Norm Coleman

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I understand there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

Mr. COLEMAN. I object to further proceedings en bloc.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask that the following article recognizing the generosity of Marlene Perling toward Zachary Wood and his family be printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Room 226. I. Nominations: Carolyn B. Kuhl to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; John G. Roberts, Jr., to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; David G. Campbell to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Arizona; S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana; William Emil Moschella to be Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legislative Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice; and David B. Rivkin to be Commissioner for the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission.

Mr. COLEMAN. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Department of Justice Nominations'' on Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 2 p.m., in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226. Panel I: [Senators]. Panel II: Robert D. McCallum, to be Associate Attorney General, United States Department of Justice; Peter D. Keisler, to be Assistant General, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice.

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet on Thursday, May 8, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing regarding S. 485, the Clear Skies Act. The meeting will be held in SD 406.

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 8, 2003 at 9:45 a.m. in closed session to mark up the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. on the nomination of Annette Sandburg to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in SR-253. Committee on Finance

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet in open executive session during the session on Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., to mark up a substitute for S. 2, the Jobs and Growth Tax Acts of 2003.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following two tributes honoring the life of the late Bert Sandberg-- steadfast businessman, World War II veteran, and long-time friend of the city of St. Paul--be printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill I introduce today to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide for a job training grant pilot program be printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill I introduce today to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide for a job training grant pilot program be printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask that the following two tributes honoring the life of the late Bob Proft--a proud Minnesotan, respected author, and brave World War II veteran--be printed in the Record. The tributes follow. [From the Star Tribune, Jan. 1996] A Tribute to Heroes (By Chuck Haga) Fifty years ago, Congress awarded a Medal of Honor to Jimmy LaBelle, a 19-year-old Marine from Columbia Heights and one of Bob Proft's best friends. Proft, a B-17 radio operator during the war, always wondered what his buddy had done to receive the country's highest military decoration, but he could find no lists, no compilation of citations. So Proft published a book. Working out of his sign- painter's garage in Columbia Heights, he researched the history of the medal, compiled lists of the recipients and their citations--from the Civil War through Vietnam--and in 1980 assembled an encyclopedic document of more than 1,100 pages. With co-publisher Mitch DeMars of Columbia Heights, he brought out an updated edition last year. Now anybody can look up Jimmy LaBelle's name and find out just what he did before he died on March 8, 1945, on Iwo Jima. ``I don't think there's anything else I've ever done that's given me more satisfaction,'' Proft said. He is a fit man of 70, earnest in his cause but self- effacing when talking about his own military service. ``I didn't do anything heroic whatsoever,'' he said. But heroes matter to him. ``It bothers me that you can talk to young people and they don't even know what the Medal of Honor is,'' he said. ``They know John Wayne. They know `Rambo.' Real heroes are forgotten.'' LaBelle was a soft-spoken, unassuming teenager, ``Just one of the guys growing up in the Heights,'' Proft said. During high school, he worked at a hamburger joint called Virg's on Central Ave. He boxed in intramurals. About 15 years after the war, Proft was painting a sign near Virg's. As he passed the hamburger joint, he thought about LaBelle and his Medal of Honor. ``It struck me that I didn't know anything about what he had done,'' he said. He went to his local library, then to the Minneapolis Public Library. He wrote to government and military sources. A friend helped with the search, but they came up empty- handed. In the late 1960s, the U.S. Government Printing Office compiled lists of recipients with their citations, he said, but that material was distributed only to federal depository libraries and couldn't be checked out. Proft thought there should be something that could go in school libraries, something that young hamburger-flippers could stumble across. ``You can't sit and read this book like a novel,'' he said. ``The citations would start blending together. But if you pick out a few citations at a time, they can really grip you.'' The honor roll lists 47 Minnesotans, including Dale Wayrynen of McGregor, who received the medal posthumously for gallantry in Vietnam. Ten of the Minnesotans were natives of other countries: Germany, Austria, Norway, England, Ireland and Canada. Proft's favorite is the citation for Nathanial Gwynne, who was 15 and trying to talk his way into the 13th Ohio Cavalry on July 30, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. When the unit charged a Confederate position, Gwynne rode along. The