Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate go into executive session to consider the nomination of Daniel Glickman to be Secretary of Agriculture, and that it be considered under the following agreement: 40 minutes to be equally divided in the usual form. I ask further that, when the Senate concludes its debate tonight, there be 10 minutes for debate, equally divided in the usual form, on Thursday, prior to vote on the confirmation of Mr. Glickman.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, in announcing his plans to not seek reelection, our distinguished colleague from Alabama, Senator Heflin, said today that he hopes he ``will be looked upon as a public servant who has served with dignity, integrity, and diligence.'' In my view, those qualities speak volumes about Senator Howell Heflin. From his highly decorated service in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II, to his 6 years as chief justice of Alabama's Supreme Court, to his three terms in the U.S. Senate during which he held the thankless post of Ethics Committee chairman, this man affectionately known as the country judge from Tuscumbia, AL, has made a difference for America and the people of his State. While we have not agreed on every issue, I have been proud to stand with my friend from Alabama time after time, whether it's been on the Desert Storm resolution, the flag protection amendment, the balanced budget amendment, regulatory reform, or one of countless other issues. Mr. President, as Senator Heflin looks ahead to returning home to Alabama and more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, I know all my colleagues join in wishing him all the best for the future. And I know that during that final 2 years of his term, he will continue to serve with the dignity, integrity, and diligence that have characterized his life in public service.

Mr. DOLE. Let me first announce there will be no more votes this evening. It is my understanding that the manager of the appropriations bill now pending indicates we will complete action on the bill maybe late tomorrow evening. That is the hope of the chairman, Senator Hatfield.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I ask unanimous consent that the vote occur on the confirmation of Mr. Glickman at 10:25 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, 1995. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that following the vote on the confirmation of Mr. Glickman, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. DOLE

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

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, our friend Chick Reynolds, chief reporter of the Official Reporters of Debates, has notified the Secretary of the Senate that he intends to retire effective July 7, 1995. Mr. Reynolds' remarkable Senate career began in 1974 when he was appointed an official reporter of debates. He later became the chief reporter in 1988. Mr. Reynolds' service has been honorable as well as memorable--his reporting has often landed him in the center of the day's headlines. In his two decades of service, Mr. Reynolds reported Federal agency hearings and various committee testimonies in both the House and the Senate, including such notable events as the Joseph McCarthy and Jimmy Hoffa hearings. He covered the White House during the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations. And Mr. Reynolds is truly a part of our country's great history. During his assignment in the Kennedy administration, he reported President Kennedy's famous Berlin speech and was in the Presidential motorcade on that tragic day in Dallas, when President Kennedy was assassinated. Mr. Reynolds has served the Senate and the Nation with distinction and loyalty for over 20 years. I know all Senators will join me in wishing Chick and his wife, Lucille, our sincere gratitude and our prayers in his retirement.

Mr. DOLE. I send a resolution to the desk on behalf of myself and Senator Daschle and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOLE

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

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I am going to use a portion of my leader's time.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I will be happy to yield 2 or 3 or 5 minutes to the Senator from New Mexico.

