Tom Daschle

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I now ask that the Senate proceed to executive session, as provided under the previous order.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. DASCHLE

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the distinguished Republican leader and I have been discussing the schedule for next week, as I noted a few moments ago. We know there are many obstacles and many challenges we will have to face next week. I believe it is important we come to the floor to share with our colleagues at least what our intentions are and indicate that, on a bileadership basis, it is our desire to work through each of these priorities in an effort to get as much done as we can and complete this work period as successfully as possible. In keeping with that spirit, let me say it was our intention to attempt to complete our work on the prescription drug benefit by Tuesday night. We, of course, will take up additional nominations on Monday, three judges, and additional Executive Calendar nominees. We will chip away at that each day. We will be doing another block of nominations today. As we noted earlier this week, we are working under a unanimous consent agreement to take up the DOD appropriations bill no later than Wednesday. Now, it does not, of course, stipulate when on Wednesday, so in keeping with that request and that consent, we are obligated to bring it up. It is my expectation that certainly if the prescription drug benefit bill has been completed, we will be able to come to the DOD bill and stay on it until it has been finished. We recognize there are those who are in opposition to both the trade promotion authority as well as to Homeland Security. Yet it is our desire to complete work on the trade promotion authority bill, the conference report, next week. So we will file cloture on the motion to proceed to the conference report in an effort to complete our work. We also have a need to begin work on the homeland security legislation. It was reported out of committee on a bipartisan basis, out of the Governmental Affairs Committee this week, so we will file cloture, recognizing that there will be a need to do so. We will file cloture on the homeland defense bill and have a vote on the motion to proceed to that bill prior to the end of the week. So that clearly will require cooperation and a good deal of effort on everyone's part. I think there is a mutual interest in getting this work done. Many of the issues that we will be taking up next week are high priorities for the administration, as they are for us. So I appreciate very much the distinguished Republican leader's interest in working together to accommodate that schedule. I thank him for coming to the floor. I yield the floor at this time for whatever remarks he may want to make.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I compliment the distinguished Republican leader for the spirit of his comments, and indicate that he is so correct. There are so many times when there are rumors and there are allegations of all kinds, sometimes positive and sometimes negative, about things that he and I are doing, which is why I thought having a colloquy at the end of the week might be helpful. With regard to the schedule, with regard to our intentions, let me be clear. It is my hope, based on the cooperative spirit that we both have attempted to articulate this afternoon, that we can get a lot done. I have indicated to the President this week that it is my hope we can clear the calendar of all of the noncontroversial nominations, both judicial as well as executive appointments. That is what we will continue to try to chip away at. I don't see any reason why, at the end of the week, all noncontroversial nominations could not have been successfully addressed. We will do that. I appreciate very much Senator Lott's willingness to come to the floor to restate our intentions to try to achieve this ambitious agenda.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in just a few minutes, the Republican leader will be joining me on the Senate floor. Before he gets here, I rise to thank my colleagues for the good work we have been able to complete this week. It has been a very productive week. We were able to pass unanimously the new Corporate Accountability Act after a great deal of effort on all sides. I complimented the distinguished Senator from Maryland, the chairman of the Banking Committee, Mr. Sarbanes, on a number of occasions, but I want to complete our week this week by recognizing again his contribution. The Appropriations Committee deserves commendation. They have reported out all the appropriations bills now. In many ways, they are actually ahead of schedule, even though we have had somewhat of a late start. We finished the military construction appropriations bill this week. We also finished the legislative branch appropriations bill and set up an opportunity to complete our work on the DOD appropriations bill next week. There may be other appropriations bills that may be ready for consideration next week as well. On the appropriations front, secondly, I thought we had quite a good week. At long last we were able to move to conference on terrorism insurance. I am hopeful in the not too distant future we will complete our work on that measure, as we did the Corporate Accountability Act. We have done a number of nominations. We are now on track with regard to nominations. We confirmed a circuit court judge today, filed cloture Wednesday and got cloture today on second one. That vote will occur on Monday night. It is