Yankees were forced to retreat, leaving their flag and battle standards. Young Gwynne charged back along, gathered up the colors and--despite having an arm almost shot off-- brought them back. ``Somebody said, `That young man should get the Medal of Honor,' '' Proft said. ``Somebody else said, `Yes, but we'd better get him mustered first.' '' Since the medal was first presented in 1863, 3,420 have been awarded. Eighteen people received two medals. An award requires at least two witnesses, and the action must involve ``gallantry beyond the call of duty'' and the risk of death. In 1916, a congressional panel reviewed records of medals awarded to that point and rescinded 910, Proft said, because they didn't meet those standards. Proft's book includes the citation for Alvin York, of course, the conscientious objector from Tennessee who became a World War I hero. Gary Cooper portrayed him in the film ``Sgt. York.'' And there are the stories of two living Minnesotans who received the Medal of Honor: Don Rudolph of Bovey, for actions in the Philippines during World II, and Mike Colalillo of Duluth, for actions against German forces near the end of the war in Europe. Proft's labor was a good thing, said Rudolph, 74. ``It gets it into the schools and the city libraries.'' The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Grand Rapids, Minn., bought 12 of the books for local schools and libraries, he said. Rudolph has had his own copy of the book signed by about 200 recipients of the medal. Today, only 184 recipients are living. ``I've read the citations of everybody in the book,'' he said. His own citation tells of his actions Feb. 5, when his platoon had been pinned down at Munoz, on Luzon: ``While administering first aid on the battlefield, he observed enemy fire issuing from a nearby culvert. Crawling to the culvert with rifle and grenades, he killed three of the enemy concealed there. He then worked his way across open terrain toward a line of enemy pillboxes. . . .'' He used grenades, a pick and his rifle to put seven pillboxes out of commission. ``Later, when his platoon was attacked by an enemy tank, he advanced under covering fire, climbed to the top of the tank and dropped a white phosphorous grenade through the turret, destroying the crew.'' Rudolph said he made it through all that without a scratch. ``I've said many times that I really don't know why I did it or why I got the medal,'' he said. ``But I knew I had to do it. Otherwise we were going to lose more men.'' It was about a month later that LaBelle died on Iwo Jima. He was a private in the 5th Marine Division. On the night of March 8, as Japanese forces tried to break through American lines, a grenade landed in the foxhole that LaBelle shared with two other Marines. He shouted a warning, then fell on the grenade, absorbing most if its impact with his body. ``His dauntless courage, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit on Pfc. LaBelle,'' his posthumous citation reads. Medals of Honor awarded in major conflicts: Civil War 1,520; Indian campaigns (1861-1898) 428; Spanish-American War 109; World War I 124; World War II 433; Korean Conflict 131; Vietnam 239. Source: United States of America's Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill I introduce today to clarify the authority of States to establish conditions for insurers to conduct the business of insurance within a State based on the provision of information regarding Holocaust era insurance policies of the insurer, to establish a Federal cause of action for claims of payment of such insurance policies, and for other purposes be printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill I introduce today to clarify the authority of States to establish conditions for insurers to conduct the business of insurance within a State based on the provision of information regarding Holocaust era insurance policies of the insurer, to establish a Federal cause of action for claims of payment of such insurance policies, and for other purposes be printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Thank you, Madam President. I think it was a young kid who turned to ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson when members of the Chicago White Sox were charged with corruption in baseball and said, ``Say it ain't so, Joe.'' Tell me that we are not back again in these hallowed halls visiting the issue of a nomination of a circuit court judge, trying to do what the Constitution has given us the authority to do since the birth of this magnificent country, the right to advise and consent but ultimately to choose, to advise and consent and cast your vote up or down for a judicial nomination. I am here to talk about the nomination of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of that nomination. The American public is going to hear these facts again and again. They are going to hear about Judge Owen, who has been unanimously rated well qualified by the American Bar Association, which my colleagues on the other side have called the gold standard in the past; the way you want to measure; you don't want to measure them by political affiliation, you don't want to measure them by what an interest group thinks. The American Bar Association, certainly not a bastion of conservative American values, unanimously has rated Justice Owen as well qualified. She comes before us with a history of serving presently as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court. She has been partner at a law firm and has handled a broad range of legal matters. She has been admitted to practice at various State and Federal trial courts. She is a leader in her community. I understand she teaches Sunday school. She serves as the head of an altar guild. She is a great American. She is well qualified. She has an opportunity now to serve on the Federal bench. And all that is being sought is for this Senate to do its constitutional duty. I have made some of these remarks in regard to the Estrada nomination, and we may well be