Tom Daschle

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I yield.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, we are trying to make the most of what few days we have before the Memorial Day recess. That is an option. We have entertained it in the past. We have talked about it in the past. That would mean, of course, that TAA and TPA would fall if cloture is invoked, and I am not sure we would be able to get to it again prior to the Memorial Day recess, given all the other things we have to do. But that is an option. So we will weigh that carefully and consider what other choices we have, subject to some report from our colleagues. We will continue to negotiate.

Mr. DASCHLE. If the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma will be prepared to work with us on his side, we will see what prospects there are for doing something like that on one or more of the bills in the Senate in the next day. I am happy to yield to the Senator from North Dakota.

Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the Senator from Oklahoma for his generous offer of assistance. I would love nothing more than to get time agreements. I am told there is opposition to time agreements on both sides on each bill. As we know, given the time it takes to get through a motion to proceed if there is a filibuster, given the time it takes to get through a bill itself, procedurally, if there is a filibuster--each bill will take over a week if you did nothing more than move as expeditiously as you can given our Senate rules. Instead of doing three sequential filibuster-cloture, filibuster- cloture, filibuster-cloture motions, we thought it might be better to do one and accommodate all the procedural impediments at once. That may or may not prove to have been the right strategy. But, clearly, we know it will take a long time. If it is the case, we will have to take these bills up sequentially, as I am told is the case right now. Maybe time will prove Senators will reconsider and be willing to move into a time agreement, at least on ATPA. We will try to vet that and perhaps we can move that. I think we ought to explore that possibility. But a sequential effort on each one of these will take us well into the middle of June, and I am not sure we have that kind of time. I appreciate the Senator's interest in working with us.

Mr. DASCHLE. I am happy to yield to the Senator.

Mr. DASCHLE. Senator Byrd informed me, while he intended to speak as in morning business today, he is going to postpone his speech on Mother's Day until tomorrow. So the floor is open, I notify all Senators.

