Tom Daschle

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Will the Senator yield for 30 seconds?

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, if I can add one other thought.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE. I thought he announced he intended to oppose it because we didn't have hearings. If there is still an opportunity to gain his support, I will give him all the time he needs to further discuss the issue.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I have immense respect for the Senator from Pennsylvania and consider him a very able legislator. I am disappointed that he will be opposing my amendment when we have our vote.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I yield back the remainder of my time. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I offered this amendment on behalf of the thousands of individuals who have been impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol, their families, and the estimated 12,000 children who will be born with fetal alcohol syndrome, FAS, or fetal alcohol effects, FAE, during the next year. My amendment will provide $25 million to establish a competitive grant program to fund prevention and treatment services to individuals with FAS and FAE and their families. This grant program is absolutely critical for several reasons. FAS and FAE are 100 percent preventable. Despite this fact, the Centers for Disease Control have reported a six-fold increase in the incidence of babies born with FAS between 1960 and 1995. One in five women still drink during pregnancy. Once a child has been born with FAS or FAE, there is still much we can do to help prevent the secondary disabilities that often accompany the disease. For too long, we have treated the birth of an FAS or FAE child as the losing end of a battle, rather than the beginning of one we can win. We have neglected children with FAS and FAE at the peril of those individuals, their families and their communities. Let me illustrate this point with two real life examples--Karli Schrider and Lucy Klene. Twenty-eight years ago, when Karli's mother, Kathy, was pregnant with Karli, it was not uncommon for expectant mothers to be told to ``drink a beer a day for a fat, healthy baby.'' Women who were in danger of miscarrying were sometimes hospitalized and given alcohol intravenously for five or six hours in the mistaken belief it would prevent miscarriage. Back then, it never crossed Kathy's mind that her occasional glasses of wine might be harming her unborn child. Besides, just the year before, Kathy had had another baby who was perfectly healthy, and she drank during that pregnancy too. The first time Karli was misdiagnosed, she was an infant. A doctor attributed her developmental delays to chronic ear infections. When she was 4 years old, a psychologist offered another explanation for Karli's difficulties. He said she was being ``willfully disobedient.'' When Karli was 8, a team of specialists misdiagnosed her again--with cerebral palsy. Eight years later, when Karli was 16, Kathy was training to be a substance abuse counselor. As part of her training, she attended a conference on ``crack babies.'' Sitting in the audience, she was stunned. Every characteristic of ``crack babies'' the lecturer described, Karli had. But Kathy had never used crack. She tracked down the few studies that had been done at that time on the effects of alcohol on fetuses. Again, she saw the same list of symptoms. Years later, researchers would announce that most of the symptoms they originally thought were the result of fetal exposure to crack were actually the result of fetal alcohol exposure, and that alcohol is much more devastating to fetuses than crack--or any other drug. Learning the real cause of Karli's special challenges has not lessened them. FAS and FAE are lifelong conditions. But, knowing the truth has enabled Kathy--and others in Karli's life --to focus less on Karli's deficits, and more on her strengths. One of those strengths is Karli's extraordinary kindness and empathy. In addition to her volunteer work at NOFAS, Karli also volunteers to help people with cerebral palsy, and the elderly. Two years ago, she was named one of America's ``Thousand Points of Light'' by former President Bush. She is an inspiration to everyone who meets her, and one of the reasons I believe so deeply in advocating for children with FAS and FAE. Another reason is a pint-sized girl named Lucy Klene. Lucy is 4 years old. She spent the first two years of her life in an orphanage in Russia. When she was 2, she was adopted by Stephan and Lydia Klene, of Herndon, Virginia. The Klenes also adopted a son from Russia, Paul, who is 3 years old and has no apparent fetal alcohol effects. Within a month after bringing Lucy and Paul home, Stephan and Lydia began to suspect that Lucy had special challenges. Over the next 16 months, Lucy was evaluated eight times by pediatricians and other specialists. Not one of them recognized the symptoms of Lucy's fetal alcohol effects. Finally, scouring the Internet, Stephan stumbled on the truth. He and Lydia took their research to Lucy's pediatrician, who read it and confirmed their hunch. Today, Lucy is a talented little gymnast who attends special education pre-school. And while it's still too early to know for sure, her doctor and parents think there is a good chance she will be able to live an independent and productive life when she grows up. Together, Karli and Lucy illustrate the challenges that families with FAS and FAE face and the need for expanded prevention, early detection and real support for FAS/FAE families. While we have certainly seen progress--it took Karli's family 16 years to get a correct diagnosis and Lucy's family about 16 months--there is still much more that needs to be done. A study recently released by Anne Streissguth at the University of Washington illustrates the importance of early intervention with individuals with FAS and FAE: 94 percent of children and adults with FAS experience mental health problems; 45 percent exhibit inappropriate sexual