currently my plan to move forward additional judicial nominees on Monday night as well. In addition to the judicial nominees, we were able to complete our work on nominations on some very important commissions. The SEC, for example, had four outstanding vacancies. As a result of our work this week, we were able to complete work on the SEC nominations. There is now a full complement of SEC Commissioners. That, too, was an important aspect of the work of the Senate. Off the floor, there were a couple of other important matters that we addressed. The bankruptcy reform conference report is soon to be filed. It was completed, the work was completed, as was the trade promotion authority--not only trade promotion authority but the Andean Trade Promotion Act, as well as the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act, the package of bills, late last night. The conference report to that package of bills was agreed to. We are in a very good position now to move into the final week of this work period. Senator Lott and I have had a number of constructive discussions about next week. Our purpose in coming to the floor is to outline for our colleagues what our expectations are, and I will do that when he arrives. I will also say, the confirmation of the district judge this morning brings to a total of 61 the number of confirmations since we took the majority a little over a year ago. That includes 49 district judges and 12 circuit judges. On Monday, as I noted, we intend to take up at least 1 more, if not additional judges, and that would then bring to a total anywhere from 62 to 64 judges in the time that we have had the majority. We are making progress on judicial nominations. We are determined to attempt to clear the calendar with regard to those judicial nominations over the course of the next few days, if it is at all possible. Whether we clear the calendar, I must say, depends on whether we get all the other work done as well. There has to be an understanding that we do not have the luxury of focusing solely on nominations, as much as that would be a good thing to do. We have to complete our work on the prescription drug benefit and generic drug benefit legislation. We want to call up the fast-track conference report and file cloture. We want to complete our work on the Defense appropriations bill, if that is possible. We want to work to proceed to the homeland security legislation and file cloture on the motion to proceed to that bill. We have a lot of work we need to complete before the end of next week. Given the fact we will get a late start on Monday afternoon, Senators should be aware that we could be involved in late nights, and we will certainly be here a week from this coming Friday. I wanted to be sure my colleagues were made aware of our expectations for the schedule for that period of time. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum until the arrival of the distinguished Republican leader.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 524, S. 2771.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I have a number of matters to address prior to the time we adjourn for the day. All of these matters have been reviewed by the distinguished Republican leader. He is here, and he is now in a position to express himself if he has any additional comments. But I will begin.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 4 p.m. on Monday, July 29; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there be a period of morning business until 5:30 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; and that at 5:30 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the next rollcall vote will occur at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29, on the confirmation of Julia S. Gibbons to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 852, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, and 883; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table; that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then return to legislative session, with the preceding all occurring without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, under the authority granted to me and after consulting with the Republican leader, I now call up Calendar No. 504, H.R. 5121, the legislative branch appropriations bill.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Would my colleague from West Virginia withhold for a moment? If the Senator from West Virginia will yield, I appreciate my colleague's courtesy.

Mr. DASCHLE

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

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as all of our colleagues know, over the last many weeks we have been attempting to work out an arrangement whereby we can go to conference on terrorism insurance. I am very pleased to be able to report this morning that we are now in a position to be able to do so. I have been in consultation with the Republican leader, and I am prepared now to present a unanimous consent request in that regard. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 252, H.R. 3210, the House-passed terrorism insurance bill, that all after the enacting clause be stricken, the text of S. 2600 as passed by the Senate be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill as thus amended be read the third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the Senate insist upon its amendment, request a conference with the House upon the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate with the ratio of 4 to 3, all without intervening action or debate.