Mr. DASCHLE

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

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as we have been noting throughout the last several hours, a number of our colleagues have been in discussion and negotiation involving the trade adjustment assistance part of the package that is pending before us. I am very pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached. The agreement is one that involved the administration, Republicans, and Democrats who have been involved in this issue for some time now. I might just briefly outline it. I will leave to the manager of the bill and the ranking member to discuss the matter in greater detail tomorrow morning. As I understand it, they intend to lay down the amendment tomorrow. It will be, then, the pending business. I also encourage Senators to offer amendments tomorrow and Monday. Senator Lott and I have discussed the schedule. I am prepared to say as a result of this agreement that there will be no votes tomorrow, but I encourage Senators to avail themselves of the opportunity they now have, tonight or tomorrow or Monday, to offer amendments. We will consider votes for those amendments on Monday night. We have already announced there will be a vote on a judge at 6 o'clock on Monday. We can accommodate additional votes immediately following that vote, should amendments be offered and should we be in a position, then, to dispose of them by Monday afternoon. But the agreement has a number of components. The trade adjustment assistance for more workers--that will provide at least 65,500 new workers with trade adjustment assistance, according to the reports that I have just been given, unprecedented health care coverage for harmed workers, a 70-percent COBRA subsidy for tax credit for employers and other institutions, and benefits that match the 2-year training period. Workers would receive income assistance for at least 18 months while they were retraining for up to 2 years. Then there also would be wage insurance for older workers as well. There are a number of components. I will not speak at length about the specifics of the package until the agreement is ready to be presented tomorrow morning. But I hope the final formulation of the language to accommodate this agreement can be prepared so that the amendment will be provided for all colleagues tomorrow, will be offered, and will be part of the pending business as we consider amendments to this, and other amendments. Senator Lott and I have agreed that there would be an understanding that as this package is agreed to as it relates to those issues involving TAA, we would entertain it. There is also an understanding that an amendment that would allow for consideration of assistance for retired steelworkers for health purposes would be entertained. And we will have that debate, and an amendment will be offered. A point of order, of course, will be made against my language. And we understand that. Once that point of order has been made, this compromise package will be offered. I am appreciative of the work that has gone into reaching this agreement. I am disappointed, obviously, that we couldn't do more. But I am also appreciative of the fact that we have to move on and that Senators who wish to offer other legislation are entitled to do so. I thank all of my colleagues for the effort that has been made. I hope this will now accelerate our prospects for completing this bill and allowing us to address the deadline that exists for the Andean Trade Preference Act especially. I yield.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in response to the Republican leader, it would not be my desire to challenge the point of order.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the Senator is correct.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I wish to make one clarification which Senator Lott and I have already made. I said this privately, but I want to say for the record that I will oppose an amendment to improve this package or to detract from this package on trade adjustment assistance. Obviously, we are open to consider amendments on other matters relating to the bill. But on this particular package, the one additional part of the agreement that I stated--and I want to reiterate again--is there is an understanding that Senators would be free to offer amendments having to do with steelworkers. I intend to support that amendment. I have indicated that to Senator Lott. But that is outside of this agreement. That was part of the understanding we had as this negotiation was completed. I wanted to make that clarification. I will say for the record what I said privately to Senator Lott. That amendment will be part of the overall debate on the bill, and I do intend to support it. I yield to the Senator from Maryland.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, that is true. I said a moment ago that it is my intention to oppose amendments--with the clarification I made on the steel issue--that would alter this agreement with all of its components. I think Senator Lott and I are in agreement on that. That is the intention of leadership as amendments are offered. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Maryland for accommodating both Senator Lott and me as we talk about the current circumstances involving the pending legislation. Let me also say how much I share her point of view. Maybe I am not able to demonstrate the same passion as Senator Mikulski has indicated, the strength of feeling that she has about the issue involving her steelworker retirees--but I certainly share her conviction.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, yesterday, the House passed the border security legislation, and I expect it will become law very soon. Passage of the border security bill was an important first step in moving forward with comprehensive immigration reform, and it was one of the Democratic Principles that Representative Gephardt and I introduced last fall. Unfortunately, another important provision was not included in the border security legislation, the extension of section 245(i). It would allow families to stay together in this country while waiting to become permanent residents. As I have said on many occasions, I am strongly committed to a meaningful 245(i) extension. Regrettably, the House waited 6 months to act on 245(i) legislation that the Senate passed last September. This delay meant that key provisions in the bill became unworkable. The House-passed version contained hard deadlines that would have required applicants to have established familial or employment relationships before August 2001. These deadlines would have imposed impractical hurdles for immigrant families to overcome. Today, I am pleased to announce that I am introducing a new 245(i) extension bill that would remove these hard deadlines. My bill would move the application deadline to April 30, 2003, and maintain current prohibitions against fraudulent marriages and national security protections. This bill mirrors the version that was introduced by Senators Hagel and Kennedy last spring, and it should receive strong bipartisan support. I know both the President and Senator Lott have repeatedly expressed their desire to pass 245(i) legislation. It is my hope that they will work with me to help get it passed very soon. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, yesterday, the House passed the border security legislation, and I expect it will become law very soon. Passage of the border security bill was an important first step in moving forward with comprehensive immigration reform, and it was one of the Democratic Principles that Representative Gephardt and I introduced last fall. Unfortunately, another important provision was not included in the border security legislation, the extension of section 245(i). It would allow families to stay together in this country while waiting to become permanent residents. As I have said on many occasions, I am strongly committed to a meaningful 245(i) extension. Regrettably, the House waited 6 months to act on 245(i) legislation that the Senate passed last September. This delay meant that key provisions in the bill became unworkable. The House-passed version contained hard deadlines that would have required applicants to have established familial or employment relationships before August 2001. These deadlines would have imposed impractical hurdles for immigrant families to overcome. Today, I am pleased to announce that I am introducing a new 245(i) extension bill that would remove these hard deadlines. My bill would move the application deadline to April 30, 2003, and maintain current prohibitions against fraudulent marriages and national security protections. This bill mirrors the version that was introduced by Senators Hagel and Kennedy last spring, and it should receive strong bipartisan support. I know both the President and Senator Lott have repeatedly expressed their desire to pass 245(i) legislation. It is my hope that they will work with me to help get it passed very soon. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

