Conrad Burns

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I commend the conferees for their efforts to finalize the crop insurance report. The crop insurance proposal before us today is the culmination of literally years of hard work by numerous Senators and Congressmen. As you may remember, I have been a supporter of S. 2251, the Risk Management for the 21st Century Act, and I am extremely happy to see that the work on that legislation has finally been dove- tailed into the work of the House of Representatives. You will also note that the report includes over $7 billion in supplemental appropriations to help farmers and ranchers cope with the current farm crisis. Some will note that this is the third year in a row Congress has provided a large supplemental appropriation to help America's farmers. However, those of you that have traveled to our rural communities know that every dime we can send to these areas is vitally needed. Agriculture is facing one of the most dire times that I can remember. Families are losing farms, ranches, and the livelihood that makes up their own family histories. A way of life is at risk, and in Montana, that way of life is what makes my state what it has become. Without these monetary adjustments to make up for failing markets, entire communities would dry up and blow away. In Montana, our economy is already reeling, and agriculture is our number one industry. Without adequate agricultural support, the investments we have made in economic development to diversify our economy will be threatened. Agricultural production is the foundation that we must build upon. Agriculture is what keeps products moving across the shelves, restaurants open, and food on the table. Without that, it will be almost impossible to keep towns vibrant enough to attract new investment and new technologies. Some critics are pointing out that this is the third year in a row that we have supplied rural America with supplemental appropriations. I agree that this pattern is costly, but I must point out that the promises given to rural America have not been carried out. We were promised strong foreign market penetration and a workable market that would get our fair share of the dollar back to producers. This has not happened. Look at any trade deal that has been negotiated in the last few years and you will see that our agriculture industry is almost always left with little protection, and actually very little support from our trade representatives. The result is an onslaught of foreign competition within our own markets, and not nearly enough of our product making it out of the country. Unfortunately, the administration and current world market trends have not allowed current farm policy to work in the manner that was anticipated at the time of its implementation. I continue to support the principles of our current farm policy but am deeply disappointed that we have not found a way to address the inaction of the administration in opening foreign markets. It will be necessary for Congress to look for ways to allow our current farm policy to continue and provide for the times of depressed markets such as we are facing currently. The current farm policy has not created the trade imbalance and subsequent market collapse, but it has not been flexible enough to protect our consumers. The combination of failed trade policies, and an unresponsive farm policy has resulted in the need for direct supports being sent to our producers. This year may be even more vital than previous years. We are facing drought across the West. Livestock is already being moved for lack of water and irrigation has started earlier than in recent memory. Markets and mother nature have combined forces and Congress must respond with a strong message to rural America that we will be there to help, both this year and in the future. I thank the conferees for heading some of my requests and helping out those farmers hurt by the bankruptcy of AgriBiotech. The ABT language is vital to producers who have been negatively impacted by a bankruptcy that was no fault of their own. Additionally, our wool producers have been given a shot in the arm to help make sure their industry remains viable. These are just a few examples, but I can assure you that this Montanan extends our thanks for these helping hands. The underlying legislation that is carrying this supplemental package is equally important, and is part of the necessary message that Congress is willing to support agriculture in the future. It is a proposal that offers much-needed changes in the area of risk management for farmers and ranchers. Managing risk in agriculture has become perhaps the most important aspect of the business. Agricultural producers who are able to effectively manage risk are able to sustain and increase profit and operate more effectively in business cycles. An effective crop insurance program will provide our producers new possibilities for economic stability in the future. It will provide another foothold in our attempts to help agriculture out the current hole that it is in, and it will provide a vital tool to help prevent future depressions in the agriculture industry. The Federal Government must help facilitate a program to unite the producer and the private insurance company. The control must be put in the hands of the agricultural producer, and coverage must be high enough to warrant enrolling in the program. Although no producer can completely control risk, an effective management plan will reduce the negative effects of unavoidable risks. Today's family farmer must have adequate options, or one bad year could mean the difference between