behavior; 43 percent have a disrupted school experience; 42 percent have trouble with the law; Of the 90 adults studied, 83 percent do not live independently and 79 percent have problems with employment; and, 72 percent have been victims of physical or sexual abuse or domestic violence. This study also showed that the presence of protective factors such as an early diagnosis and a stable and nurturing home reduce secondary disabilities. Even though early diagnosis is critical for preventing secondary disabilities, only 11 percent of kids and adults studied were diagnosed by age 6. While intensive intervention is critical to enabling individuals with FAS and FAE to live productive, safe lives, there is still widespread ignorance about this disease in the health care, scientific and educational communities. There is little advice available to families on parenting skills or how to utilize outside resources. Even when parents seek help from professionals, those teachers, counselors or health care providers may not have the training to provide necessary assistance or offer the right information. Teachers often do not have the tools they need to serve these special-need students. Physicians frequently do not know which medications to provide, if any. And, like Karli, many individuals with FAS and FAE still remain unidentified and mislabeled as noncompliant or delinquent. This amendment will fund a grant program within HHS to develop FAS training and treatment models that can be replicated around the country. The grant program was authorized by Congress in the fiscal year 1999 appropriations bill. The program will provide much-needed assistance to families, who, in many cases, have been bearing the burden of this national public health problem unaided and alone. The grant program will be directed by the Centers for Disease Control and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Portions of the funding for the grant will come from each of these agencies. It is time for Congress to join those who have already dedicated time and resources to this effort. Particularly, I want to recognize the National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome that has been aiding children and families and fighting for prevention for the last 10 years. I would also like to thank the directors of the Family Resource Institute, who have educated and been a voice for parents of children with alcohol-related birth defects. I also greatly appreciate the work of those in my own state, including Judy Struck and those at the University Affiliated Program, Charles Schaad, and the South Dakota March of Dimes. The National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, NIAAA, has been studying FAS and FAE for more than 20 years, and it has provided excellent leadership with the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee. The Centers for Disease Control and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration should also be commended for their growing dedication to this cause. We have developed a model for dealing with FAS and FAE that will bring our nation's best scientists together with advocates, service providers and families and will enable us to develop our knowledge of successful prevention, diagnosis, early detection, and education. It is the result of extensive consultation and input from experts in the field. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this important amendment.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I thank my colleague and once again commend him for his outstanding work on this issue.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I am delighted that the Senate is passing S. 1515, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Improvement Act Amendments of 2000. I deeply appreciate the hard work of my colleague, Senator Hatch, in developing this legislation and bringing it to this point. Hundreds of former uranium workers in South Dakota and thousands across the nation have developed cancer and other life-threatening diseases as a result of their work producing uranium on behalf of the United States government. Although the federal government knew that this work put the health of these men and women at risk, it failed to take appropriate steps to warn or protect them. In 1990, Congress passed landmark legislation to compensate these individuals. The legislation before us today takes critically-needed steps to amend this act to make it easier for victims to apply for and receive compensation. It also broadens the availability of compensation by updating the list of compensable diseases to take into account the latest science and by extending compensation to groups of workers excluded from the original law. Most importantly, it makes compensation available to workers in all states, including my home state of South Dakota. The original law limited compensation to workers in five states only, despite the fact that workers in other states faced identical circumstances. It is critical that we pass this legislation as quickly as possible in order to provide these individuals with compensation. Many are sick, and unable to afford adequate health insurance. This compensation will provide them with vital assistance. While I believe we need to send this legislation to the President immediately, there is one issue I hope to address as quickly as possible. The current version of this legislation sets different standards of eligibility for compensation for uranium millers and uranium miners. Uranium millers must demonstrate that they worked in a mill for a year. However, miners must demonstrate that they were exposed to 40 or more working level months of radiation. Given that miners' records about their level of exposure have now been lost, or were kept inaccurately, I believe we should set the one year standard for both categories of workers. Would the Senator from Utah agree at the first available opportunity to seek to amend this legislation to state that miners must simply demonstrate that they worked in a mine for one year to be eligible to receive compensation?