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

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I will use my leader time to finish comment on this bill before we go to a vote. I will try to be brief because I know Senators are hoping to have the opportunity to vote very shortly. Let me simply return the compliment of the distinguished Senator from Iowa, the chairman of the committee. He and I have spent more hours than either of us have been able to count over some long months with the hope and expectation that we would be coming to this point. His extraordinary tenacity, his leadership, his vision for agriculture, his ability to work with all sides, his ability to articulate positions of our caucus and of Senators with whom he both agreed and disagreed is remarkable. The people of Iowa have had many proud moments in their history. I cannot think of a prouder moment for the State of Iowa, this special time for us as we bring this very important issue to a close in the Senate. In the most heartfelt way, I offer my congratulations to Senator Harkin for his leadership. I must say, without being repetitive, his comments about the distinguished Senator from Indiana are so true. There isn't anybody in this Chamber I have greater respect for than Dick Lugar. I am reminded again why, as I watch how effectively he presented his arguments. The old adage about disagreeing without being disagreeable applies exponentially in so many ways to Dick Lugar. He is never disagreeable. He will disagree and he will make his voice known and heard, but he is a remarkable Member of this body. I am honored to serve with him and to work with him on all issues, especially this one. My colleagues have thanked their staffs. I could not go to the vote without thanking publicly Bart Chilton, Jonathon Lehman, and Mark Childress of my staff, especially. As Senator Harkin has noted, we would not have accomplished what we did were it not for their remarkable work, their tremendous effort, night and day, and well into the night, sometimes into the wee, early morning hours, in order to achieve what we were able to accomplish over these past several weeks and months. But those three individuals deserve special thanks. I must say, whatever I can accomplish as leader is only accomplishable because of the tremendous professionalism my staff demonstrates daily. Mark, Bart, and Jonathon certainly have done that in this case in ways for which I will never be able to thank them adequately. It is no secret that many of us have had difficulty supporting farm legislation in the past. So I can sympathize with Senator Lugar as he articulates his reasons for opposing this particular piece of legislation. He has been an advocate of prior farm bills because he believed in them. I am an advocate of this bill because I believe in it. I believe in it because I think it does so many things we have heard the chairman so eloquently articulate just now. I will not recount them; to do so would be redundant. But I really believe that, for the first time in a long time, we will be able to send a message of hope to farmers and ranchers all over the country; hope to farmers in South Dakota who may have lost some of the reason for hope in recent years; hope to young farmers who really want to become part of rural life and productive citizens, as the farmers and ranchers of the future; hope to those who believe we can do better in nutrition and find ways to do a better job with conservation; hope to those who believe we can figure out a way to balance the imbalance that exists now in the unfair trading practices used by some, and make sure consumers have the ability to know where their products are coming from now with country-of-origin labeling. So I must say, this is a great day for agriculture. This is a great day because we send a strong message to our farmers and ranchers of all generations, and to those who look to us for some expectation that they can survive and achieve great things, having chosen this wonderful profession. So I am very pleased with the result. I am hopeful that our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support this result with a resounding vote this afternoon. I hope we can continue to build on what we have done. I have heard my colleagues come to the floor and suggest that now what we have to do is focus our attention on packer concentration. I heard Senator Harkin speak powerfully about his determination to continue that effort. So we know our work is not done, but we do know we have accomplished a good deal. We have created a foundation for the next 6 years upon which we can build even more--sending hope and creating even better and more promising days in the future for our farmers and ranchers, the likes of which I didn't think we would see this year. I thank the Chair and my colleagues, and I thank those on the committee. I thank the conferees, and I thank our staffs for a job well done. I yield the floor.

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. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to a period for morning business.

