Mike DeWine

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I will certainly not object, but I just add to that, if I can have 2 additional minutes to finish my comments and we can then proceed?

Mr. DeWINE. I ask for 1 additional minute.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I would like to ask my distinguished colleague from New Mexico and Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Mr. Domenici, if he is aware of a serious problem facing Ohio and the entire Great Lakes region. For the last 2 years, water levels in the Great Lakes have been declining rapidly. This year, the water level fell below low water datum for the first time in nearly 35 years.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, as co-chairs of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, the distinguished Senator from Michigan and myself want to take this opportunity to reiterate our support for a program of great interest to our colleagues from the Great Lakes states. Section 516(c) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to construct sediment transport models for major tributaries of the Great Lakes. This is a project aimed at the prevention end of a complex of sediment-related problems in the Great Lakes region--problems which are costing this country millions of dollars each year to remediate. The potential benefits of these models are such that they will pay for themselves in terms of reduced dredging and disposal costs. The benefits of the program are well-recognized nationally; the program is being used as a template for a similar authorization for the Upper Mississippi river system. In addition to their uses to the Corps of Engineers in planning for dredging needs of the region and development of cost- effective alternatives to dredging, the tributary transport models are made available to local, state and federal partners involved in nonpoint source pollution control to help target their efforts to prevent erosion which results in sedimentation of harbors and channels. A total of approximately sixty Great Lakes tributaries qualify under the authorization guidelines, 25 of which are considered high priority based on their current dredging needs.

Mr. DeWINE. I thank the chairman for his consideration and congratulate the chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Committee for presenting the Senate with an Energy and Water Development appropriations bill which addresses so many of this nation's water resources infrastructure needs. low lake levels

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, dredging in Great Lakes harbors and navigation channels is authorized by reference to low water datum. During periods of extremely low water, like those today, lake levels drop below low water datum. These low water levels not only threaten to cripple Great Lakes industries that depend on waterborne transportation, but they also create a serious threat to the safety of the thousands of recreational and commercial boaters on the Lakes. Would my colleague from New Mexico agree that the Corps should ensure minimal operation depths consistent with the original authorized depths and current use of the channels and harbors when Great Lakes water levels are below the International Great Lakes Datum of 1985?

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, the Army Corps of Engineers plays a key role in addressing the contaminated sediments problem in the Great Lakes region. Section 401 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 authorized the Corps of Engineers to provide technical assistance to the Remedial Action Planning Committees for each of the Areas of Concern. This technical assistance is critical to developing a cost- effective and scientifically sound approach to cleanup. One of the largest obstacles to cleanup of contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes region is the lack of availability of alternative technologies for remediation of contaminated sediments. The Water Resources Development Act of 1996 amended Section 401 allowing technical assistance funds to be used for the development and demonstration of promising new remediation technologies. Since 1990, Congress has provided a total of just $3.25 million for the Section 401 program. Funding has never exceeded $500,000 in any fiscal year, a level far too low to support even a single technology demonstration while maintaining key technical assistance capabilities. We note that the House Committee has provided $600,000 in fiscal 2001 funding for the Section 401 Program. While we welcome the prospect of this increase, even at this level funding remains woefully short of the amount needed for this key component of our regional battle to address the problem of sediment contamination in the Great Lakes. We ask the distinguished chairman and ranking member to make funding for this program a high priority in conference with the House and within any additional funding which may become available.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. I thank the Senator. Senator, last year we discussed the tremendous progress being made at the Fernald Site in my home state of Ohio. It is in many ways a model of what can be done to safely and effectively clean-up a former weapons production site left from the cold war. The Fernald site is poised to be the first major DOE site to be cleaned-up and in effect `taken off the books.' Wouldn't the Senator agree that this effort deserves both our appreciation and support?

Mr. DeWINE. I thank the Chairman. In the event that additional resources become available, I ask the chairman to help secure additional resources for the Fernald project to ensure that the pace of closing the site by 2006 is assured. I further ask the Chairman if he would support my call to the DOE to make an expeditious decision concerning the site contractor. There is no competition--the site is running smoothly--let's give them the resources they need and demonstrate that at least one project can be completed on budget and on schedule without any further delays.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I would like to engage the distinguished Senator from New Mexico, and floor manager of the pending bill, Senator Domenici in a colloquy.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 695, S. 2516.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and finally that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of H. Con. Res. 351, and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 714, S. 1586.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the committee amendment be agreed to, as amended, the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, committees have until 1 p.m. on Friday, August 25, in order to file legislative matters.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I understand that S. 2941 is at the desk and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4437, which is at the desk.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination on the executive calendar: No. 524. I further ask unanimous consent that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following nominations and that they be placed on the executive calendar.