Mr. DASCHLE

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

Mr. DASCHLE

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

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I join in the request made by the majority leader to try to cooperate in a way to allow us closure on this bill. He has proposed an aggressive agenda. At the very least, we have to finish this bill. As he said, there are scores of amendments that have to be addressed before we can complete our work. I want to finish this bill this week. I want to be as cooperative and as forceful with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle in accommodating that kind of schedule. We have been on this bill, and we have had a good debate with good amendments and a lot of votes. There will be more amendments and votes. There comes a time when we have to try to bring this to a close. I want to do it as soon as we can and still accommodate Senators who have good amendments to offer. Please come to the floor and agree to time limits for each amendment. Work with us to see if we can't winnow down the list a little bit. We have had some cooperation, but it is going to take a lot more cooperation if we, indeed, are going to get the bill done on time. I believe we are ready to vote, Mr. President. Amendment No. 3659

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Right.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I designate Senator Robb as our manager on the Robb amendment and in control of the time. The manager in opposition to the Enzi amendment will be the senior Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I assume that the majority leader is referring here to an up-or-down vote in both cases.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the Air Force is currently evaluating five military bases to see which would be the best home for its new unmanned surveillance craft, known as Global Hawk. Accordingly, the Air Force is using the final 2 weeks of June to send a team out to each of the five candidates to solicit public opinion on potential environmental impacts. The next such meeting occurs Friday in Rapid City, SD and focuses on Ellsworth Air Force Base. For the past year or so, I have been making the case for Ellsworth to senior officials in the Department of Defense and the Air Force. Perhaps not surprisingly, I firmly believe Ellsworth represents the best choice for the Air Force to host this important new mission. As we approach the date of the Air Force's meeting in South Dakota, I thought I would say a few words here in the Senate about why I feel as strongly as I do. Although I am confident none of my colleagues will be surprised by this position, they may find some of what I have to say about Ellsworth surprising. Friday's meeting moves the Air Force one step closer to a deployment decision on the Global Hawk system. I and the scores of other supporters of Ellsworth welcome a careful, objective review. We are confident that at the end of such a process the Air Force will conclude that Ellsworth is the most appropriate home for the Air Force's next generation of surveillance aircraft. We hold this view for three very important reasons. First, geography. Ellsworth offers uncrowded airspace and largely open spaces. Such a setting is ideal for conducting the kinds of training missions necessary to ensure the Air Force maximizes the technological possibilities offered by Global Hawk. The second reason Ellsworth has an edge over its competitors is base infrastructure. Many people who have never visited Ellsworth or who have not visited recently will be surprised to see the modern facilities at this base. Many people perceive Ellsworth as a sleepy, rundown former Strategic Air Command Base. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a result of years of effort, it now has the facilities to match the fine personnel it has always had. The final advantage Ellsworth enjoys is community support that is as deep as it is widespread. From elected officials, to business owners, to hardworking South Dakotan families living in the surrounding area, all stand completely behind what Ellsworth does for South Dakota and our national security. The Air Force will be hard pressed to find a community more supportive of its mission. For all of these reasons, I stand behind Ellsworth and welcome the Air Force to my state so they can see first hand what I have been talking about in meetings with defense officials and here today on the Senate floor.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I rise to commend the passage of the bipartisan Kennedy-Smith Amendment--the Local Law Enforcement Act of 2000. The Senate's consideration of this important measure was long overdue and its passage is one of the major civil rights victories of this century. We are all aware of the tragic deaths of James Byrd in Texas and Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. James Byrd was murdered because of the color of his skin. Matthew Shepard was murdered because of his sexual orientation. In the Byrd killing, the federal government could help. In the Shepard killing, the federal government could not help local law enforcement. Why? Because our current hate crimes statute is full of holes and desperately needs to be updated. Right now the federal hate crimes law does not cover disability, gender or sexual orientation. In addition, the federal government can prosecute only those crimes where the victim was chosen because he or she was engaged