Mr. DASCHLE. Let me further stipulate, Senators be limited to 10 minutes in time.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I come to the floor to express my disappointment with the Bush Administration's decision to unsign the Rome Statute, and withdraw the United States from the process of creating an international criminal court. We are told this decision was made in order to protect American troops and American sovereignty from a faceless international bureaucracy. Unfortunately, it does the opposite. In fact, this decision vastly decreases our ability to shape the ICC, ignores the fact that the ICC will come into existence regardless of whether we are involved or not, and raises the specter of unilateralism just as we will be turning to our allies for help in a series of crucial policy, diplomatic--and perhaps military--undertakings. Administrations since President Truman have supported the establishment of a criminal court to try the worst crimes against humanity. Reasonable people can disagree about the merits of the Rome Statute. Like many of my colleagues, I have some concerns about its jurisdiction and potential impact on U.S. forces deployed overseas. I do not, however, think the consequences of simply walking away from the Statute should be ignored. Instead of asserting our leadership, we are abdicating it. Instead of shaping the court to serve our interests, we have relinquished our seat at the table and removed ourselves from a position to shape it at all. This is especially disappointing, Madam President, when you consider the simple fact that the ICC will still come into existence in July. That was made clear in New York on April 11, when the 60th nation ratified the Rome Statute, putting it into effect. To date, 64 nations have ratified the statute. Only one--the United States--has withdrawn. When it comes time to pick prosecutors and judges, which it will do, we will not be at the table. And when it comes time to consider rules of evidence, which it will do, our voices will be absent. But let's consider also exactly who some of those 60 are--Britain, Canada, France, Italy and Spain, all NATO allies, all currently fighting side-by-side with our troops in Afghanistan and the Balkans. And all whom we hope to count on in future conflicts in our war on terrorism. Yesterday afternoon, our Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues said that America had ``washed our hands [of the ICC]. It's over.'' If it were only so, Madam President. We did not put the ICC out of business. But we did take ourselves out of the action--and out of a position to influence the ICC. The decision to unsign was the wrong decision at the wrong time and, most troubling of all, not in keeping with the American national interest.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I am proud to announce to the Senate today the names of the young men and women who have been selected to receive special awards from the American Automobile Association. Six safety patrollers will receive the 2002 AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Medal Award, the highest honor given to members of the school safety patrol. They are in Washington, DC, today to receive their awards, and I wanted to say how proud we are of them all. There are roughly 500,000 members of the AAA School Safety Patrol in this country, helping in over 50,000 schools. Every day, these young people ensure that their peers arrive safely at school in the morning, and back home in the afternoon. Most of the time, they accomplish their jobs uneventfully. But, on occasion, these volunteers must make split-second decisions, placing themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others. The heroic actions of this year's recipients exemplify this selflessness. The first AAA Lifesaving Medal recipient comes from Alexandria, MN. On January 11, 2002, 12-year-old Kathryn DelZoppo, a captain on St. Mary's Catholic School Safety Patrol, was at her post with four other patrol team members. Even though the duty period was almost over, Kathryn remained alert and kept watch over her team. As one member of the team approached a busy intersection, a child ran past him, into the street, and into the path of a swiftly approaching vehicle. Thinking fast, Kathryn grabbed the child's jacket and pulled him back to the safety of the curb. This year's second AAA Lifesaving Medal honoree comes from Manassas, VA. On September 20, 2001, Weems Elementary School Safety Patrol Ernesto Navarrette, age 11, was on duty at the bus circle with six other patrols and a teacher. Ernesto scanned the area for possible safety hazards as students climbed onto their buses. A pick-up truck parked in the grass nearby began to back up, but no one could hear the truck's engine over the noise of the children and buses. Only Ernesto saw the truck backing up toward a fellow patrol member, who had her back to the moving truck. He yelled to the patrol to move out of the way. She did, just in time. The next AAA Lifesaving Medal winners come from Lancaster, OH. On November 21, 2001, Sandersen Elementary School Safety Patrols Justin Wright, age 13, and Ethan Trush, age 12, were on duty on opposite sides of a crosswalk outside their school. After checking for oncoming traffic, Justin and Ethan allowed a third grader to cross the street. Just then, a car left the school grounds, speeding and fishtailing as it approached the crosswalk. Ethan spotted the car just as the younger student reached the middle of the crosswalk. He yelled out a warning to Justin and then quickly moved to safety. Justin immediately dashed into the road and pulled the third grader out of the street, barely escaping being hit by the oncoming car. The fifth AAA Lifesaving Award recipient