Tom Daschle

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I yield the floor.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I recently attended the ribbon-cutting of an exciting new store in Bristol, SD. It was a joyous occasion. The entire town turned out and it looked as good as I've ever seen it look in more than a quarter-century. The ``South Dakota Made Store'' will sell foods, crafts, and art from all over our beautiful State. It is an exciting addition to Bristol and northeastern South Dakota. The program included a recitation of an inspirational poem by its author. He is a very young man whose name is Ryan A. Anderson. The title of the poem is ``University of Dreams.'' I know my colleagues will be as impressed with his beautiful words as I was. His talent and extraordinary ability as a poet of any age is an inspiration to us all. I ask unanimous consent that ``University of Dreams'' be printed in the Record.

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. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I am very pleased that we have just passed a bill that will give the President and his team the tools they will need to back up their words about fighting the scourge of HIV and AIDS with action. The omnibus HIV, AIDS, TB, and malaria authorization bill vastly increases our focus on treatment, giving hope to the millions of people already infected with this virus. It intensifies our ongoing prevention efforts. And it makes a new commitment to training local health care workers so that underdeveloped nations can create modern health infrastructures. The bill also authorizes nearly $5 billion over 2 years so that this commitment is matched with the resources to get it done. But unless we work in a bipartisan fashion to see that money appropriated, this bill offers little more than false hope. I want to commend Senators Kennedy, Kerry, Biden, Helms, Frist, and Gregg for their leadership on this vital effort. And I want to ask the House of Representatives to match the commitment the Senate has shown. More than 20 million people have already died from HIV/AIDS. Last year, 5 million people contracted the virus, more than half of these new infections in young people. The UN estimates that 65 million more people could die by 2020. These numbers are so horrible as to seem unreal. But they are real, and we must act. Nothing we can do here is the solution--but today the Senate is taking a step, and a meaningful one.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent we be permitted 1 minute to make an introduction.

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. President, I have an amendment I send to the desk on behalf of Senator Levin.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DASCHLE. I yield the floor.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, one of the privileges accorded the majority leader is the opportunity to welcome and introduce our fellow legislators from the European Parliament. This is a tradition that was begun in 1972, and has continued every year since. I find it especially meaningful, because although the Atlantic Ocean separates us from our European friends, we are connected by a belief in the rule of law, and a commitment to the betterment of the people we serve, and the world we share. This afternoon I have the distinct honor of introducing The Honorable Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament. This is an exciting time of growth and change in the European Union, and as President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox has been instrumental in fostering greater European unity and advocating for EU expansion. As Europe becomes ever more unified, the extension of EU membership to free and democratic nations will be crucial to ensuring that diversity and pluralism accompany unification. In the face of persistent disputes among EU nations and political factions, President Cox has not wavered in his support for expansion, or in his denouncement of far right politicians who do not express the views of most Europeans. For that, we are all grateful. Mr. President, Mr. Cox will be available to meet our Senate colleagues here on the floor during this vote. Let me, on behalf of the U.S. Senate, welcome President Cox. (Applause.)

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I modify the original amendment that I offered with the changes that are at the desk.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.

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

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I withdraw Division 1 of the amendment.

Mr. DASCHLE. I withdraw Division 2 of the amendment.

Mr. DASCHLE. I withdraw Division 3 of the amendment.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

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

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

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, first, let me say that we have had a very productive period over the last several minutes, and I think we now are in a position to move to a vote on the Leahy amendment. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a vote occur on the Leahy amendment at 3:15 this afternoon, and that there be no amendments offered prior to the vote.

Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the Chair.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I send an amendment to the desk.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.