in a ``federally protected activity,'' such as attending public school or serving as a juror. That is a very narrow basis on which to bring a lawsuit. Because Matthew Shepard was killed because he was gay, the federal government could not provide the resources Laramie, Wyoming's law enforcement so desperately needed. This is why our federal hate crimes law ought to apply whenever a hate crime occurs. Last year Dennis and Judy Shepard, Matthew's parents, came to Capitol Hill to plead with us to broaden the hate crimes law. I suspect that no Senator who met them will ever forget their words or the anguish in their eyes. It was an anguish that probably only a parent who has lost a child can possibly understand. During their visit to Capitol Hill, and all across America, the Shepards have found the strength to talk about their own tragic experience to help prevent other parents from experiencing their nightmare. Had we not passed the Kennedy-Smith Amendment we would have been ignoring their pleas, and the pleas of so many others. The Kennedy-Smith Amendment will end, once and for all, the contortions that federal prosecutors must undertake to exercise jurisdiction over hate crimes. The Hatch Amendment will not. The Kennedy-Smith Amendment will allow federal authorities to assist in state and local prosecutions of hate crimes on the basis of disability, gender and sexual orientation. The Hatch Amendment will not. We don't need to collect more data on hate crimes. We don't need to analyze the problem. We need to solve it. We already collect information on hate crimes and the statistics are grim. In the last year for which we have statistics, 1998, almost 8,000 hate crime incidents were reported. And we already know that state and local law enforcement needs our help because they have told us so. The National Sheriff's Association has told us so. The International Association of Police Chiefs has told us so. Both the Sheriff and Police Commander of Laramie, Wyoming have urged us to pass the Kennedy-Smith Amendment. The Laramie Sheriff and Police Commander came with Dennis and Judy Shepard to Capitol Hill. They told us what it meant for their departments to be without the assistance of the federal government in investigating and prosecuting Matthew Shepard's murder. It meant that they had to lay off 5 law enforcement officials as a result of the financial strain of the prosecution of Matthew Shepard's killers. If the Kennedy-Smith Amendment had been law, those officers would not have been laid off. We all know that only the Kennedy-Smith Amendment will bring about substantial change. We all know that only the Kennedy-Smith Amendment will provide law enforcement, in places like Laramie, Wyoming, the tools they need to investigate and prosecute hate crimes wherever they occur. We all know that only the Kennedy-Smith Amendment will send a strong message that the federal government will prosecute every hate crime with vigor. I am proud that this Senate has now stood with Dennis and Judy Shepard. I am proud this Senate did not let the politics of misunderstanding keep us from enacting a bill that would enable prosecutions of crimes motivated by hatred of gays and lesbians--the motivation for some of the most vicious hate crimes. There are those who argued that this amendment was not needed because it only affects a small percentage of Americans. I am troubled by this suggestion. Hate crimes diminish us all. Did this Congress say, in 1965, that we didn't need a Civil Rights Act because racial discrimination ``only'' affected a small percentage of Americans? No. We are talking about basic protections that all Americans should be afforded. If they are denied to any of us, we are all affected. We must make sure that the federal government leaves no American unprotected. The Kennedy-Smith Amendment is a bipartisan, reasonable, measured response to a serious problem. Now we must ensure that it becomes law.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I compliment the distinguished assistant Democratic leader for his remarks. I wanted to come to the floor to associate myself with his eloquence and his heartfelt expression regarding this important moment in the life of one of the most respected and revered U.S. Senators today. At long last, our country will recognize the valor, the courage, and the extraordinary commitment that one man made to his country now over 50 years ago. I know I speak for all of our colleagues--frankly, all of the country--in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to him, our admiration for him, and the extraordinary pride we have in the knowledge that we served with him. Senator Dan Inouye is not only an extraordinary Senator and great American in this day of the dearth of the hero; we find the true hero in Dan Inouye. There ought to be more role models in our country today. But if one looks to the Dan Inouyes, you don't need many more. I have admired him for the kind of person he is, for the kind of model that he has been, and for the extraordinarily unique and very remarkable way in which he represents his State and all of the people he serves so well in the Senate. The people of Hawaii can be very proud of their delegation. They can be very proud of their senior Senator, and on this day in particular they can be very proud of this country in recognizing the remarkable achievement for which this unique leader has now been recognized. So we congratulate Senator Inouye. We congratulate him not only on being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, but we congratulate him for his lifetime of service to his country--not only in the military but here in the Senate as well. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I think we all agree how important it is for our young people to understand the history of our nation and how the events of the past have helped to shape our country today and will continue to shape it in the future. On August 3, 1949, Congress designated June 14 as Flag Day. Last week, a Dallas Morning News editorial reminded us of the origins and meaning of this national day of commemoration. Flag Day was established to ensure that each year on that day we recall our nation's proud history and its role as a symbol of freedom and democracy to our citizens and to people around the world fighting for justice. I was much surprised to discover that this editorial, written with great wisdom and eloquence, was penned by Elizabeth McGarr, an intern at the Dallas Morning News in her first week with the newspaper. America is a diverse and culturally rich country, but as Elizabeth points out in her editorial, we are all able to unite around the flag and celebrate our commitment to the ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Elizabeth, who has just graduated from the Hockaday School in Dallas and will attend the University of Texas in the fall, is an outstanding role model for her peers and every American. I ask unanimous consent that Elizabeth McGarr's editorial be entered into the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, this weekend we will commemorate an important day in American history. June 25th, the 50th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, will provide all Americans the opportunity to pause and remember the men and women who fought and died in the Korean War. Some historians refer to the Korean War as the ``forgotten war.'' Perhaps the reason the Korean War has receded in our memories is because it was unlike either the war that preceded it or the war that followed it. Rationing brought World War II into every American home. And television brought the Vietnam War into every home with unforgettable images and daily updates. But Korea was different. Except for those who actually fought there, Korea was a distant land and eventually, a distant memory. Today, as we remember those who served in Korea, it is fitting that we remember what happened in Korea, and why we fought there. The wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, bears an inscription that reads, ``Freedom is not free.'' And in the case of South Korea, the price of repelling communist aggression and preserving freedom was very high indeed. Nearly one-and-a-half million Americans fought to prevent the spread of communism into South Korea. It was the bloodiest armed conflict in which our nation has ever engaged. In three years, 54,246 Americans died in Korea--nearly as many as were killed during the 15 years of the Vietnam War. The nobility of their sacrifice is now recorded for all of history in the Korean War Veterans Memorial. As you walk through the memorial and look into the faces of the 19 soldier-statues, you can feel the danger surrounding them. But you can also feel the courage with which our troops confronted that danger. It is a fitting tribute, indeed, to the sacrifices of those who fought and died in Korea. But there is also another tribute half a world away. And that is democracy in the Republic of South Korea. Over the last five decades, the special relationship between our two nations that was forged in war has grown into a genuine partnership. Our two nations are more prosperous, and the world is safer, because of it. The historic summit in North Korea earlier this month offers new hope for a reduction in tensions and enhanced stability in the region. We can dream of a day when Korea is unified under a democratic government and freedom is allowed to thrive. As we continue to move forward, however, we pause today to remember how the free world won an important battle in the struggle against communism in South Korea. Let us not forget that it is the responsibility of all those who value freedom to remember that struggle and to honor those who fought it. The enormous sacrifices they made for our country should never be forgotten.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, when I was in high school, there was a great deal of discussion in the Senate and across the country about our country's role in preserving and promoting world peace. With the end of the cold war, the focus of that debate has changed dramatically. The arms race with the Soviet Union and the threat of communism spreading in Europe are, thankfully, a part of our history. The challenge of promoting peace, however, is as relevant today as it was at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. From Northern Ireland to the Middle East; from Africa to Asia, too many innocent lives are destroyed by war and violence. We must be creative in developing and adapting strategies for peace. Thankfully, there are young people from across the country who have given thoughtful consideration to how to create and sustain peace in the world. The National Peace Essay Contest recognizes high school students who have articulated a commitment to peace, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to recognize one of those young people. Tomorrow, I will meet with David Redlinger of Watertown, South Dakota who is this year's