comes from Westfield, NJ. On October 16, 2001, Franklin Elementary School Safety Patrol Matthew Printz, age 11, was at his usual post outside the school with fellow patrols and a school crossing guard. Signaling traffic to continue, the crossing guard called to the patrols to hold back any students approaching the intersection. Just as traffic began to move, however, a student stepped around Matthew and into the street. Matthew immediately grabbed the strap of the student's backpack and pulled him out of the street just in time to avoid being hit. The sixth AAA Lifesaving Award honoree is from Fairfax, VA. On March 7, 2002, 11-year-old Greg Whitaker, captain of the Fairhill Elementary School Safety Patrol, was walking with a first-grade student toward their homes after fulfilling his school bus patrol duties. A man pulled up in his van and blocked the boys' path. The man got out of his van and started to ask the little boy several questions, including where he lived. Greg immediately said in a loud voice, ``We need to go home!'' He took the first-grader's hand, and walked the boy directly home. Before the van pulled away, Greg committed the license plate number, the van, and the driver to memory. Safely home, Greg called his patrol sponsor for further guidance. The sponsor called the local police, and was told there was a warrant out for the man's arrest. Greg's quick thinking and courage saved himself and the younger boy from a wanted felon. In addition to honoring safety patrollers with the Lifesaving Medal Award, AAA also recognizes the School Safety Patroller of the Year. This award is presented to patrollers who perform duties above and beyond their normal responsibilities and demonstrate outstanding leadership, dependability, and academic strength. This year, the Safety Patroller of the Year goes to Kaitlin McLoughlin, age 14, an 8th grader and Safety Patrol Captain at Our Shepherd Lutheran School in Birmingham, MI. Usually, students have to be in eighth grade to be a safety patrol captain. Kaitlin was allowed to join a year early, however, after submitting an impressive essay and completing an interview process. She was also chosen captain of her patrol team the following year. Kaitlin's principal describes her as ``dependable, clear thinking, calm, and well-respected by students and teachers alike.'' Kaitlin's responsibilities include keeping a weekly record of her safety squad, raising and lowering the school flag, and keeping track of the safety belts and ponchos. When she is on duty, she is responsible for locking one of the school doors after the final bell rings in the morning. She must also organize her squad and assign duty stations monthly. Recently, the faculty chose Kaitlin to attend the Birmingham Optimist Club breakfast for outstanding area students. She has also served as a kindergarten and computer classroom aide, and assisted with photography for the school website. Kaitlin is co-captain of the cheering squad, vice-president of the student council, co-chairman of the 7th-8th grade dance, and sings in the choir. She is Mistress of Ceremonies for the school talent show and serves as hostess for Lutheran Schools' Week. Kaitlin also works with the local food bank and on various school fundraisers. She is active in her church youth group, cheerfully volunteers her services when asked and often seeks out other opportunities to serve. She and all of the other AAA winners deserve our thanks and applause. On behalf of the Senate, I extend congratulations and thanks to these young women. They are assets to their communities, and their families and neighbors should be very proud of their courage and dedication. I would also like to recognize the American Automobile Association for providing the supplies and training necessary to keep the safety patrol on duty nationwide. Since the 1920's, AAA clubs across the country have been sponsoring student safety patrols to guide and protect younger classmates against traffic accidents. Easily recognizable by their fluorescent orange safety belt and shoulder strap, safety patrol members represent the very best of their schools and communities. Experts credit school safety patrol programs with helping to lower the number of traffic accidents and fatalities involving young children. We owe AAA our gratitude for their tireless efforts to ensure that our Nation's children arrive to and from school safe and sound. And we owe our thanks to these exceptional young men and women for their selfless actions. The discipline and courage they displayed deserves the praise and recognition of their schools, their communities and the Nation.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I have tried again tonight to appoint conferees on the Sudan Peace Act. The House took this simple step late last year. This will be the third time we have sought consent to take this very simple procedural step. Each time our Republican colleagues have objected. What is happening in Sudan is a travesty. The government in Khartoum, the same government, incidentally, that gave shelter to Osama bin Laden, is waging a brutal civil war against the Christians in the south of that country. We are reminded of the brutality of this war in occasional newspaper stories, but the people of that ravaged land live this brutality daily. We all have our views on what the final Sudan Peace Act should look like, and I understand that there is significant concern with some of the provisions of the House-passed version of this bill. That's to be expected. What is unexpected--and unacceptable--is that there would be an objection to a simple procedural step to get to conference to resolve these differences.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 365, S. Res. 255.