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. This is a sad day for the Capitol Hill family. Four years ago today, two very good men--two members of our Capitol Hill family, Officer J.J. Chestnut and Detective John Gibson--were killed defending this Capitol Building. As Senator Lott has noted, a few moments ago we paused for a moment of silence to pay tribute to these fallen heroes for their selfless service and their enormous sacrifice. Just before that moment of silence, there was a ceremony at the memorial door entrance to this building. Under the bronze plaque that bears the names and likenesses of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson, we laid roses in their honor. Yesterday at that same spot someone left another tribute: a small basket of red, white, and blue flowers. Attached to the basket was a card. Inside the card was a handwritten note that read: We will never forget. You were my friends. God bless. It was signed by a member of the Capitol Police Force. Also yesterday John Gibson's beloved Boston Red Sox trounced the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 22 to 4--in the first game of a double hitter, no less. So I know John Gibson is smiling up in heaven today. And even though the gardening he loved is struggling in this heat and drought, I am sure J.J. Chestnut is right there with him--smiling, too. For those of us down here who knew them, it is a little harder to smile today. The great poet Emily Dickinson wrote, after someone you loved dies, you feel ``the presence of their absence everywhere.'' The absence of J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson is felt today by many people, by their friends, their fellow officers, most of all by their families, their wives and children, and in Officer Chestnut's case, his grandchildren. The Gibson and Chestnut families have felt the presence of the absence of John and J.J. for three Thanksgivings and three Christmases, at too many birthday parties, weddings, and graduations. Those of us who work in the Capitol want the Gibson and Chestnut families to know that in all those moments our hearts have been with them. We also want them to know that we, too, feel the presence of the absence of their loved ones. We feel it when we pass the memorial door entrance. We feel it when we see Capitol Police officers working double shifts to protect us. We felt it on September 11 when our Nation was attacked and on October 15 when the anthrax letter was opened. During this past year, we have all been reminded with terrible certainty that there are people in the world who would like to destroy this building, the people's House, and the government and the ideals for which it stands. We also know with absolute certainty that as long as there are patriots such as John Gibson and J.J. Chestnut who are willing to sacrifice their lives to defend our freedom and safety, this people's House and this great Nation will endure. As the note on the basket said: We will never forget. They were our friends and our protectors. God bless them today and always. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, let me compliment the distinguished Senator from Virginia on his remarks. I appreciate very much his willingness to yield the floor for this unanimous consent request. I have been consulting with the distinguished Republican leader for the last several hours with regard to additional work on appropriations bills. We are now in a position to offer a unanimous consent request with regard to at least two more of these bills. I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, may proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 504, H.R. 5121, the legislative branch appropriations bill; that debate on the bill and the committee amendment be limited to 30 minutes equally divided and controlled between the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee; that immediately after the bill is reported, the text of the Senate committee-reported bill be inserted at the appropriate place in the bill; that the only first-degree amendments in order be those enumerated in this agreement, with the debate time limited to 10 minutes each, equally divided and controlled in the usual form; except that the Dodd and Specter amendments listed below not have a time limitation; that they be subject to relevant second-degree amendments that would also not be subject to a time limit; that upon disposition of these amendments, the bill be read a third time and the Senate then vote on passage of the bill, as amended; that upon passage, the Senate insist on its amendment and request a conference with the House; that the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, without further intervening action or debate; provided further that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 505, H.R. 5010, the Department of Defense appropriations bill, no later than Wednesday, July 31--Durbin amendment regarding Capitol Police; Cochran amendment regarding congressional awards; Landrieu amendment regarding bicentennial commission; Specter amendment regarding mass mailings; Dodd amendment regarding mobile offices.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, that is correct. I would also note something the Senator mentioned: It is important for us not to consider this the complete list. It would be my hope, if we could entertain other unanimous consent requests regarding additional appropriations bills--we expect that that possibility could also be one we would want to entertain. My expectation and determination would be to complete work on the DOD appropriations bill next week.