getting back to that. I fear we are getting back to another filibuster, with my colleagues on the other side not allowing the Senate to do its business. We have a lot of business to do in America. These are difficult times and challenging times. We have just seen the miracle of the American military do great things in Iraq. But there is work to be done, and our citizens at home are worried about jobs and worried about health care, worried about the future. We need to get to those issues. We can get to those issues if we simply do our business and move on. If you do not support Priscilla Owen, if you do not think she has the qualifications, if you do not agree with her principles, vote against her, but give us a chance to have a vote. That is my concern. What we are doing here, and what we saw first happen with the Estrada nomination--and I fear we are stepping into the same swampland--is we are undermining the Constitution of this great country. The Constitution is one of those certifiable miracles of the modern age. It has flourished and survived for 214 years. And I think providence has inspired it. When you think how delicate and finely balanced the document is, it has survived a Civil War, and several wise and unwise attempts to amend it, and many constitutional crises. That is our strength. I think our adversaries do not understand the strength of this country lies in this remarkable document and the care of our leaders to live within its boundaries. That is why an attempt to tamper with this delicate balance of power must be met with suspicion, and repelled with conviction. I said that in regard to Miguel Estrada. I say that in regard to Priscilla Owen: An attempt to tamper with the delicate balance of the Constitution must be met with suspicion and repelled with conviction. We have the opportunity to have endless debate in this body, but, in the end, in the history of this country, we have had circuit court nominees getting a chance to be voted on. The Estrada nomination set a terrible new trend, one I hope we overcome. Never before have we had a partisan filibuster of a circuit court nominee, and now it appears we have not one but two. Say it ain't so. Say it ain't so. I told a story in regard to the Estrada nomination. I want to repeat that story. It is a true story. A friend of mine who worked here for many years gave it to me. He told me, many years ago, when the Senate was the Supreme Court's upstairs neighbor in this building, a significant event took place which provides us with a further warning. A young architect of the Capitol wanted to improve the sight lines in the Supreme Court Chamber on the first floor. Calculating that one of the supporting pillars was unnecessary, he brought in a crew to remove it from that Supreme Court Chamber. Halfway through the project, the ceiling fell in on the Supreme Court Chamber, which was also the floor of the Senate above, destroying both Chambers for a while. The lesson is when you tamper with one branch of Government, it can affect the others in ways you cannot anticipate. That is what is really going on here. The Constitution of the United States gives this Senate the important authority to advise and consent, and we do it by a majority vote. Treaties, on the other hand, require a supermajority. But when you have a filibuster, as we have seen with Estrada, and we now, I fear, will see with Priscilla Owen--and I hope not and again say: Say it ain't so--what happens is we are changing the constitutional standard. You have to think about some of the consequences. Some of the obvious ones. There may be some we do not see today. One of them is if this is now the standard, that you need 60 votes, we are not going to get qualified and talented people to serve on our highest courts in the land. They are not going to make it through. I dare say, Justice Scalia would probably not make it through. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal Supreme Court Justice, who graduated from the same high school I graduated from in Brooklyn, New York, James Madison High School, may not have made it through. Anybody who has been out there articulating a particular position, a perspective, would not make it through. Here is the fallacy of the argument of my distinguished colleagues on the other side. They want fealty to their judicial philosophy. They want the candidate to say: Here is a principle in which I believe, and you have to tell me you believe in that. But that is not what our system is supposed to be. What judges are supposed to do is not to say this is their own vision and their own view and their own philosophy, and regardless of what the constitution says, that is what they are going to apply. What the Constitution requires, what rules of court require, what we as Americans should require is that judges simply uphold the Constitution and to say they will follow established case law, that they will follow established precedence, by the way, even if they do not agree with it. That is what we require of judges. It is not about taking your own judicial philosophy and kind of driving it forward, come heck or high water. It is about a willingness and a commitment to uphold judicial precedent. That is what Justice Owen understands. That is what she represents. That is what Miguel Estrada represents. We have business to pursue, important business. But of all the things we do, if we take this Constitution and we disregard it, if we, in the halls of this Senate Chamber, in the year 2003 simply say we are going to cast the Constitution aside, we are going to set a new standard--not a majority but a supermajority, 60 votes--that we on one side--and this time it is my distinguished colleagues across the aisle; they are going to turn down folks because they are not pledging abeyance, not giving fealty to their philosophy; and down the road, if there is a Democrat President who puts forth candidates, if the folks on our side say, hey, the rules have been changed, the Constitution, we are no longer listening to