would like to thank the Jewish Community Federation for sending 50 of its most devoted individuals to the rally. Israel has always been a good friend to both the U.S. and to democracy, and it always will be. I finally ask that my colleagues join me in praying that this situation ends as quickly and as peacefully as possible. I know that we all would like to see this conflict resolved without any further bloodshed, but we must be willing to stand by our in friends in Israel in our fight to eradicate terrorism from the globe.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I rise to offer a proper salute to Insight Communications of Louisville, KY. The Cable Television Public Affairs Association recently presented Insight with the coveted Beacon Award in the category of education for introducing their ``Young Women's Technology Fellowship'' initiative to the Louisville Community. The Fellowship initiative, which arose from a partnership established between Oxygen Media and Insight Communications, was a two-month after- school program designed to provide advanced technical training and resources to twelve motivated young women who would typically be denied access to this level of technical education. During the curriculum, the young women were instructed to design an online magazine devoted to social issues. In the process, the girls were able to learn valuable computer applications as well as technical and journalistic skills while paying appropriate attention to social issues affecting the Louisville/Jefferson County community. I applaud the efforts of Insight Communications and Oxygen Media. I would also like to thank these two organizations for their enduring commitment to education and service. The Fellowship program was an excellent forum for young women to not only learn invaluable technical and journalistic skills but also provide the community with pertinent information surrounding existing social issues.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I rise to congratulate the young men and women of Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, KY for being chosen to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the national finals of the We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution program. The competition will take place May 4-6 here in Washington and will include more than 1,200 students from across the United States. The three-day national competition is appropriately modeled after hearings in the United States Congress. The hearings consist of oral presentations by high school students before a panel of adult judges on various constitutional topics. Questions ranging from factual concerns of how the framers created the Constitution to more analytical questions such as how a member of Congress should represent his or her constituency will be directed at the students to determine their depth of understanding and ability to apply their constitutional knowledge. The We the People . . . program, directed by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, has provided curricular materials at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels for more than 2.5 million students nationwide. By providing students with a working knowledge of our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and principles of democratic government, We the People . . . gives our next generation of leaders an opportunity to study in depth the documents and ideals that have bound this nation together for so many years. I thank the U.S. Department of Education for continuing to provide fiscal support to this great program and the Center of Civic Education for their ongoing commitment to the education of our Nation's future. It is truly inspiring to see that so many young people are interested in furthering the democratic ideals brought forth by our forefathers so many years ago. The class from Highlands High School, led by teacher Brian Robinson, has proven without a doubt that they are dedicated to representing Kentucky in the most admirable fashion possible in this year's competition. They are currently conducting thorough research and preparing for their upcoming participation in the national finals. I would like to wish all of these students the best of luck at the We the People . . . national finals. It is comforting to know what one of these students may one day be standing in my place, representing the great people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the U.S. Senate.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate and honor the Kentucky Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association, KFSCA, Foundation of Frankfort, KY for winning an American Society of Association Executives', ASAE, 2002 Associations Advance America Award of Excellence. They were one of just 18 organizations nationwide to receive this notable distinction. The ASAE, based here in Washington, D.C., recognizes associations and industry partners each year that advance American society with innovative programs in areas like education, skills training, standard setting, citizenship and community service. Oftentimes, these associations perform invaluable services for their communities that would typically be the responsibility of local, State, or Federal Government. As a member of the Kentucky State legislature, U.S. Congress, and now the U.S. Senate, I have come to realize how truly important these associations are to the everyday lives of the men and women residing in their communities. The Kentucky Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association Foundation was selected to receive the AAA Award of Excellence out of 100 entries for its highly successful fundraising efforts for Burn Prevention. The KFSCA Foundation came into existence 7 years ago to provide a charitable base for burn prevention and education activities. In these 7 years, the foundation has donated more than $130,000 to a Pediatric Burn Center and to support a program to provide psychological intervention for juvenile fire starters. Also, the foundation operates and maintains a mobile burn education trailer that is used by fire departments across the commonwealth to educate school children and the public about fire and fire prevention. By winning a AAA Award of Excellence, the KFSCA will be automatically eligible to receive ASAE's highest honor, the Summit Award. In all, eight Summit Award winners will be chosen this summer to be formally honored at ASAE's 2002 Annual Meeting in Denver August 17-20, and at the ASAE Summit Awards Dinner, being held in September at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. I am honored to have such a reputable and committed foundation working in the State I represent. I would like to thank all of those involved with the KFSCA for their hard work and urge them to continue their good deeds. They certainly are making a difference in people's lives.