keeping the family farm or having to leave agriculture. This bill addresses the inadequacies of the current crop insurance program. The problems and inconsistencies with the current program make it both unaffordable and confusing to agricultural producers. Costly premiums with low coverage percentages are the biggest problem. In years of depressed market prices, crop insurance, though badly needed, is simply unaffordable for farmers. This bill inverts the current subsidy formula, in order to provide the highest levels of subsidies to producers at the highest levels of buy-up coverage, and thus alleviate the problem of unaffordable premiums. It also allows for the revenue policies to be fully subsidized. Another important provision in this bill is a pilot program to reward producers for risk management activities. It will allow producers to elect to receive a risk management payment or a crop insurance subsidy. The risk management payments will be given to those producers that utilize any two of several activities, including using futures or options, utilizing cash forwards, attending a risk management class, using agricultural trade options or FFARRM accounts or reducing farm financial risk. Quite simply, it rewards a producer for utilizing management tools that will help protect his, and the government's, exposure in the current agriculture market. This bill also takes into account the lack of production histories for beginning farmers or those who have added land or recently utilized crop rotation. This will make it possible for producers to get a foot in the door and receive affordable crop insurance. This bill is an important tool to reform the current crop insurance program into a risk management program, designed to help the producer in the long-term. It is vital to find a solution to provide a way for farmers to stay in agriculture. They must be able to continue to produce and distribute the world's safest food supply at a profitable margin. Mr. President, I am extremely happy that the conferees have finally completed their work on this important proposal. It is vital to Montana and the rest of our Nation's rural agriculture communities. Mr. President, I thank Senator Harkin of Iowa, Senator Kerrey of Nebraska, Senator Roberts of Kansas, and the Ag Committee--I do not serve on the Ag Committee--for completing this legislation. This legislation, by the way, was promised 2 or 3 years ago. They have labored a long time with the Crop Insurance Program which is probably the best package that has ever been produced by Congress and given to the American agricultural community to manage their risks. This is a tool to manage their risks. Also, my colleagues will note this report also includes $7 billion in supplemental appropriations to help farmers and ranchers cope with the current farm situation. Think about that a bit. This is landmark legislation because we are not even to Memorial Day, we are not even into the meat of the growing season, and we have already made preparation to deal with the situation that exists in agricultural today. We have been stripped from some of our markets, and our prices continue to be very low. On the other hand, the American consumer is still supplied with the most wholesome food in the world. This Congress has fulfilled its promise to have this money ready to go for our Nation's ag producers. Without these monetary adjustments to make up for failing markets, entire communities will dry up. They are experiencing more financial stress than ever before, probably even through the Great Depression. Without this support, the investments we have made in economic development to diversity our economy will be threatened. This also sends a strong message to the financial community and the farm community that we are serious about the support of that industry and will not just let it dry up on the vine. I congratulate the people who worked so hard. This conference was not an easy conference. It was not an easy package to put together. Next year, we will be debating what is good for a farm program, and we know there will be some changes made. Right now, the signal to our producers on the land is direct and it is very sharp. We have had some unfortunate things happen in the State of Montana. We depend heavily on the Pacific rim for exports. Three years ago, the economics of the Pacific rim collapsed: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand. Some of those economies are just starting to come back. Just yesterday, we signed an agreement with the Taiwanese--they will be visiting the State of Montana--on buying wheat from my State. We have also put in the act that the Department of Agriculture has tools to use to fight the competition on the international markets. They have chosen not to do that. There is enough blame to go around for a farm economy that is hurting. Nonetheless, this is a positive bipartisan step in the right direction. The producers of our country should take a look at this package. There is a lot of flexibility here. Not only do we talk with multiperil things that can happen in a crop-year, but we are also talking about revenue, and we have never done that before. We have a complete package, a package that offers a tool for risk management for our ag producers on the land. Again, I compliment the Agriculture Committee on both sides of the aisle for their work on this legislation. It is very important to the farm States of this country. I thank the Senator from Iowa for allowing me a little time. I congratulate him and thank him for his leadership on this issue and everybody who had a part in putting this together. I yield the floor.