it, it is now 60 votes, and we are not going to approve anybody who is a Democrat who has some philosophies different than our own--our country is going to be in deep trouble. I hope I get to serve in this institution a long time. The people of the State of Minnesota have given me an opportunity to serve. They have given me at least 6 years. But I will tell you, I will try to conduct myself in a way that when a candidate comes forward, I apply the same standard, whether that candidate is being put forth by a Republican President or a Democratic President. That standard is pretty simple: Are they willing to commit themselves to follow established case law. Do they have the right kind of judicial temperament. And--again, we have the American Bar Association giving the gold standard--then we should not be having these debates right now. Again, let us be very wary of efforts to change the constitutional standards. Let us discuss the merits of these nominees, their qualifications, judicial temperament, but then let us follow the constitutional process we have followed for two centuries and vote yes or no on our advice and consent to the President's nominee to the court of appeals. I hope, Madam President, we give Justice Owen that right. I am going to be voting yea. My colleagues on the other side may disagree and vote nay, but let's make sure we get a vote, that we do not change the constitutional standard. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I am proud to stand here with my distinguished colleague, the senior Senator from Minnesota, Mark Dayton, to offer congratulations to a group of young men of great accomplishment. In these difficult and troubled times, it is wonderful to recognize the accomplishment of young people. This accomplishment is something that is very close to the hearts of Minnesotans and folks in other parts of the country. It is about hockey. Hockey is a sport in which it is not about individual team stars. It is about folks working as a team and toughing it out and showing courage and determination. Hockey is a family sport. Moms and dads, hockey moms and dads are folks who get up at 4, 5 o'clock in the morning to find ice time for their kids. And if it is not in the formal rink, it is a little rink outside where you kind of dust away the snow so your kids can skate. It represents so much of the best of America. I am proud to announce I will be introducing, with my colleague Senator Dayton, a resolution later today commending the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey team for winning the NCAA Division I National Championship. And again, I am pleased to be joined by my colleague. Hockey is not a partisan sport. I don't know whether hockey players are Democrats or Republicans. They are good Americans, and they are good young people. I understand that upon this resolution's introduction, the Senate will take up and pass this fitting tribute to the Golden Gophers. During their championship game against New Hampshire, a Gophers fan in attendance held up a sign that said, ``The Dynasty Begins.'' With this as their second straight championship, the first team to accomplish this in 31 years, I would have to agree. At last year's Frozen Four, they defeated Maine in overtime 4 to 3, and this year's championship win came by a score of 5 to 1. Their first and second round games were also big wins, leading them to face Michigan in the semifinals, where they defeated the Wolverines in overtime. With their achievements on the ice, it is clear this hockey team has exceptional athletic abilities. But they should also be recognized for their academic excellence; they maintained a grade point average above the university-wide average. On a side note, allow me the opportunity to mention that the Minnesota-New Hampshire match in the final led to a similar competition here in the Senate between my good friend and colleague, Senator Gregg. As to that outcome, let me just say I am looking forward to my lobster and maple syrup. I will be presenting this very stylish Minnesota necktie with the Golden Gopher colors to my good friend, the senior Senator from New Hampshire, for him to wear proudly as a sign of the great triumph for the people of Minnesota over the folks from New Hampshire. On behalf of all Minnesotans, I am pleased to make this addition to his wardrobe and, again, I look forward to his wearing this good-looking gopher tie on one of his many high profile days in the Senate. I am proud to stand today to commend the Golden Gophers hockey team for winning the national championship and to recognize the outstanding achievements of all the team players, their coach Don Lucia and his staff. I yield the floor.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill I introduce today to authorize a comprehensive program of support for victims of torture be printed in the Record. There being on objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill I introduce today to authorize a comprehensive program of support for victims of torture be printed in the Record. There being on objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Madam President, what a glorious day yesterday was. I am privileged to follow my distinguished colleague from Texas who, as she reflects upon the joy that we all felt, expressed a real sense of pride in the incredible work done by our fighting men and women, knowing that many of those who have lost their lives and those who have been prisoners of war came out of Texas bases. For all of us there is always this mixed sense. We are filled with joy, pride and joy for the Iraqi people to be able to taste liberation and freedom in Iraq. But part of my tradition in the Jewish faith is that at the time of a wedding ceremony--a glorious day--we wrap a glass in a cloth. Then, at the end of the service, at this moment of the greatest of joy such as the great joy we experienced yesterday, the groom steps on the glass and breaks it. Part of the sense of tradition is, in this time of joy and celebration, let