Mr. DASCHLE. I yield the floor and thank my colleagues. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act. Wind Cave National Park, located in southwestern South Dakota, is one of the Park System's precious natural treasures and one of the Nation's first national parks. The cave itself, after which the park is named, is one of the world's oldest, longest and most complex cave systems, with more than 103 miles of mapped tunnels. The cave is well known for its exceptional display of boxwork, a rare, honeycomb-shaped formation that protrudes from the cave's ceilings and walls. While the cave is the focal point of the park, the land above the cave is equally impressive, with 28,000 acres of rolling meadows, majestic forests, creeks, and streams. As one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the country, the park is home to abundant wildlife, such as bison, deer, elk and birds, and is a National Game Preserve. The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act will help expand the park by approximately 20 percent in the southern ``keyhole'' region. This land currently is owned by a ranching family that wants to see it protected from development and preserved for future generations. The land is a natural extension of the park, and boasts the mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forests found in the rest of the park, including a dramatic river canyon. The addition of this land will enhance recreation for hikers who come for the solitude of the park's back country. It will also protect archaeological sites, such as a buffalo jump over which early Native Americans once drove the bison they hunted, and improve fire management. This plan to expand the park has strong, but not universal, support in the surrounding community, whose views recently were expressed during a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. Most South Dakotans recognize the value in expanding the park, not only to encourage additional tourism in the Black Hills, but to permanently protect these extraordinary lands for future generations of Americans to enjoy. Understandably, however, some are legitimately concerned about the potential loss of hunting opportunities and local tax revenue. Governor Janklow has expressed his conditional support for the park expansion, stating that there must be no reduction in the amount of lands with public access that currently can be hunted, that there must be no loss of tax revenue to the county from the expansion, and that chronic wasting disease issues must be dealt with effectively. There are reasonable conditions that should be met as this process moves forward. The legislation I am introducing today protects hunting opportunities for sportsmen by excluding 880 acres of School and Public Lands property from the expansion. In addition, Wind Cave National Park and the Trust for Public Lands are working with interested parties to find a way to offset the loss of local county tax revenues. Finally, I understand that the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department has reached an agreement with Wind Cave officials to expand research into chronic wasting disease, which will benefit wildlife populations nationwide. I am satisfied that the legitimate concerns about the potential expansion have been effectively addressed and today am moving forward to begin the legislative phase of this process. In conclusion, Wind Cave National Park has been a valued American treasure for nearly 100 years. We have an opportunity with this legislation to expand the park and enhance its value to the public so that visitors will enjoy it even more during the next 100 years. It is my hope that my colleagues will support this expansion of the park and pass the legislation in the near future. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act. Wind Cave National Park, located in southwestern South Dakota, is one of the Park System's precious natural treasures and one of the Nation's first national parks. The cave itself, after which the park is named, is one of the world's oldest, longest and most complex cave systems, with more than 103 miles of mapped tunnels. The cave is well known for its exceptional display of boxwork, a rare, honeycomb-shaped formation that protrudes from the cave's ceilings and walls. While the cave is the focal point of the park, the land above the cave is equally impressive, with 28,000 acres of rolling meadows, majestic forests, creeks, and streams. As one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the country, the park is home to abundant wildlife, such as bison, deer, elk and birds, and is a National Game Preserve. The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act will help expand the park by approximately 20 percent in the southern ``keyhole'' region. This land currently is owned by a ranching family that wants to see it protected from development and preserved for future generations. The land is a natural extension of the park, and boasts the mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forests found in the rest of the park, including a dramatic river canyon. The addition of this land will enhance recreation for hikers who come for the solitude of the park's back country. It will also protect archaeological sites, such as a buffalo jump over which early Native Americans once drove the bison they hunted, and improve fire management. This plan to expand the park has strong, but not universal, support in the surrounding community, whose views recently were expressed during a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. Most South Dakotans recognize the value in expanding the park, not only to encourage additional tourism in the Black Hills, but to permanently protect these extraordinary lands for future generations of Americans to enjoy. Understandably, however, some are legitimately concerned about the potential loss of hunting opportunities and local tax revenue. Governor Janklow has expressed his conditional support for the park expansion, stating that there must be no reduction in the amount of lands with public access that currently can be hunted, that there must be no loss of tax revenue to the county from the expansion, and that chronic wasting disease issues must be dealt with effectively. There are reasonable conditions that should be met as this process moves forward. The legislation I am introducing today protects hunting opportunities for sportsmen by excluding 880 acres of School and Public Lands property from the expansion. In addition, Wind Cave National Park and the Trust for Public Lands are working with interested parties to find a way to offset the loss of local county tax revenues. Finally, I understand that the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department has reached an agreement with Wind Cave officials to expand research into chronic wasting disease, which will benefit wildlife populations nationwide. I am satisfied that the legitimate concerns about the potential expansion have been effectively addressed and today am moving forward to begin the legislative phase of this process. In conclusion, Wind Cave National Park has been a valued American treasure for nearly 100 years. We have an opportunity with this legislation to expand the park and enhance its value to the public so that visitors will enjoy it even more during the next 100 years. It is my hope that my colleagues will support this expansion of the park and pass the legislation in the near future. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I make a point of order that the pending amendment violates section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.