Mr. BURNS. There are a lot of points.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that will direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide funding for the rehabilitation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, authorize funds to address the maintenance backlog facing the park's sewer and drinking water infrastructure, and allow the Secretary to enter into a demonstration project to rehabilitate the historic hotels in Glacier National Park using private funds. This legislation is a companion to a bill recently introduced by Representative Rick Hill in the House of Representatives. The bill would provide $20 million for much-needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, which could extend the park's yearly operating season to six months. Extending the season is extremely important to ensure that revenue will be generated to rehabilitate these historic structures in Glacier National Park. Additionally, the legislation will allow the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an extended concessionaire agreement so that the concessionaire will be eligible for tax incentives that will make the multi-million dollar investment in these historic lodges affordable. The National Park Service is supportive of this effort and would benefit from the added flexibility to exempt competitive concessions contracts from the current 20-year maximum contract length. Permitting this exemption would allow concessionaires to qualify for historic preservation tax credits and dedicate funds toward Many Glacier Hotel and the Lake McDonald Lodge. The marriage of public and private investment allowed by this pilot project is the only workable solution that we have found that will save the park's historic structures in a timely manner. With a multi-billion dollar backlog of maintenance projects in our National Parks, it is highly unlikely the rehabilitation projects could be funded using purely public funds. Glacier Park is a place that all Montanans hold dear, and its historic hotels are a significant part of its rich heritage. After years of use, these hotels are now in dire need of rehabilitation, and unfortunately the funds just aren't available at the federal level. This pilot project offers us a unique opportunity to begin the work necessary to maintain Glacier Park's preeminent place in our national park system and preserve it for generations to come. The legislation still ensures a competitive concessionaire program, but will also ensure that America's citizens are able to enjoy these century old buildings for generations to come. Finally, the legislation authorizes funding to rehabilitate the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This highway is a true feat of engineering, and one of the most beautiful roadways in the world. It is the centerpiece of Glacier National Park, and must receive this added attention as soon as possible to avoid risking public safety and increasing the eventual cost of rehabilitating the road to acceptable standards. I look forward to swift consideration of this legislation and the support of my colleagues.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that will direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide funding for the rehabilitation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, authorize funds to address the maintenance backlog facing the park's sewer and drinking water infrastructure, and allow the Secretary to enter into a demonstration project to rehabilitate the historic hotels in Glacier National Park using private funds. This legislation is a companion to a bill recently introduced by Representative Rick Hill in the House of Representatives. The bill would provide $20 million for much-needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, which could extend the park's yearly operating season to six months. Extending the season is extremely important to ensure that revenue will be generated to rehabilitate these historic structures in Glacier National Park. Additionally, the legislation will allow the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an extended concessionaire agreement so that the concessionaire will be eligible for tax incentives that will make the multi-million dollar investment in these historic lodges affordable. The National Park Service is supportive of this effort and would benefit from the added flexibility to exempt competitive concessions contracts from the current 20-year maximum contract length. Permitting this exemption would allow concessionaires to qualify for historic preservation tax credits and dedicate funds toward Many Glacier Hotel and the Lake McDonald Lodge. The marriage of public and private investment allowed by this pilot project is the only workable solution that we have found that will save the park's historic structures in a timely manner. With a multi-billion dollar backlog of maintenance projects in our National Parks, it is highly unlikely the rehabilitation projects could be funded using purely public funds. Glacier Park is a place that all Montanans hold dear, and its historic hotels are a significant part of its rich heritage. After years of use, these hotels are now in dire need of rehabilitation, and unfortunately the funds just aren't available at the federal level. This pilot project offers us a unique opportunity to begin the work necessary to maintain Glacier Park's preeminent place in our national park system and preserve it for generations to come. The legislation still ensures a competitive concessionaire program, but will also ensure that America's citizens are able to enjoy these century old buildings for generations to come. Finally, the legislation authorizes funding to rehabilitate the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This highway is a true feat of engineering, and one of the most beautiful roadways in the world. It is the centerpiece of Glacier National Park, and must receive this added attention as soon as possible to avoid risking public safety and increasing the eventual cost of rehabilitating the road to acceptable standards. I look forward to swift consideration of this legislation and the support of my colleagues.