Mr. DOLE. Madam President, President Clinton won big headlines today with his proposal to cut $13 billion from four Government agencies over the next 5 years. I have learned recently maybe $8 billion of that is already in the President's budget, so I am not certain what the figure really is. But we certainly welcome the President's interest in trimming Government spending. The Washington Post even suggested today that the President's interest may be related to last November's election results. Certainly we hope he is hearing the message. The President now has a real opportunity to get on the spending-cuts bandwagon tomorrow because the Senate will consider more than $13 billion in spending cuts and the American people will not have to wait 5 years to see the savings. These are cuts in this fiscal year. This is $13 billion the Government will not be able to spend during the next 6 months, not the next 5 years. The American people want more than tinkering around the edges; they want dramatic results and want better use of their tax dollars, starting now. The American people sent a loud and clear message to Washington last November: Rein in the Federal Government, reduce the size of Government and cut spending. We are prepared to provide the leadership once again to turn that message into action. We hope the President will join us in this effort to give the American people real spending cuts. I hope the President will take a look at the supplemental appropriation bill, send us a letter supporting those cuts, and then he will really be on record for real cuts this year, not 5 years down the road, particularly if $8 billion of the $13 billion he talks about is already in the President's budget.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Madam President, I ask that I may use just a minute or two of my leader time.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to announce to my colleagues that there will be a period for morning business until the hour of 11:30 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 5 minutes each. Senator Thomas will be recognized for up to 10 minutes. At 11:30 we will begin 6 hours of debate on the subject of S. 219, the moratorium bill. There will be no votes during today's session, though I hope, if Members on either side have amendments which might be acceptable, that they will come to the floor and offer those amendments. Otherwise, there will be general debate. Then on tomorrow at 10 o'clock we will be back on S. 219, the moratorium bill. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Calendar No. 15, Senate Resolution 49 be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, the States of Kansas and Nebraska share a common border. And the citizens of those two States also share common characteristics of hard work, honesty, and personal responsibility. For the past 16 years, those characteristics could be seen here in the Senate, in the work of our colleague, Jim Exon. As my colleagues know, Senator Exon announced on Friday that he will retire from the Senate in 1996, and I rise today to pay tribute to his distinguished public service career. His service to Nebraska and to America began in 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served for 2 years in the Pacific theater. After returning to Nebraska, Senator Exon would eventually serve for nearly 18 years as president of his own office equipment company. In 1970, he brought his business experience to the Governor's office, where he served for 8 years, and earned a reputation as a guardian of tax dollars. Since first coming to the Senate in 1979, Senator Exon has made a difference on a wide number of issues, including agriculture, trade, transportation, the budget, and national security. I know I speak for all Members of the Senate and saying that we look forward to working with Senator Exon for the remainder of this Congress, and in wishing he and Pat many more years of health and happiness.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, at 11:30 a.m. Monday, under a previous order, there will be 6 hours of debate on S. 219, the moratorium bill. For the information of all Senators, no votes will occur during Monday's session of the Senate.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today it stand in adjournment until the hour of 10:30 a.m., on Monday, March 27, 1995, that following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be deemed approved to date, no resolutions come over under the rule, the call of the calendar be dispensed with, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and that there then be a period for routine morning business until 11:30 a.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Mr. Domenici for 10 minutes, Mr. Thomas for 10 minutes, and Mr. Grassley for 10 minutes.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, if there be no further business to come before the Senate I move we stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 11:30 a.m., Monday, March 27, the Senate begin 6 hours of general debate equally divided in the usual form on the subject of S. 219, the regulatory moratorium bill; further that at the hour of 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 219.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send resolutions to the desk regarding Senator Campbell's new committee assignments as a majority Member, and ask they be considered en bloc and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to the consideration of the following nominations on the Executive Calendar en bloc; Calendar Nos. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48, and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk; further that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, that any statements relating to the nominations appear at the appropriate place in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and that the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent a letter directed to the chairman be printed in the Record.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask for consideration of the resolution of ratification by a division vote.

Mr. DOLE. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following treaty: convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons (Treaty Cal. 1). I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as having passed through its various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification: that the seven conditions recommended by the Committee on Foreign Relations be considered as having been offered and agreed to, en bloc, and that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that no other amendments, conditions, declarations, provisos, reservations or understandings be in order; that any statements be inserted in the Congressional Record as if read; that when the resolution of ratification is agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the President be notified of the Senate's action and that the following disposition of the treaty, the Senate return to legislation session.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. As the Washington Post reported today, the overwhelming majority of the American people believe that the race-counting game has gone too far. I am proud of my own civil rights record. I have supported affirmative action in the past. That's no secret. But my past record did not disqualify me last December from asking the Congressional Research Service to compile a list of all Federal preference laws and Regulations. And my record does not disqualify me today from raising legitimate questions about the continuing fairness and effectiveness of affirmative action, particularly when the affirmative-action label is used to describe quotas, set-asides, and other group preferences. Equal treatment, not preferential treatment, should be the standard. Equal opportunity, not equal results, must be the goal. Earlier today, my distinguished colleague from Maine, Senator Cohen, gave a very eloquent speech on the Senate floor where he pointed out that America is not a color-blind society, and he is right. Discrimination continues to exist. The color-blind ideal is just that-- an ideal that has yet to be achieved in the America of 1995. But, Mr. President, do you become a color-blind society by dividing people by race? Do you achieve the color-blind ideal by granting preferences to people simply because they happen to belong to certain groups? Do you continue programs that have outlived their usefulness or original purpose? The answer to these questions is, of course, a resounding ``no.'' I look forward to the completion of the President's review of all Federal affirmative action policies, but if the President is seeking a magical ``third way,'' I suspect he is going to run into a dead end: When it comes to the issue of group preferences, you are either for them or against them. There can be no splitting the difference, no ``third way.'' With that said let us hope that reason prevails as we continue down this road. If we keep our voices low and our intentions good, the debate over affirmative action can, in fact, be an opportunity to unite the American people, and not divide us.