us not forget that life has mixed blessings, and there are tragedies that have occurred and will occur. So as we celebrate the incredible joy of the liberation of Baghdad, let us not ever--and we will not certainly in these hallowed Chambers, certainly not in this country--forget the sacrifices that have been made by those who have given their last ounce of courage and the sacrifice of their lives for the freedom we witnessed yesterday. Let us also understand that much work remains to be done. There will be more death. We will suffer more casualties. The liberation of Baghdad is, as my distinguished colleague from Texas said, perhaps the beginning of the end, but it is not the end. While we eagerly anticipate the day when all of Iraq will be freed from Saddam's iron fist--and Tikrit, his enclave, is still not liberated, so there will be fighting ahead--it is important for us, in what we have done over the last few weeks, not to forget the sacrifice and bravery of the coalition forces still fighting to free northern Iraq. I note that many are special operations soldiers, such as the skilled and fearless unnamed Minnesota man who was profiled so powerfully in an edition of the Star Tribune. And being a Senator from Minnesota, obviously, I have great pride in this unnamed Minnesotan. It is a story of a Minnesota combat air controller who had already spent more than 30 hours on the ridge line, directing close bomb attacks, with little sleep. In the briefings we get in the morning, just the other day we had one of those soldiers come in, one of those operatives who talked about the 150 pounds of gear that they have, who talked about being on that line and directing in, with precision guidance, the airstrikes, to focus on the target, to minimize any harm to civilians who are right there. This story chronicled the efforts, the skill, and the courage of one man--one unnamed man--a Minnesotan, but it drove home the devastating precision and prowess of our forces, a dramatic example of the remaining front line, of how the coalition has swept across Iraq in record time through the fearless teamwork and efforts of men such as this. I do not know whether, in the chronicles of warfare, any army has moved so quickly and moved so decisively, moved so precisely, as have our troops in what they have accomplished in a few weeks in Iraq. I cannot share the name and the family of this brave Minnesota soldier at this time because the embedded reporter was not allowed to identify him, other than to mention that the 34-year-old air controller hails from near Park Rapids, MN, and loves fishing and snowmobiling back home, as many of us Minnesotans love fishing and snowmobiling. But the description of what this dedicated Minnesotan is doing so far from home serves as an inspiring, yet sobering, reminder of the dangers and challenges that still confront our forces. A few passages from the story underscore the perilous conditions our Special Forces still operate under as they coordinate and choreograph the pinpoint air attacks that will ultimately lead to complete surrender, that will ultimately lead to the liberation of all of Iraq, that will ultimately lead to more stability in the Middle East, that will ultimately lead to a safer world for us here at home in America. Let me talk a little about what is in that story: Part cowboy, part choreographer, the Minnesotan stood in a bunker rife with scorpions early Tuesday morning and searched the sky. A U.S. fighter jet roared overhead for the third time in less than a half-hour. His casual tone masked his dangerous task of directing the aircraft to bomb Iraqi Republican Guard positions just a few thousand meters away. The reporter continues: As a combat air controller, he owned a 3-to-4 mile stretch of horizon that is the leading edge of a northern front only an hour from Baghdad--and moving closer. If his team's position was not locked in by a pilot before the start of a bombing run, the five American operatives and three Kurdish reconnaissance scouts risked being the victims of friendly fire. Their mission this night was to pound Hill 323, an 800-foot mound amid rolling hills where reinforced concrete bunkers protected Republican Guard troops and supplies. The story goes on to vividly detail the rest of the operation, the extraordinary coordination between pilots providing air support and the Special Forces on the ground. The unnamed Minnesotan is using the finest battlefield technology ever developed--infrared lasers that allow pilots to lock on to the position of friendly troops and target the location of enemy forces to a devastating and precise effect. But that mission and unnamed Minnesotan also exhibited another remarkable trait that has been displayed to the entire world throughout this campaign; namely, patience and concern--the patience to make sure he got it right, that no civilians were unintentionally injured, and that his fellow soldiers were safe. The controller lined up two warplanes to drop their payloads, but called them off because he was not certain they were locked in on the target. The third jet, an F-15 Strike Eagle, took three checks of the coordinates before the air controller was confident the pilot understood his directions. The cluster bomb then hit its mark. I submit that all of us should display similar patience and concern to that of that unnamed Minnesota combat air controller as we enter the final phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom--patience to let our coalition troops finish the job they went halfway around the world to do, and concern for the Iraqi people as they prepare for liberation and reconstruction of their country and society. At the end of that operation, the nameless Minnesota soldier was asked if he wanted something to drink, and he requested a Guinness. I certainly hope to find out exactly who he is, so I can buy him one upon his safe return. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to have this newspaper story from the Star Tribune printed in the Record.