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I join Senator Bond, Senator Kerry, and others in support of a Senate resolution urging the President to adopt a policy to ensure that the 5-percent Federal procurement goal for women-owned small businesses is met. In 1994, Congress enacted the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, establishing a Government-wide goal for small businesses owned and controlled by women. This act allows for no less than five percent of the total dollar value of all prime contracts and subcontract awards for each year. Over the past few years, we have witnessed the growth of women-owned businesses, including federal contracts. Over the past ten we've seen thousands of women entrepreneurs start or expand their own businesses. It is important we realize that women-owned businesses are the fastest growing segment of the business community in the United States. In fact, in the next ten years, it is expected that women-owned businesses will make up more than one-half of all businesses in the United States. This week has been designated as Small Business Week, therefore it is only fitting that the Senate should pass this resolution to symbolize the Senate's concern that the Federal departments and agencies have not made adequate effort in meeting the five percent goal established in 1994 as part of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act. I fully support this Senate resolution and urge Federal agencies to make a concerted effort to meet this 5-percent goal.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4425, Calendar No. 554.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I move to strike all after the enacting clause of H.R. 4425 and to substitute therefor the text of S. 2521, as reported and as amended.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I send a series of amendments to the desk. They have been cleared on both sides.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I thank the ranking member, Senator Murray of Washington State, and her staff, and, of course, my staff for putting this bill together. It has been a longer than usual military construction bill. It goes a long way towards supporting the infrastructure of our Armed Forces.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendments.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BURNS. Yes.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, We are setting an all-time record for spending Senate time on the military construction bill this year. Never has it taken this long to pass military construction. Since this bill is under my management, I am not real happy about the precedent that we are setting. I do want to rise in support of the Byrd-Warner amendment. This debate today is not about withdrawal, or even the continued deployment, of our troops in Kosovo. What it is about is more important: the role of Congress and its relationship with the executive branch of this Government under our Constitution. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to vote on long-term military commitments, especially when they are offensive and not defensive in nature. Kosovo is not a defensive response to an armed attack against the United States or its allies. There is no pressing emergency requiring the President to act with dispatch. In such cases, it is very important for Congress to act on its role. It is easy to see the need for the exercise of Congressional responsibility in the case at hand since the administration has already spent $21.2 billion since 1992 in the Bosnia/Kosovo area. Contrary to the rumors, and even as stated by my good friend from Massachusetts who has interpreted this as a step to withdraw, the Byrd- Warner amendment makes specific provisions for Congress to continue American presence beyond July 1, 2001. The process outlined is orderly but it will require planning by the administration and the type of public debate expected in a democracy. Without the Byrd-Warner amendment, the administration is taking congressional appropriations as a tacit approval by the Congress for American involvement in Kosovo. In these circumstances, by approving emergency supplemental funding to continue our presence in that area, Congress can be seen as avoiding its responsibilities under the Constitution. In the first place, we are not properly exercising our Constitutional responsibility for the power of the purse as vested in the Congress. United States presence in Kosovo, without congressional scrutiny and affirmative endorsement, does not meet our duties to the American people that their voices be heard through congressional representation. Administration officials have repeatedly spent defense funds for these deployments. Afterwards, they come back to the Congress and ask us to pay bills that are improperly--and some would say illegally-- incurred. This process must stop. Our