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I rise to respectfully ask my fellow colleagues join me in honoring the men and women who so bravely and fiercely fought for freedom and democracy during the Korean War and those who fight for these same freedoms today. This week at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the often ``forgotten war'' will take center stage as an expected crowd of more than 10,000 will gather today at the Marine Corps Base to partake in various commemorative activities. The commemoration will begin with a full honors ceremony and address by Navy Secretary Gordon R. England and will include flyovers by vintage aircraft, modern attack helicopters, F/A--18 Hornets, AV--8B Harriers and A--10 Thunderbolts as well as a parachute jump by the Army's Golden Knights. The events, set to end next year, are part of the military's three-year commemoration of the 1950-1953 War. On June 25, 1950, eight divisions and an armored brigade of 90,000 soldiers from the North Korean People's Army attacked in three columns across the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of Korea. The following day, President Harry S Truman sanctioned the use of American air and naval forces below the 38th parallel. 37 long months later on July 27, 1953, an Armistice was signed and the fighting ended. In all, America lost 33,686 of its best and brightest. However, these men lost their lives safeguarding something bigger than any of us in this room, democracy. Today, many veterans of the Korean War feel as if their sacrifice is forgotten. They believe that their place in history has been nearly erased. I urge my fellow colleagues and my fellow Americans to remember and embrace what these men and women were fighting to defend fifty years ago in North and South Korea. They were protecting the notions of freedom and democracy our forefathers so bravely brought to this great land nearly 226 years ago. In many ways, our soldiers at home and abroad are fighting to protect these same ideals today. In 1950, communists in North Korea, China, and Russia threatened to take away people's innate right to sleep under a blanket of freedom. Today, terrorists from around the globe are attempting to do the same. We must never forget those who have fought and died to ensure that our way of life continues. I applaud the efforts of the Department of Defense and the nearly 5000 partners around the world for conducting this three- year commemoration ceremony. History and the people who played such a vital part in it should never be forgotten for what they accomplished and what they sacrificed. As Winston Churchill stated, ``Out of the depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind.'' Finally, I would like to pay a special tribute to the more than 57,000 Kentuckians who served in the military during the Korean War era, many who undoubtedly fought on the front lines. I am extremely proud to know that so many Kentuckians were willing to fight for all that this great country stands for. God Bless America.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I am afforded the opportunity to rise amongst my colleagues to honor Mrs. Marlow McCullough of Taylor County, KY. Mrs. McCullough was recently named Woman of the Year for the Taylor County community. When Marlow McCullough was informed that she had been named Woman of the Year for Taylor County, she was completely shocked and surprised. In fact, she did not have any idea that she had even been nominated for the contest. In an extremely thoughtful and loving gesture, David McCullough, Marlow's husband, nominated her for the award. Marlow was one of 40 women to be considered for this honor. In my experiences in sports, business, and politics, I have discovered that the most difficult part of being successful is balancing responsibilities and commitments. Trying to find adequate and ample time to satisfy all of our wants and needs can be quite an overwhelming and intimidating task. For most of us, this task is something we work toward for a lifetime. Marlow McCullough has skillfully mastered this seemingly impossible balancing act. Mrs. McCullough is not just a loving wife of 24 years and devoted mother of 4 wonderful children. She also is a full-time and highly respected instructor of mathematics at Campbellsville University. As if these accolades would not suffice to earn her the title of Woman of the Year, Mrs. McCullough is an accomplished musician, an active and devout member of the Campbellsville Baptist Church, an organizer of local youth soccer, and an active and visible participant in many of her children's school activities. Mrs. McCullough stated it best when she said, ``Planning and partnerships are the keys to success.'' I applaud Mrs. McCullough for her commitment to church, family, career, and community, and congratulate her on being named Woman of the Year for Taylor County. I believe we all can learn something from her exemplary behavior.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the current state of energy in our country. We desperately need an energy policy that will address the future of our energy use. Now is the time for Congress to get serious about passing a comprehensive energy bill. I believe that in order to make progress on this energy bill we need to balance conservation and production. Many of us in the Senate understand that a balanced, sensible energy policy must boost production of domestic energy sources as well as promote conservation. The energy bill before us takes good steps toward striking this balance. I look forward to the tax ideas coming from the Finance Committee that will further promote conservation and the use of alternative fuels. However, I still believe that this bill remains too weak on production. More must be done to increase our domestic production if the Senate is going to pass serious energy legislation. Increasing our production of energy is absolutely critical in reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Right now we depend upon foreign nations and the Middle East for nearly 60 percent of our country's oil supply. As most of us know, gasoline prices have been increasing for the past several weeks. This causes me serious concern especially since the upcoming summer months are when so many families take to the road for their annual vacation. There are many reasons that gasoline prices are rising. One reason is that OPEC countries have cut their oil production since the end of 2000 by a total of 5 million barrels of oil per day. Another is the increasing volatility in the Middle East. Gasoline prices have increased more than 25 cents in just the last few weeks. Higher gas prices will place a strain on the American families' budget. They raise the cost of goods and services, and place an even greater burden on our economy just as it is showing signs of life. The need to increase our own production of energy is especially true after Saddam Hussein's announcement yesterday that Iraq will cut off oil exports for the next month to protest Israel's actions on the West Bank. He is also calling for an OPEC embargo on all oil sales to America. Before this announcement, the United States indirectly imported nearly 780,000 barrels of oil a day from Iraq. Saddam's threat pushed the price of oil and gas even higher. I think we need to ask ourselves whether we want to continue our dependence on other countries led by people as dangerous and unpredictable as Saddam Hussein. Our national security has