South Dakota winner of the National Peace Essay Contest. David's essay on Tajikistan and Sudan is eloquent, and demonstrates his commitment to the fight for peace in the world. I would like to congratulate David, and I ask that his essay be inserted into the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I know our colleagues are waiting to vote. I will not take more than a moment. I add my voice and congratulate the Senator from Alabama for his amendment. This amendment will be adopted unanimously, as it should. It is in recognition not only of the great contribution Senator Lautenberg has made to this subcommittee and to transportation policy but to the country at large on policies that go way beyond transportation, whether it is tobacco or gun safety. Whether it is an array of issues foreign or domestic, Senator Lautenberg has provided an insightful voice, a courageous voice. As Democratic leader, it has been an honor and high pleasure for me to have worked with him. I am proud to have had that opportunity. I congratulate him on his extraordinary service to his country.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I join the majority leader in his commendation of an extraordinary part of this wonderful institution. Jim Talbert, as the majority leader has indicated, is retiring at the end of this week as the Superintendent of the Senate Periodical Press Gallery. He is one of hundreds of members of our Capitol family whom C- SPAN viewers never see but without whom this institution would simply not function. He has served Congress with distinction for 32 years. Born on February 22, 1943, in Washington, D.C., he has resided here all of his life. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in journalism in 1964 and began his career on Capitol Hill in 1966, covering politics for the Timmons News Service. In 1968, he joined the House Daily Press Gallery where he worked for 23 years. Much to our good fortune, he came to the Senate in 1991 as the Superintendent of the Senate Periodical Press Gallery. The periodical gallery is one of three press galleries in the Senate. It is the nerve center for Capitol Hill reporters representing national and local magazines and newsletters. More than 1,700 journalists representing 250 different news organizations are credentialed to use the Periodical Press Gallery to file stories, stay in contact with home offices, and get information on Senate activities. As head of the periodical gallery, Jim approves credentials for reporters covering Capitol Hill. He acts as a liaison between the press and Senate staff and keeps up-to-the-minute information on what is happening on the Senate floor. Reporters do not turn to Jim simply for information about where a press conference is being held or when a bill might be coming to the floor. They also depend on his vast knowledge of Senate history and legislative procedure to make sense of our sometimes confusing parliamentary rules. He is a professional, an efficient and fairminded person in carrying out all of his duties. He is also generous and always has a humorous story to share. While his departure will have reporters scrambling to find a good source on Senate procedure, he can leave knowing that the periodical gallery staff he has worked so hard to train is committed to maintaining his same high standards. Besides his retirement, Jim will celebrate another happy milestone this year. In 1995, Jim was diagnosed with throat cancer. In his 5-year fight to beat cancer, he endured several rounds of radiation treatment and surgery and missed only 1 month of work. Recently, Jim was declared cancer free. Finally, I always sensed that there was something unusually wise about Jim. That hunch was confirmed recently when I learned that he and his wife, Judy, will be moving to her hometown, Brookings, SD, home of South Dakota State University. I can't think of a better place to retire. I am glad to call them constituents and look forward to seeing them many times in my State and now their State. I wish Jim and Judy well. Jim has served this Senate with dedication and distinction. I look forward to being able to serve with him, for a change, as his Senator. I wish him and Judy all of the best as they begin their new life in South Dakota.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I just urge the cooperation of all Senators. The only way this dual track is going to work is if we can accommodate each other's needs. That is what generated our agreement to address both bills in this fashion. Senators on both sides want to be accommodated. They have amendments to offer. This allows for that process to continue--to allow amendments on Defense authorization in the morning up until early afternoon, and then to take up appropriations in the afternoon--so that we can work through the appropriations bills that we know we must get done. We will be unable to go to appropriations bills in the future if we can't continue to accommodate each other's needs. I think this is working well. I hope we can continue to work well to work off the list of amendments. Senator Reid does his magic with our list, and I know we have our colleagues on the other side who are attempting to do the same there. But we ought to have these votes and debates. I think it is good for the country and good for the institution to be able to have the opportunity to debate some of these issues. That is what we are doing, and that is why you see the cooperation you have this week. I yield the floor.