effort to uphold the Constitution will not undermine the troops in the field. There is ample time under the amendment for rational implementation while still imposing the accountability required by our laws. Some opposed to the Byrd-Warner amendment say we should not even have this debate, and that the timing is wrong. But when is it a good time to intercede? The Congress has been patient with the administration in Kosovo. But we, too, have responsibilities under the Constitution, especially when it comes to spending money. Today is the day we step up to the plate to face those responsibilities. The amendment shifts the responsibility for determining our future involvement in Kosovo to the next administration. I think the American people should also understand one other thing. We are not just talking about cents or dollars. I repeat that we are talking about $21.2 billion spent in this area since 1992. In addition, we currently have over 5,000 troops there participating in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. The primary responsibility of the peacekeeping force is to act as escorts for Serbs and Albanians. That is not what our troops were trained for. And administration officials wonder why our recruitment and retention in our military services is lagging. Senator Torricelli of New Jersey had it right when he called upon our NATO allies to provide their share of resources in this operation. That is what this amendment does. It is not because the Europeans don't have the resources or cannot get the resources. This debate has gone on, and they have been willing to let the United States of America shoulder the majority of the costs of the operation. As long as somebody in the administration stands up and says we will always do it, then we will always have to do it. But, we cannot be the police force for the world community. It is time to give our good friends, the European allies, the opportunity to demonstrate to the world their support for true democracy in the face of a dictator that was overstepping his bounds in the region of the Balkans. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It is well thought out, and needs our full support. I yield the floor.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I yield to my friend from Washington.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask for the third reading of the bill. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I wasn't going to say anything on this subject, but after listening to several of the statements, both last night and again this morning, I am compelled to speak. Everybody is talking about a message that was conveyed to this country last Sunday. There was a message there. I walked through that crowd. There weren't too many television cameras following me because I am not one of the superstars here. I do not take this floor and do a lot of talking. But this time I think I must. If you listened to them, there was a message. Common sense? Yes, that message was there: Do some commonsense things that will really reduce our exposure to crimes committed using firearms and enhance safety around children. They were not only talking to Congress; they were talking to America. They were saying: Americans, if you have children and young adults in your home and you also own firearms, then you have some responsibility. You, as the adult of that home, have a responsibility. You have a responsibility to your community as well as to this Nation that that child or young person or young adult knows and respects the weapon. The message was: Come to your senses, America. We can pass laws in here. We can pass this sense-of-the-Senate measure. We can pass the juvenile crime bill. But if we as adults in our own homes and with our own neighbors do not take responsibility, it will not change a thing --not one thing. There is a reason the second amendment was put in the Constitution. All we have to do is look around the world. We are a different society. We are a free society. Those men who shaped the Constitution and fought over it and bled over it, who walked, not the Halls of this building but in Philadelphia and New York, probably did not know exactly what they wanted in the Constitution, but they knew exactly what they did not want --tyranny by government. We are no different from the roots from which we sprang. I go back to the words of Benjamin Franklin. I will never forget them. I think they are very true today, just as they were then: Those who think we can pass laws that make us feel good and warm and fuzzy, who say look what we have done but do not change the circumstance any, they will say we are more secure now, but it is a false security. Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither. Those are the words of Benjamin Franklin. They are words that ring through these Halls today. If there is no responsibility, nothing happens, and the message from the Million Mom March is for naught. Pass the laws. Those who obey the laws become the prey, and those who are willing to break the law have no fear of it and become the predator and therefore rule by fear. Common sense, America; common sense. That is what they said. No matter what the law, the bottom line is responsibility--adult responsibility--not given to the Government, not given to the schoolteacher, not given to the babysitter; it is part of what we call parental responsibility. We should not be lulled into a false sense of security because we have passed a law that basically changes nothing. Those who have lost children in any