never been more important, and we must strengthen our energy independence to protect ourselves from madmen like Hussein and the politics of the Middle East. We are at war, and we continue to face economic uncertainty. Energy is a key factor in both of these struggles, and this means that the Senate absolutely must take a cold, hard look at ANWR. The issue is too important to play games with. It is too important for politics. Our Nation and our security are at risk. The rules have changed. We need to stop playing around on this issue and to have a straight up or down vote on ANWR: No bluffs, no posturing, whoever has the most votes wins. ANWR is the most promising domestic source of energy that we have. I believe it is indispensable to helping reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Of course there are some in the Senate who are desperate to stop us from opening up ANWR. However, with more than 10 billion barrels of oil recoverable from ANWR, I think we all need to take a clear-headed look at it. ANWR has the potential to produce over 1 million barrels a day. That is enough oil to replace the volume we currently import from Saudi Arabia or Iraq for more than 25 years. The oil that could be recovered from ANWR could fuel Kentucky's oil needs for the next 80 years. Drilling in ANWR provisions in the energy bill would make a huge difference for our domestic consumption and would amount to an essential step toward ensuring our national security. We have no choice. We must lessen our reliance on Saddam Hussein and others in the Middle East for our oil by exploring ANWR. Today the United States produces less than we did in World War II. In 1970, our oil imports constituted only 17 percent of our domestic consumption. That is three-and-a-half times less than what we import today. This dangerous trend must be reversed. Furthermore, recent advances in technology will enable us to extract oil in ANWR in an environmentally sensitive way. America's environmental safeguards are the toughest in the world. This means that the drilling operations will be conducted under the most comprehensive environmental regulations. We all want to protect our environment. If we do not do a better job developing domestic energy, we will continue to rely on foreign oil, oil from other nations. These nations have weaker environmental rules than we do. Under these weaker safeguards, the damage to the environment will be even greater than if we use ANWR. I also think that our domestic production should be increased through the use of clean coal technology. I am proud to come from a coal state. The energy bill provides a good start at increasing research and development and encouraging the use of clean coal technology. The proposed tax package will also further increase incentives for the use of clean coal technology. Clean coal is important to increasing our domestic energy production in an environmentally sensitive way. We have over 275 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves. This is nearly 30 percent of the world's total coal supply. That is enough coal to supply us with energy for another 270 years. Because of research advances, we now have the know-how to better balance conservation with the need for increased production. Let's use this ability to come up with a good piece of energy legislation. Yesterday's announcement by Saddam Hussein should remind everyone how vulnerable our economy and national security are to arbitrary decisions made by dangerous foreign dictators. For over two decades, we've hemmed and hawed about the need for America to follow a sensible, long-term energy strategy. If the threat of Saddam Hussein putting a gun to our head--again--does not help us pass a bill, I do not know what will. I hope we are on our way to producing a balanced comprehensive energy bill that increases production and conservation and makes a difference for our national security. I hope that we can move quickly to pass an energy bill that will make our economy and national security stronger. The time is now. I yield the floor.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, are we in morning business?

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

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I rise to congratulate the Franklin Electric Plant Board for winning the Public Power Association's 2001 Electric Utility Safety Award for safe operating practices. The Franklin Plant Board earned this top honor in the category for utilities with 25,000 worker-hours of annual worker exposure. The Franklin Plant was one of more than 200 utilities to enter the contest, which has been held annually for the last 42 years. The various entrants were placed into separate categories based on their size and were judged according to their 2001 incident rate. This rate is based on the number of worker-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2001, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in recognizing the Franklin Electric Plant Board for its ongoing and unwavering commitment to safety and the community. Not only is the Franklin Plant focused on serving the electric needs of its 4,680 customers, but it has proven its dedication to providing a safe atmosphere where employees can work without fear of serious injury or illness.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I rise to honor the Murray State University men's Basketball team for their success on the court this season. The Racers, led by Coach Tevester Anderson and leading scorer Justin Burdine, overcame injuries and illness, playing their last 15 games with just nine players in uniform, to finish the season at 19-13 and earn a trip to the NCAA tournament. After getting off to a fast start, the Racers experienced a severe setback, losing eight of ten games at one point to drop to 9-11, after beginning the season an impressive 7- 3. Entering the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, the Racers looked as if they had no shot to beat the heavily-favored Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. However, the Racers decided to forget about the rankings and experts and simply play the game with pure heart and determination. They knocked off Morehead State to advance to the OVC championship game, where they beat Tennessee Tech on a miraculous last- second shot by team leader Justin Burdine. The Racers entered the NCAA tournament extremely hot, having won 10 of their last 11 games. Unfortunately, the Racers were unable to feed off their momentum late in the season against the University of Georgia, losing to the Bulldogs in the first round of the tournament. Overall, the Murray State Racers had a very successful and productive season. They overcame numerous hurdles to win the OVC championship and earn their 11th invitation to the NCAA tournament. They worked as a team all year to prove their critics wrong, and showed that they have the hearts of champions. I applaud Coach Anderson and his players for all that they accomplished.