Mr. COLEMAN. Madam President, on a final note, as the conferees to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill do their work, I hope they will include the unemployment benefits to laid-off airline workers that Senator Murray, I, and others worked so hard with Chairman Stevens to include in the Senate bill. Some of those laid-off workers from Northwest Airlines in Minnesota are now on military duty in the Persian Gulf, called up as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. One of them, a mechanic named Todd Stock, keeps our C-130 military planes airworthy to take crucial supplies to ground troops in Iraq. While on duty in the Middle East, Todd learned he is one of the 4,900 Northwest workers who will lose their jobs because of the downturn in the airline industry. When he is serving his country so nobly, Todd Stock should not have to worry about whether he can take care of his family when he gets back home. His wife Sheila has told him just to get home safely and that they will get through it somehow. Our thoughts and prayers are with Todd Stock. Our thoughts and prayers are with that unnamed Minnesotan. Our thoughts and prayers are with those men and women on the front line. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost loved ones in a great sacrifice, a worthy sacrifice, but the pain being so deep. They need to know that our love surrounds them at this moment. So I hope the conferees will keep in mind Todd Stock and the other mobilized mechanics serving our country when they make their final recommendations. I hope Americans will have the patience to understand that though yesterday was a great day, more remains to be done and our support, our commitment, our love, and our prayers will never waiver from being with those who are on the front line doing their duty, doing the job we need them to do, doing it so bravely and so proudly. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a great American and a most distinguished Minnesotan, Donnell D. Etzwiler, M.D., as he receives the National Institute of Health Policy's Health Care Leadership Award. Donnell D. Etzwiler, M.D., earned a Doctor of Medicine from Yale University School of Medicine in 1953. He practiced as a pediatrician specializing in diabetes care at the Park Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1957 to 1996. In 1967, Dr. Etzwiler founded the International Diabetes Center, IDC, in Minnesota where he served as its President and Chief Medical Officer until 1996. The IDC's mission is to ensure that every individual with diabetes or at risk for diabetes receives the best possible care. Under Dr. Etzwiler's three decades of leadership, the IDC trained over 12,000 health professionals, including hundreds from other countries, including Japan, Poland, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil. Dr. Etzwiler's dedication to his pediatric patients resulted in the IDC organizing and hosting the First International Symposium on Diabetes Camps in 1974. This important group significantly contributed to the establishment of standards and accreditation for diabetes camp programs. Donnell D. Etzwiler, M.D. served as President of the American Diabetes Association from 1976 to 1977. From 1982 to 1994, Dr. Etzwiler served as a Principal Investigator for the National Institutes of Health Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, a landmark study that showed that keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible slows the onset and progression of eye, kidney, and nerve diseases caused by diabetes. Dr. Etzwiler's commitment to improving diabetes care was international in scope. From 1986 to 1994 he served as the Chairman of the Diabetes Collaborating Centers for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1994, the Russian Government, awarded Dr. Etzwiler a Peace Award for co-founding and co-directing the International Diabetes Programme in Russia from 1989 to 1997. Dr. Etzwiler was extensively involved in professional medical associations, where he served in numerous leadership positions. He was a member of the Institute of Medicine. He has received over 30 hours and awards from professional and civic organizations, including the Charles H. Best Medal for Distinguished Service in 1994 from the American Diabetes Association. A Professor of Medicine for over 40 years, Dr. Etzwiler has published over 180 articles and abstracts about diabetes care. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great man. Through his commitment and compassion, Dr. Donnell D. Etzwiler has improved health care both nationally and internationally for people with diabetes. Thanks to Don, people--especially children--with diabetes live happier and healthier lives.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, as I stand on the floor of the Senate, it is crystal clear that the reign of the dictator of Iraq is quickly coming to an end. In fact, he may already have fallen as a result of yesterday's bombings. There is no question that his death grip around the throats of the Iraqi people is being lifted; his fingers pried by American, British, and other coalition forces at places such as Basra, Mosul, and Baghdad. But the freedom of Iraq has come at a loss, a loss of American, British, and Iraqi lives. I mourn the death of each and every one of our sons and daughters, folks who volunteered to stand in harm's way for freedom and liberties we wish for all people. They are sons and daughters of a great American revolution that never ends. The cause of freedom and liberty never ends. We see pictures every day of uncommon valor, the soldiers who rescued a young Jessica Lynch from her captors, the young men and women who dashed hundreds of miles from Iraq to the borders of Baghdad to liberate the people of that oppressed nation, or the soldiers--and there was one scene I watched on the news of three soldiers with a reporter. They had enough juice in a cell phone to make one call. One of the soldier's wives was pregnant, but instead of calling their families, they chose to call the parents of a fallen comrade to see how his mom and dad were doing. There are dozens of pictures of American soldiers comforting the