way, in any fashion, understand that down in their gut. How can they tell the story? Because they believe it deep down. When I drive across this great country of ours--Washington is not the center of the universe--when I drive on the other side of the mountains and out across the prairies of America into the West and clear to the coast, I see people who are willing to take responsibility. They built a great nation, and they did not build it on false security. Last night I played a tape called ``Touch Tones in Valor.'' It is a 10-minute tape on the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. I started wondering: Why did these men and women of great courage think so much of freedom that they were willing to pay the supreme cost? Yet we cannot seem to teach that in our schools. During this debate, there have been numbers quoted, stats quoted, and there are politics involved. Why don't we say to the organizations that have the ear of people who shoot for sport and to hunt: Instead of this adversity, why aren't we working with those folks and their programs of education and responsibility and do something to raise awareness to make communities safe? We can do that, America. We can do that. We can work with parents, and we can work with schools, but we have to get involved. We cannot pass a law, walk away, and say look what we have done, and all at once believe that we are safer. We have to get involved with the young people. It is about time we remind ourselves to teach right from wrong and that there are consequences for wrong. It boils down to the message I got on Sunday, which is to help us; help us, but for Heaven's sake, when you go into groups, talk about parental responsibility, talk about the way to raise our children, talk about the way to teach our young adults. Do not go through this process of pretense and then say, ``Look what I have done.'' Do not be afraid to teach. My good friend from Washington comes out of the education community, and I bet she was a good teacher. We all teach every day. Every one of us, every adult, teaches every day. That is where it starts. That was the message of this past Sunday: Be a leader; be a role model. For Heaven's sake, don't do something with a paintbrush and think we have a new barn because we still have the same old one. We have to change from the inside. I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, did we have 3 minutes in that wrapup?

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I want to take a moment and tell my good friends, especially the Senator from New York who has left the floor, make no mistake, I am proud of my vote. Make no mistake about that because I love this Constitution. We should not be out here arguing about something. We should all be working together, trying to get America working together so we can do something about this violence. This is what I said a while ago: It boils down to communities' and individuals' responsibilities. We can pass laws all day, make us all feel good and warm, but they are not going to work. They are not going to work. I feel bad about that. I am proud of my vote today. Don't worry about me, that I did not have nerve enough to stand up here and vote my conscience. I voted my conscience. By the way, Senator Warner of Virginia will be handling our side of this debate, and Senator Roberts is here now.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the achievements of an outstanding student from Somers, Montana. Each year the American Association of University Women--Montana sponsors an essay contest for high school students in grades 10-12. The subject of this essay contest is ``Women in Montana.'' Students are to research and write about Montana women who have contributed to the quality of life of this wonderful State. This year's top essay was written by Adrienne Maxwell, an outstanding young woman attending Flathead High School. Her essay was chosen the best of all those in Montana and received first place in the contest. She writes about her mother, an immigrant who is no stranger to sacrifice and struggles, but believes through hard work comes triumph. Her essay tells the story of a woman with the true spirit, drive, and determination to achieve her goals while making a home for her family in a new land and never failing to give generously back to her community. I am pleased to acknowledge, on behalf of all Montanans, Adrienne Maxwell's achievement and ask that her essay ``Katherine Maxwell: A Montana Immigrant'' be printed in the Record. Katherine Maxwell: A Montana Immigrant (By Adrienne Maxwell) The first women to come to Montana were often immigrants from other lands. They left their homes, knowing they would probably never again see the friends and relatives they left behind. Once here, they worked hard every day, to make a good life for their families. My mother, Katherine Maxwell, is an immigrant as well, though she arrived in Montana in 1983 and not 1883. She did not face life on the frontier, but has shown some of the same qualities of hard work and determination to succeed shown by early Montana women. As a child in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, Katherine developed a strong work ethic at a young age with the encouragement of her strict, yet supportive parents. The oldest of four children, she was expected to always do her best at school and to do her chores well, and with a good attitude. Her dad was the manager of Carey's department store. In fact, Carey's was where Katherine began working, at age twelve, doing small