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I offer a proper salute to Women 4 Women, Inc. of Greater Louisville, KY for its significant social and economic contributions to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Women 4 Women, founded and currently chaired by Elaine Musselman in 1993, is a not-for-profit organization, which aims to bring about positive social change by addressing existing issues confronting women and bringing these particular issues to a proper level of awareness in the community. In order to accomplish this goal, Women 4 Women offer their various resources to chosen community organizations and assist them in building adequate channels of communication to enhance their capacity to solve social and economic problems affecting women. Women 4 Women has also achieved an extraordinary level of success with their fundraising efforts. They have developed one of the most respected charity events held in Kentucky with their annual women's golf tournament. Also included with the golf tournament is a kick-off luncheon featuring a national speaker, a 5K run/walk, a family festival and a music celebration. Over the years, Women 4 Women has amazingly donated more than $500,000 for various causes through their fund- raising capabilities. This group, made up of over one hundred women, is dedicated to their causes, diligent in their efforts, and determined to bring about change. Women 4 Women deserves special attention for unveiling their Benchmark 2000 partnership program in Jefferson County, KY for which they won an Ogden Newell & Welch Inc. Award. Specifically, Benchmark 2000 aims to study the status of women and girls in Jefferson County through strong coalition building between citizens and government in order to improve the overall economic and social status of females. By combining existing data and information from citizens, government officials, and service providers, the diligent participants of this program hope to, over time, address the existing needs of females and bring about positive social change. I would like to express my sincerest admiration to all members of Women 4 Women for their hard work in the area of women's rights and commitment to the greater good of the community. Organizations such as Women 4 Women deserve praise and recognition for their good deeds and progressive vision.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and congratulate Tara Lynn Poe of Paris, KY. Ms. Poe was recently crowned the 2002 Kentucky Cherry Blossom Princess and will serve as ambassador for Kentucky in the historic 90th Cherry Blossom Festival to be held here in our Nation's capital March 30 through April 6. In 1912, a prominent group of citizens in Japan graciously donated about 3,000 cherry blossom trees, which are not native to North America, to Washington, DC as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan. First Lady Helen Herron Taft, who had briefly lived in Yokohama, Japan, decided to bring the beauty of Japan to the then swampy Tidal Basin. Mrs. Taft, along with Vicountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two trees on March 27, 1912 in West Potomac Park. These 89 year old trees are still living on the Tidal Basin today. By 1939, State societies across the Nation were recruiting capable and accomplished female college students to be cherry blossom princesses to represent their respective States in the ceremonies and festival parade. The events were and still remain an attempt to educate young women about the history and political makeup of various cultures around the world. Although the festivities experienced a slight delay with the outbreak of WWII in 1941, they soon regained their grandeur in 1948 and were able to help foster the healing process between the United States and Japan. More than 2,500 students have participated in the cherry blossom princess program since 1948. As a proud representative of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in this year's Cherry Blossom Festival, Tara Lynn Poe, a freshman at Centre College in Danville, KY, will have the unique opportunity to personally meet with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. She will be presenting them with a copy of a children's book by Lexington author Paul Brett Johnson for the library foundation. Furthermore, Tara will have the chance to learn from and with her fellow princesses and all involved in the festival about Japan and other countries, international relations, and American culture, politics, and history. On April 5th by a random spin of the wheel, Tara will be eligible to be crowned this year's Cherry Blossom Queen and if selected will be invited to visit Japan, where she will be hosted by local dignitaries, including the Japanese Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Japanese Diet. Kentuckians should be proud to have Tara Lynn Poe representing the Commonwealth in the Cherry Blossom Festival and I wish her the best in all of her future pursuits.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Elise Tolliver of Nicholasville, Kentucky for her most recent accomplishment in the field of education. Elise, who attends East Jessamine Middle School, was recently named a United States National Award winner in English by the United States Achievement Academy (USAA). The USAA, which was founded to recognize the outstanding students in America's colleges and secondary schools, received nearly 19,000 nominations from junior and senior high schools across America in 2000- 2001. The USAA selects its winners based upon the recommendation of teachers, coaches, counselors, and other qualified sponsors and upon the Standards of Selection established by the Academy. The criteria includes a student's academic performance (the average GPA of all USAA members is 3.8), interest and aptitude, leadership qualities, level of responsibility, enthusiasm, motivation to learn, ability to set and achieve goals, citizenship, attitude, cooperative spirit, dependability, and recommendation from a teacher or director. Elise should be extremely honored and proud to receive such an honorable distinction from such a highly respected source. This award speaks not only to her ability to learn and apply her acquired knowledge but also to her ability to lead by positive example both in and outside of the classroom. As Winston Churchill so plainly stated, ``The most important thing about education is appetite.'' Elise has proven without a doubt to her peers, teachers, and now the nation that she in fact possesses this ``appetite'' to learn and constantly improve upon her self-being. I applaud Elise's efforts and urge her to continue to reach for the stars. I will be very interested to see how far her reach will extend.