Mr. DeWINE

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise to recognize tonight Rocco Scotti, a talented and patriotic singer from my home State of Ohio, who is a fixture in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, northeast Ohio, a fixture at Cleveland Indians baseball games and just about any public event in our community that matters. Rocco, because of the countless times he has sung our national anthem at local, national, and international events, has truly earned the title of ``Star-Spangled Banner Singer of the Millennium.'' Rocco, an Italian American whose family is from Italy's east coast, grew up in Cleveland and started his vocal training in opera. He first performed the national anthem publicly in 1974 at an Indians-Orioles game. Since that time, he has become a regularly featured national anthem singer for both American and National League baseball games, games played in Cincinnati, Cleveland, New York, for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland A's, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, LA Dodgers. The list goes on and on. Rocco has also had the honor of performing the national anthem for Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. Rocco's list of accomplishments doesn't end there. He was awarded the United States civilian Purple Heart for inspiring patriotism for his exceptional performance of the national anthem, and he has performed the anthem on national television for events such as the NBC game of the week, an American League playoff game, the 1981 All Star game, and countless other televised sporting events. Dubbed by People's magazine as one of the best anthem singers in America, he is the first singer to perform the national anthem for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. He is a featured singer for the Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland Force, and he is the permanent singer of the anthem for the Football Hall of Fame ceremonies in Canton, OH. While Rocco is most known for his rendition of the national anthem, he is also a featured singer of other nations' anthems. He has sung the Polish national anthem for Polish boxing team matches, the Hungarian national anthem for Hungarian basketball games, the Italian national anthem for Italian soccer team contests, and the Israeli national anthem for the appearance of the Assistant Prime Minister of Israel in Cleveland. Needless to say, Rocco Scotti is an American icon. His voice, indeed, is a national treasure. What impresses me most about Rocco isn't so much his beautiful voice, although it is beautiful, but his amazing attitude about his heritage, his life here in this great country. Rocco said the following to me once: I am very, very proud that with my Italian heritage, God has given me the honor of performing our country's greatest and most meaningful song. For that kind of patriotism, love of country, I wish to say thank you to Rocco. I am proud to call him the Star-Spangled Banner Singer of the Millennium.

Mr. DeWINE

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

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I would like to honor a great volunteer organization from my home state of Ohio--The General Daniel ``Chappie'' James American Legion Auxiliary Unit 776. Based in the city of Dayton, this organization and its members were recognized recently by USA Weekend magazine for their participation in the ``Ninth Annual Make a Difference Day,'' which is the largest national day of helping and volunteerism. To be recognized by USA Weekend, an organization must demonstrate great efforts and achievements in the areas of volunteerism and community service. The General Daniel ``Chappie'' James American Legion Auxiliary Unit 776 certainly has done that. One of its members, Mrs. Ola Matthews, heard that foster children around the Dayton community must carry their belongings through the foster care system in plastic trash bags. This worried her greatly. So, she set about to help these children. Under her leadership, the members of Unit 776 conducted fundraisers to buy luggage and collected luggage from community donors. On October 23, 1999, the members of Unit 776 delivered the fruits of their effort--over 1,000 pieces of luggage, plus toiletries, underclothes, and baby supplies--to the Montgomery County Children's Services in Dayton. This is a remarkable achievement and one demonstrating great selflessness and generosity. It is actions like these--an organization helping those in its community--that makes Dayton such a great city. Mr. President, one young member of this organization, in particular, has made outstanding contributions to her community. Shatoya Hill, who has been involved in Unit 776 most her life, has just been awarded a $6,000 scholarship for her community service and academic achievements. She has been Junior President of the organization for over 5 years. During this time, she has organized and participated in many fundraisers, from helping veterans to delivering food baskets to the needy during Christmas. The Dayton Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, a public service sorority, awarded the scholarship, which is presented to young women who have excellent academic records, possess high moral character, participate in their church and community, and have interest in higher education. Shatoya certainly exhibits all of these positive qualities. It is great to see Ohio youths working hard for their communities and being recognized for their achievements. Congratulations Unit 776 and congratulations Shatoya! Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.