people of Iraq, bringing them food and offering them compassion. These are America's sons and daughters. They are the pictures of America that the world sees today. They are the pictures of America that bring hope to oppressed people of the world. They are SPC Joshua Sams of St. Francis, MN, a paratrooper in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Following in the boot steps of a military family, Joshua's father was in the Army during the Korean war. Two of his brothers are in the Army now and one is in the National Guard awaiting deployment. Joshua joined the National Guard at the age of 17. After 2 years, he wanted to do more for his country, and Joshua's mom said her son had trained hard for months and was anxious to go to Iraq, was ready to go to Iraq, ready to heed the call of duty. Two weeks ago today, Joshua was among the brave paratroopers who leapt into northern Iraq and remains there today guarding a vital airstrip. Thank you, Joshua, for your service, for your commitment and for your bravery. I would also like to take a moment to pay tribute to David Bloom, a Minnesotan. Like millions of Americans, I watched the broadcasts of David Bloom of NBC from Iraq, a young man full of promise with a young vibrant family. This dedicated reporter left all of us much too soon. It is a long way from the shady streets of Edina, MN, David Bloom's hometown, to the outskirts of Baghdad. We are heartbroken at the death of David Bloom. Like every other American, he was there as a volunteer. His job was not to fight but to help tell the world the truth about the courage and integrity of our country, even at war. He turned out to be an outstanding representative of these qualities himself. Americans have always known that freedom and security come at a terribly high price. It humbles and inspires us all how many are willing to pay it for us. David Bloom made Minnesotans proud and he served his profession and his Nation with great valor. Our prayers and support will be with his spouse and his daughters. I would like to use the words of some of his colleagues and friends to demonstrate the professionalism and humanism of this wonderful reporter. The following remarks were on MSNBC recently. Tom Brokaw said: David was the consummate reporter. He'd land in my office without knocking, slide the chair up to my desk and then begin to suck all the oxygen out of the room asking questions how to cover the story or who should he be contacting. And then, in a flash, he'd be gone. Tim Russert, one of David's mentors, says: He had a sense of decency and civility. He didn't go for the cheap shot. You fuse that with professionalism, and he had something viewers wanted to watch, embrace. Yes, the sacrifice of our troops and their families must never be forgotten. But we must also remember the outpouring of love back at home and the countless acts of kindness and support on behalf of our fighting men and women. I think of the small Catholic grade school in Hampton, MN, that has just 57 students in the entire school. The schoolchildren came up with a wonderful way to show their affection and appreciation for our troops on the battlefield. They issued a ``penny challenge'' last week. Each class was given a pail and children were asked to drop pennies, do what they can, even on a small scale to show their support. Administrators were amazed at how much money they raised, more than $1,000 with the money going for care packages to U.S. troops in Iraq. Parents were very supportive as well, but the smallest children were the ones who collected the most money, the kindergartners. Another show of support came from the magic of television. Believe it or not, the first pitch of the Minnesota Twins's home opener this week was thrown out from the Middle East by a group of Minnesota soldiers. Josh Tverger, a U.S. Army specialist from Norwood Young America, MN, threw out the first pitch from the Kuwaiti desert. In the Metro Dome, Army SP Greta Lind of Le Sueur, MN, was on the receiving end. It was all accomplished through the spectacular technical satellite links similar to what our military has put to such stunning use on the battlefield, and now on the ballfield. Yes, there is much love at home. There is also much sadness in many homes and villages of those who have given their lives. We thank them. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are on the front line today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. If we could hug every one of them, moms and dads and sisters and brothers, I would do it and I know the Senator from Georgia would do the same. They have our love. They have our prayers. They have our thoughts. God bless them all.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, it is an honor to join my friend and distinguished colleague from Minnesota, on behalf of the people of Minnesota, to express our support for the courage and skill of our troops fighting at this hour in Iraq. As the majority leader noted when we began this session this morning, my prayers also are with those who have died and their families. May God watch over them. Folks who are out there should know, and their families should know, there are a lot of prayers in the Senate and a lot of prayers in America now for our fighting men and women and those who have fallen. I had a chance to talk to the family of PVT David Mahlke, a 19-year- old kid from Winona, MN. He graduated Winona High School in 2001. He was wounded, with the 3rd Infantry Division. He is recuperating, doing well. I was talking with his mom. She was waiting for a call from him. She said: If the call comes through, I am going to cut you off. And I said: Go right ahead, ma'am. I want the Mahlkes and all the other families in Minnesota to know we are praying for them, we are behind them. As my distinguished colleague from Minnesota noted, this is not a partisan thing anymore. We are there. We are with them and so thankful they are there. Over 100 years ago, Alexis de Toqueville said: The strength of America is not in its government or even its economy, but the quality of its average citizens. Never has this been more true than for the struggle for the freedom of Iraq. Every single