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a truly inspiring woman, Ms. Sharon Darling. Ms. Darling is this year's recipient of the prestigious National Humanities Medal. President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will be personally presenting this award to Ms. Darling at a ceremony to take place next month. Sharon Darling is the founder and president of the National Center for Family Literacy, NCFL, a non-profit organization located in Louisville, KY, recognized world-wide for their effectiveness and innovativeness in teaching children and adults to read. The NCFL, founded in 1989, has worked diligently year after year in an attempt to bring about a positive change in the level of family literacy rates. This group has been soulfully dedicated to placing family literacy on the national agenda and has been very successful through their efforts. The NCFL rightly understands that to live without an education is to live without a future. Sharon Darling got her start in education 35 years ago in the basement of the Ninth & O Baptist Church. The basement of this Baptist Church is where she first began to teach illiterate adults to read. It was also the first time she began to realize that she could make a difference in people's lives. She recognized that without access to knowledge, these people would never possess the ability to fight their way out of poverty or empower themselves with the gift of rational thought. If they cannot read, no amount of money or Federal assistance will help. Throughout her career in education, Sharon has spent time as a teacher, administrator, and educational entrepreneur, constantly working to develop new and improved strategies for teaching children and adults how to read and how to interpret what they read. She has served as an advisor on issues dealing with education to governors, policy makers, business leaders, and foundations across the country. She has been and remains an invaluable resource to the educational community. The National Humanities Medal will not be the first time Sharon has been recognized for her work. She received the 2000 Razor Walker Award from the University of North Carolina for her contributions to the lives of children and youth; the Woman Distinction Award from Birmingham Southern University in 1999; the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism from Johns Hopkins University in 1998; the Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in education in 1996; and the Harold W. McGraw Award for Outstanding Educator in 1993. She has also received several honorary doctorate degrees for her contributions to education and has been featured on the Arts & Entertainment television network's series, ``Biography.'' Her latest accolade places her in the company of such great men and women as Stephen Ambrose, Ken Burns, and Toni Morrison. The National Humanities Medal is the Federal Government's highest honor recognizing achievement in the humanities. Sharon Darling has been a shining star for the literacy movement throughout her career as an educator, guiding the unfortunate into a land of opportunity. I congratulate Ms. Darling for this much deserved distinction and thank her for striving to make the world a better place to live and to learn.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a very special teacher and group of students from Estill County High School. Yesterday in Frankfort, Connie Witt and her students received a Springboard Award and a $2,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Ms. Witt and her students were recognized for their success running Designer Tickets & More, a school-based printing business, which prints designs on everything from bumper stickers to ball caps. Six years ago, Connie Witt, who has taught business classes at Estill County High School for nine years, received free ticket-making software in the mail. Ms. Witt, an entrepreneur at heart, thought it would be a shame to let this software go to waste, so she decided that, with the help of a few students, she could be in charge of printing tickets for the district basketball tournament. Soon, Ms. Witt and her student staff realized the value of their work and were suddenly printing designs on business cards, buttons, mousepads, and mugs. Today, the business known as Designer Tickets & More serves more than 300 customers in Estill County. They have been lauded by their customers as efficient, creative, and affordable. The students redirect their profits back into the business as an insurance policy for progressive thinking. Students who wish to participate in this business venture must submit resumes and go through an interview process just as if they were applying for a job in my office. From among the applicants, Ms. Witt chooses chief executive officers, department heads, and employees. The students are held responsible for clocking in and out and must inform their boss if they will be unable to come to work due to sickness or vacation. Up to 30 students are in charge of running the business each semester. They are required to make sales calls, fill out order forms, design creative products, and prepare invoices. I applaud Ms. Witt for the phenomenal job she has done creating an educational atmosphere where students can learn not only about business basics such as inventory and sales but also life-skills such as leadership and responsibility. I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in congratulating Designer Tickets & More on receiving a Springboard award and for their hard work and dedication. I believe Ms. Witt has discovered an effective and educational way to teach Kentucky's future business leaders the importance of teamwork, commitment, and responsibility.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I would like to take the opportunity to honor the Girl Scouts of the United States of America for all that they have accomplished for America's young women. This week, the Girl Scouts is amazingly celebrating its 90th anniversary, and I believe it appropriate that we congratulate all involved with this storied institution for having the courage and capability to withstand and conquer the hands of time. March 12, 1912, Juliette ``Daisy'' Gordon and 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia gathered for what was to become the first official meeting of the Girl Scouts. Like most great innovators, Juliette Gordon began her journey with a very simple and progressive idea. She thoroughly believed that every young woman deserves the opportunity to fully develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. Today, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America has a membership of 3.8 million--2.7 million girl members and over 900,000 adult members. That small southern group of 18 Savannah women has grown over the last 90 years into the largest organization for girls in the world. Through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts is part of the worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 140 countries. They even received a charter from the United States Congress in 1950 officially establishing the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. By enrolling in the Girl Scouts, a young women is afforded the unique opportunity to enhance her communication and social skills, to develop a strong sense of self, to participate in innovative programs, and to foster her creative side. At the different levels of Girl Scouting, girls learn relevant and applicable skills relating to science and technology, money management and finance, health and fitness, community service, sports, and global awareness. These young women are learning how to be productive and pro-active citizens, who will some day have the chance to change the way the world works. In fact, over two-thirds of women doctors, lawyers, educators, community leaders, and members of Congress in the United States were once proud participants in the Girl Scouts. In 1999 ``Troop Capitol Hill'' was founded to honor those women members of Congress who were in the Girl Scouts. Furthermore, 64 percent of the women listed in the Who's Who of American Women were at one point Girl Scouts. The Girl Scouts has found a successful way to bring out the best in its young women, and I personally thank the leaders and supporters of this great organization for continually producing strong and bright young women committed to making this country a better place to live. I would now like to pay a special tribute to the Girls Scouts of Kentucky. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, over 43,000 girls and 13,000 adult volunteers participate in the Girl Scouts. In fact, all five of my daughters were Girl Scouts and six of my beautiful granddaughters are currently learning what it means to live by The Girl Scout Law. Girl Scouts of Kentucky has made a substantial effort to reach out to young girls who typically might not be able to be involved in the program due to monetary issues. They have even gone as far as to establish troops in homeless shelters and low-income housing projects. The women of Girl Scouts of Kentucky have gone above and beyond their call of duty to ensure that every young woman in the Commonwealth has the opportunity to realize the vision Juliette Gordon set out in 1912. I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in applauding their selfless efforts. Finally, I would like to share with my colleagues the timeless words of The Girl Scout Law. I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do and to respect myself and others, respect authority use resources wisely make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, I rise today to honor a truly amazing and enchanting woman, Ms. Bethaney Adams of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Bethaney was recently named Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky by the Ms. Wheelchair America Program, Inc. The Ms. Wheelchair America Program's mission is to provide an opportunity for women of achievement who utilize wheelchairs, such as Bethaney, to successfully educate and advocate for individuals with disabilities. One certainty that I have come to realize in life is that adversity will strike and often with a mighty blow. When Bethaney Adams came face to face with adversity, she did not back down from her fears or focus her thoughts on negative scenarios. In fact, she excluded the word defeat from her vocabulary and decided to live life with a purpose and meaning. Bethaney, a senior at Murray State University, is currently getting her undergraduate degree in therapeutic recreation. After completing her studies at Murray, she plans on pursuing her masters degree in therapeutic recreation and eventually wants to work in a children's hospital where she could assist and inspire those living with disabilities on a daily basis. Outside of her studies, Bethaney has made great strides in the area of community service. She has taken trips to Mexico, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, where she worked to aid those less fortunate individuals living in poverty. Here in D.C., she stayed at a homeless shelter in an attempt to motivate those currently down on their luck. Bethaney made the choice a long time ago to view her ``dis''ability as just the opposite. Being in a wheelchair gives her the ability to communicate with others and make a difference in their lives. As for Bethaney's most recent accomplishment, winning Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky, she now plans to use this as an opportunity to broaden the scope of her audience. She will speak at camps across the Commonwealth and address inner-city youth in an effort to provide that successful and positive thinking leads directly to successful and positive actions. In June Bethaney will, for the third straight year, be a speaker at the National Spina Bifida Conference in Orlando, Florida, and in August she will represent Kentucky in the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant to be held in Maryland. The contest will judge the contestants based upon their accomplishments, communication skills, self- perception, and projection in the personal and on-stage interviews as well as the platform speech presentation. I know Bethaney will make Kentucky proud. I once again congratulate Bethaney Adams for this honorable distinction and wish her the best in all her future endeavors. I believe each and every one of us can take something away from this incredible woman and her ability to turn an obstacle into a motivation. I thank her for being an inspiration to me and so many others.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I have the privilege and honor of sharing with my fellow colleagues the most recent and astounding accomplishment of the University of Kentucky Cheerleading squad. This year the UK Cheerleaders won their eighth straight Universal Cheerleaders Association's, UCA's, National College Cheerleading Championship for NCAA Division 1-A schools. These young men and women deserve our recognition and admiration for their efforts. The UK squad has now won UCA's National Championship an unprecedented twelve times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, and 1995-2002, more than any other Division 1-A school. In fact they are the only squad to ever win back to back championships twice and also the only team to win three, four, five, six, seven, and now eight titles in a row. They are widely recognized as the best of the best in the Cheerleading community and have been a key contributor to the University's athletic success. The Wildcat basketball team is arguably the most storied program in the Nation and much of their success can be attributed to the enthusiasm and spirit generated by the Cheerleading squad. For those who have never had the opportunity of seeing a game in Rupp Arena, I can tell you that the atmosphere is absolutely electric. Besides the attention they receive on the court from the UK students and fans, the Cheerleading squad has also been covered by the national media. The squad has been featured on such programs as, ``Evening News,'' Connie Chung's ``Eye to Eye,'' and the ``CBS Morning Show,'' as well as in ``Southern Living,'' ``Gentlemen's Quarterly,'' ``ESPN the Magazine,'' and ``Seventeen'' magazines. This recognition does not come without a price however. These young men and women sacrifice a considerable amount of their time and energy practicing, learning, and mastering their extremely difficult routines. This often means long practices and endless hours in the weight room. These young men and women are athletes in every sense of the word. I applaud the University of Kentucky Cheerleading squad for their commitment and dedication to their goals and dreams. They represent the University and the Commonwealth of Kentucky in a classy and professional manner. I am proud of each and every one of them.