jobs in the back warehouse. As soon as she reached the legal age of fifteen, she worked during school vacations as a shop assistant. As the ``boss' daughter'', she had to be a model worker. She studied at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. She majored in History, and minored in English, then obtained a law degree. Part-time jobs in college included working as a nurse's aid in a geriatric hospital, test-tube cleaner in the biochemistry department (``grosser than the hospital''), receptionist in a doctor's office, waitress, and law clerk. Through her hard work, she managed to graduate debt-free. She then worked in the legal department of a government department, and later as an associate attorney with the old established law firm of Lane, Neave, and Co., in Christchurch. She didn't know before she attempted it whether or not she would be a good trial lawyer, but thrown in the proverbial deep end, she swam! However, as a child she had had another dream, a dream of traveling the world. So she saved every penny and made plans for her overseas trip. As a final sacrifice to the travel fund, she sold her first and beloved car, the elephant- colored and shaped ``Horton'', a 1957 Wolsely. Katherine globe-trotted for about four years, picking up odd jobs every now and then, to pay for her next plane ticket. Finally it was time for her to settle down and get serious about a career. Those plans were derailed when, through an odd set of circumstances, involving at least three continents, she fell in love with and married my father, and ended up in Kalispell, Montana, in a little house and their first child, me, was born. Although her life differed markedly from that of a pioneer woman (she spoke English, and had the necessities of life) being a newcomer and far from friends and family, with a new baby to care for was lonely and difficult at first. She adapted, and like those early women, got to work, making a home for her family and becoming part of her community. Although her first, and most important, Montana job was to raise her children, Katherine knew she wanted to help people outside her small family. She believed becoming a lawyer was impossible, as her law degree was not from an ``American Bar Association Approved'' law school. When she heard Montana Inter Country Adoption was looking for a part-time social worker, she thought she could do the job and applied for it. Traveling all over Western Montana, she visited the homes of hopeful adoptive parents, and assessed whether or not this would be a suitable home for a child from overseas who needed a loving family. She loved being a part of creating families, bringing together parents and children. When the agency closed she was forced to think of a new career. As she began to consider a career in law once again, as a paralegal, she realized the fact that she couldn't use a computer or type might be a problem so she went back to school and learned how. When she thought she was qualified, applied for a paralegal position at Warden, Christiansen, Johnson and Berg, the oldest, and largest, law firm in Northwest Montana. She enjoyed working as a paralegal, but missed the responsibility of having her own clients. With the encouragement of her employers, she petitioned the Supreme Court for the opportunity to take the bar exam. Such petitions are rarely successful, and she was shocked when hers was. The review course she took during a sweltering Montana summer, was the hardest work she had ever done. Leaving her family to live in her ``little cell'' of a dorm room was hardly an ideal way to spend June and July. Yet she hoped that if she studied night and day, she could reach her goal. After the three day test was over, she felt discouraged. She could just tell that, despite her efforts, it was too much to cram four years of law school into six weeks. Katherine drove home, and was prepared to take the exam again in a few months' time. Then, in early September, the letter came. To her amazement she had passed the impossible exam and she was a lawyer again. The work didn't stop there. To this day, she continues to get to the office early, and stay late if necessary, working her hardest to make sure her clients get the justice they deserve. Her life story so far may not be one of enduring the rigors of a life in a newly settled land, but she has shown the same qualities: having the drive inside of her, to get up each day, work her hardest, and provide for her family. The true spirit shared by all Montana women has always been that although there will be struggles, through hard work, you will triumph. Katherine Maxwell is the perfect example of this spirit.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. on reauthorization of Marad administration.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Forests and Public Lands of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 16, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct an oversight hearing. The subcommittee will receive testimony on the United States Forest Service's proposed transportation policy.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., in 226 Dirksen.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. Objection.

Mr. BURNS

Mr. BURNS. I tell the Senator, I have a feeling we are not going to really get into the meat of this bill until after the policy luncheons. If the Senator would like to open it up, say, with your statement at around 2:15, we might be able to arrange that. Until then, I would put the Senate back into morning business.