American soldier, sailor, airman or woman in this conflict is a volunteer. How astounding that is. They stepped forward to risk their lives on behalf of the ideals and safety of the American people, and they are willingly, enthusiastically, and boldly laying down their lives for us. In that we are grateful. They are not just willing to die for their principles and our principles, they are living for them. The skill and compassion and care being demonstrated by the troops in the field is America at its best. It is far from the scenario we all feared: that war would demonize America in the eyes of many. I, too, have been frustrated and angered by the second-guessing and sniping by some members of the news media. I am reminded of the story of President Lincoln, who received a series of letters from a God- fearing woman who told him: Mr. President, God has told me we should move troops here and there, during the Civil War, and hire this general and fire this one. Lincoln responded very briefly saying: Ma'am, I find it amazing, indeed, that the Lord Almighty has given you all the answers but has given me the job. There is a time for legitimate debate in public and among our Nation's leaders. We had that. Resolutions approving the use of force were approved by decisive, bipartisan margins in the House and Senate. Legitimate protests in favor of diplomatic solutions continued. But in my mind, that all changed when the Commander in Chief sent young American men and women into battle. I want to say a word to the rest of our citizens. In a previous war, there was the expression, ``They also serve who only stand and wait.'' In my view, that does not apply now to those who simply sit and watch. It is good to be informed but we have to do our jobs as Americans. Let's at times shut off the TV; let's go out there, roll up our sleeves, and make this a greater nation for the troops to come home to. Ordinary citizens are winning this war and ordinary citizens in towns across Minnesota and America need to sacrifice and work hard, to use all their skills to get things done for America, right now, today. I am also hopeful these events will have an effect on our work here in the Senate. We don't have Democrat units and we don't have Republican units. We don't have conservative or liberal generals. The political labels would seem silly and irrelevant in comparison to the importance of the task. Maybe we could catch some of that spirit around here. The American people want solutions, not a partisan rugby match, and we should give them what they want. Finally, let me close on a different note. Those of us in our Nation's Capitol these days are experiencing a stark irony. On one hand, there is a somber mood about the war, as we receive the reports of danger and sacrifice. But at the same time, the city of Washington is bursting with the beauty and hopefulness of spring. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom. They are famous all over the world. But these cherry blossoms have a tale of hope for us all in these times, and I will tell it very quickly. The Washington cherry trees were a gift to the American people from the Emperor of Japan in the 1890s as an expression of friendship. In World War II, allied bombing of Tokyo resulted in the death of most of the cherry trees around the Emperor's palace. After the war ended, a group of Washingtonians took a set of cuttings from our trees here and brought them back to Japan to restore their trees. If you travel to Japan, you will see the trees which grew from Washington's tree which came here as a gift. We are not fighting in Iraq for oil or territorial ambition. We are fighting to protect our own people in a world that has brought threats to our doorstep. We are fighting as the only hope for the freedom of the people of Iraq against their tyrant. Justice is being done. But what the world is about to see will have an even greater impact. As we move to rebuild Iraq, the people of the world will see American generosity and ingenuity and values at their best. A dark cloud on the future is being removed and a new light is about to shine. Let's do our part, my fellow Americans, and make this a better country today before we go to bed tonight, as a tribute to our brave men and women who are fighting for us around the clock. Our prayers are with them. Our support is with them. May God bless them all. May God bless the United States of America.

Mr. COLEMAN

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my distinguished colleague from Minnesota in recognizing the University of Minnesota Duluth Women's Ice Hockey Team for winning their third straight national championship. A Stanley Cup-winning professional hockey player said that ``when you start a tournament, you stick with it.'' History has shown that the Lady Bulldogs maintain this same principle. In 2001 at the inaugural Frozen Four, they took on St. Lawrence University and won 4-2. The following year, they made it through the semifinals again, allowing them the opportunity to face Brown University, who they defeated 3-2 for their second title. They entered this year's national tournament playing Dartmouth College in the semifinals, a game which was tied in the second period before UMD came back to win it 5-2. Two days later, in the championship, they met No. 2 seeded Harvard University in what has been referred to by some as the best women's college hockey game ever. Knowing what makes a good hockey game, I would have to agree. There was a near-capacity crowd; a first period ending score of 2-0, with Duluth in the lead; a solid return by Harvard in the second; and a scoreless first overtime, which resulted in a second where sophomore Nora Tallus scored the winning goal at 4 minutes and 19 seconds. This goal concluded the 84-minute game, giving the Lady Bulldogs their third and probably most memorable title, as it was won at home in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. I am pleased to stand here today, commending the UMD Women's Ice Hockey Team for winning the 2003 NCAA Division I National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship and recognizing the achievements of all the team's players, coaches, and staff.