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I rise to pay tribute to Eastern Kentucky University's 10th president, Joanne Glasser. Ms. Glasser was officially inaugurated as the University's first female president, and I would like to join Eastern Kentucky University in welcoming her to the Kentucky academic community. Ever since she graduated from high school in 1969, Joanne Glasser has been steadily on the rise. She received her bachelor of arts from George Washington University in 1973 and a J.D. shortly after from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1976. Most recently, she received a certificate from Harvard Graduate School in 1999. Besides her many educational achievements, Ms. Glasser has had a steller career as a public servant for the State of Maryland and now the commonwealth of Kentucky. After completing law school, Ms. Glasser accepted a job as a law clerk for the State of Maryland, Baltimore County, and eventually became the Assistant County Attorney for Baltimore County. She next moved on to become the Baltimore County Labor Commissioner for 6 years. Before joining the administrative team at Eastern, Ms. Glasser worked at Towson University in Maryland, where her hard work and persistent personality eventually earned her a promotion to executive vice president. In October 2001, Eastern Kentucky University gladly invited Ms. Glasser into their family. Since her arrival, Ms. Glasser's personal style and energy has been a motivating force on the campus and the streets of Richmond. She has made it her mission to be personally involved not only with the everyday dealings of the students and faculty but also with local leaders. She rightly understands that a university exists to serve the needs of its students and surrounding community. If a decision does not fit their needs, it simply will not be made. Joanne Glasser is fully committed to leading Eastern Kentucky University forward into the 21st century and her actions prove as much. By relating on a personal level with the students and community, she will gain an understanding of where to focus her prodigious talents. She is devoted to doing her best for the students and faculty at Eastern Kentucky University. I am very pleased in the immediate impact Joanne Glasser has made and look forward to watching how high she can take the University. I congratulate Ms. Glasser on her inauguration and applaud her efforts toward a brighter future for Kentucky.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I have the distinct honor of rising to share with my fellow colleagues the poetic work of Diane Rumer of Florence, Kentucky. The tragic events of September 11 has affected us all in so many different ways. Some have lost loved ones. Some have sacrificed their lives to save others. And some have simply wept. We all have different methods of dealing with such tragic circumstances, and I personally have found a certain degree of solace in Diane Rumer's poem entitled American Angel. I am honored to share her work with you. God Bless our country, And all we hold dear: Faith and our freedom, And life without fear. Guard her and guide her, Protect her, we pray. Send angels among us To show us the way. Every time I read these beautiful words, I find myself visualizing the American angels Diane so gracefully describes in her poem. I see a soldier fighting at home and abroad to rid the world of terrorism and oppression. I see a fireman racing into a burning building to save the life of a complete stranger. I see a blood donor. I see an aid worker. I see a family raising a flag in their front yard. After reading this, I realize there are angels surrounding us in every aspect of life, trying desperately to show us the way. I would like to thank Diane for this inspirational piece. Her words are a truly a comfort in times of strife.

Mr. BUNNING

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the pending energy bill. I am glad we're finally having this debate. It has been a long time coming. We desperately need a commonsense energy policy. Ever since the Arab oil embargoes over a quarter of a century ago, Congress has talked about passing a serious energy bill. Now is the time. Coming after the tragic events of September 11, it is more important than ever that we have a policy that not only helps us meet our energy needs, but also protects our national security. In the past Congress has failed to make progress on energy because we have fallen into the trap of choosing between conservation and production. But now I think that we have escaped that trap and reached the point where most of us in the Senate understand that a balanced energy policy must do both--it must help boost production of domestic energy sources as well as promote conservation. The bill before the Senate today is a decent starting point that attempts to strike a balance between conservation and production. There are some parts of the legislation that I support. For instance, eventually we are going to get a chance to vote on clean coal technology and ethanol provisions that are important to my State. I also like the tax proposals coming from the Finance Committee that would promote conservation and the expanded use of cleaner burning fuels. But overall the bill is too weak on production and contains several provisions that must be changed before the Senate finally passes a bill. First of all, we need to look at improving the production side. We must have an energy policy that helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This means that we have to finally get serious about ANWR. We deserve to have a straight up or down vote on ANWR. It's clear that a majority of the Senate supports safe drilling in ANWR. It is the most promising source of domestic energy we have. It is critical to our future and our national security. But because of the procedural gymnastics from the majority, it looks like we're not going to get a fair shot at voting on ANWR. That is wrong. ANWR is too important and the stakes are too high not to let the Senate work its will on this matter. I know that there are some in the Senate who are desperate to stop us from opening up in ANWR. The facts are not on their side. And a few of those facts bear repeating. ANWR is roughly the size of South Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire combined. It is absolutely enormous. But when we talk about drilling in ANWR, we are talking about clean drilling in an area of less than 2,000 acres--smaller than many airports in the United States. To say that drilling in this limited portion of ANWR threatens the entire environment of the refuge is far-fetched and alarmist. Recent advances in technology enable us to successfully extract oil in ANWR in an environmentally sensitive way. The old stereotypes of dirty oil drilling just don't apply anymore. In fact, if we do start exploring in ANWR, the drilling operations would be conducted under the most comprehensive environmental regulations in the world. We all want to do what we can to protect our world. But it is just not credible to say that looking for oil in this one small, limited part of ANWR is a dangerous threat to the entire region. Many of the environmentalists fail to see that if we do not begin oil production in ANWR, oil companies in the Middle East, Russia, and elsewhere--places where environmental regulations are much less restrictive than ours or even nonexistent--will take up the slack. Opening ANWR now might actually end up being more environmentally sensitive than the alternative. We also cannot escape the fact that drilling in ANWR, and boosting our domestic energy production, is vitally important to our national security. Right now we import 57 percent of the oil we use and the number is expected to jump to 64 percent by 2020. There are more than 10 billion barrels of oil recoverable in ANWR. That's enough to fuel all of Kentucky's oil needs for 82 years. That is also enough oil to replace the volume we currently import from Saudi Arabia or Iraq for the next 25 years. Drilling in ANWR provisions would not only make a tremendous difference for our domestic consumption, but would constitute a serious step toward ensuring our national security. If the choice comes down to drilling in ANWR and lessening the chance that we will have to rely on Saddam Hussein and others in Middle East for our oil, then there is no choice at all. Today we produce less oil than we did in World War II. We must reverse this trend. Drilling in ANWR won't change things overnight, and no single source can totally end our dependence on foreign energy. But opening ANWR and boosting production are vital to this bill and to our national security. On a different subject, I also think that we need to take a long look at the CAFE provisions in the Kerry/Hollings language in the bill. Currently, the CAFE standards are 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 20.7 miles per gallon for light trucks. The Kerry/Hollings provision in the bill would require a combined fleet fuel economy standard for cars and trucks to go to 35 miles per gallon by 2015. Their provision also would expand the definition of ``light truck'' to include vehicles up to 10,000 pounds. That would cover most SUVs and minivans. Because the Kerry/Hollings provision changes current law by combining cars and trucks, that means that even if auto manufacturers can achieve 28 miles per gallon for their light trucks, some manufacturers will be forced to boost their car standards up to 50 miles per gallon just to reach the overall 35 miles per gallon average. That's a dramatic jump from the current standards, and pushes too far too fast. The National Academy of Sciences recently studied this issue and the implications of raising CAFE standards on vehicle safety. NAS found that rapid increases in fuel economy standards for cars in the early 1980's likely contributed to thousands of additional highway deaths. Back then, auto manufacturers reduced the size and weight of their vehicles to help meet the new standards. But because the CAFE standards were raised too quickly, it turns out that making cars more fuel efficient also made them more deadly. Today, one of the main ways for a manufacturer to increase its CAFE standards is to downsize its fleet. In fact, since 1978 vehicles have shrunk in weight on average by more than 1,000 pounds per vehicle. At the same time, the death toll from car crashes has increased. Statistics show that in the last 25 years since fuel efficiency standards were first imposed, more than 40,000 people have died in crashes in which they might have otherwise survived had their vehicles been heavier. While more people have died because of the increased fuel efficiency, our fuel economy is not much better than it was in 1970. Much of this is because consumers have chosen bigger cars. They want SUVs and minivans to haul their children to soccer games and to go on vacations. And they want larger vehicles because they are safer, more comfortable, and more powerful. Consumers obviously are not asking for this mandate because they are choosing to continue to purchase larger vehicles despite other choices, including less expensive ones. Kerry Hollings would overly regulate consumer choice at the expense of safety. Because Kentucky has become one of the leading auto producing States in the country, I am also worried that the Kerry/Hollings provision would affect jobs. When the CAFE rules went into effect before, manufacturers spend huge sums of money to comply with the new rules. Because of that, many workers were layed off to help cut costs. Today over 160,000 Kentucky workers are employed in the auto industry or in a job dependent on car manufacturing. That's almost 10 percent of my State's workforce. But many of these jobs will be at risk if the Kerry/Hollings provision in this bill becomes law. I believe in increasing fuel efficiency in vehicles. I think we can and should do more on this front. But I do not believe that Congress picking a number out of thin air and mandating a target for manufacturers to hit is the way to go. Instead, I think we need to do what we can to encourage sound science by the industry that makes sound, incremental changes in fuel standards. Finally, I would like to say a few words about the procedure that was used to bring this bill to the floor. The process that this bill went through to finally reach the floor was a sham. Last October, when the Energy Committee was finally going to begin marking up the bill, it was abruptly pulled at the last minute. Then the Democrats began working on their own proposal. Now almost 6 months later we finally get a chance to see their handiwork. As I said at the beginning of my remarks, there are parts of it that represent a good starting point. But there are serious problems with the measure, problems that probably would have been fixed in the Energy Committee. But because they did not have the votes in committee, the Democrats short-circuited the committee process and brought the bill straight to the floor. These procedural shortcomings have helped produce a flawed bill. If the legislation had gone through the usual legislative process, it would probably be a stronger, better bill. Many of us have to ask why did the majority do this. The answer appears to be that there was a fear that the energy bill coming out of the committee would include provisions such as ANWR for which we have the votes and that the majority leader decided to have this debate on the floor instead. That is fine. That has happened before around here. But that also means that we deserve to have a fair shot with our amendments on the floor. It's one thing to shut us out in committee, but it's a whole other matter to try to do so on the Senate floor as well. Let's have the debate on ANWR, on CAFE, and on other provisions and see where the votes are. If the full Senate is going to work its will on a sound policy, that's the least we can do. Anything else is going to produce a flawed, unbalanced bill that is not going to reflect well on the Senate and is not going to help the country. We need a sound energy bill and we need it now, and the best way to pass a constructive bill is to have a full, healthy debate on the floor about all of the issues involved--ANWR, CAFE, and all of the rest. If we have this debate, I think we can produce a balanced bill that increases production and conservation, produces jobs and makes a difference for our national security. I yield the floor.