Elizabeth Dole

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise to salute a true gentleman who has just announced his retirement from the position of Chairman and CEO of the Bank of Granite based in Granite Falls, NC: Mr. John A. Forlines Jr. John is a man of great integrity and ability. John's bank has become legendary, as it is often called ``the best little bank in America.'' However, his achievements extend beyond his professional life, for he is also well known for an outstanding history of service to his community, state and his country. I had the pleasure of serving with John as a trustee for Duke University, and I was continually impressed with his intelligence, his dedication and his great enthusiasm for Duke University and higher education. A native of Graham, NC and a graduate of Duke, John joined the U.S. Army finance department in 1940, and eventually rose to the rank of Major. John's extraordinary career with the Bank of Granite began in 1954, when he assumed the position of President. Soon after, he was named chairman of the North Carolina School of Banking at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and began his lifelong relationship with the American Bankers Association. He was later named Chairman of the North Carolina Banking Association. John's work has resulted in the continued growth of stronger communities across North Carolina. Through his work he has provided the capital for many businesses to be established and grow, creating good jobs. He work also financed countless homes for families and individuals across the state. In addition, John has furthered his commitment to the communities of North Carolina through his dedication to service in his personal life. He serves on the Board of Elders of First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir, NC. He also holds positions on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry; Caldwell County Hospice Inc.; Piedmont Venture Partners; and The Forest at Duke, a retirement community. John's dedication to his profession and community has been recognized through the years with numerous honors and distinctions. These accolades include Financial World Magazine CEO of the Year for banks $300-$500 million in assets from 1992 to 1995. He received Duke University's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994; and was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1999. John Forlines epitomizes the American spirit through his entrepreneurial skills and his ever present commitment to family and community. He serves as an inspiration to us all. I appreciate his warm friendship and his tremendous service on behalf of all North Carolinians.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, when IBM joined the Research Triangle Park as its first major tenant in 1965, this company helped establish the Research Triangle Park as the premier technological, biotech, and economic development powerhouse for North Carolina. Today I thank and congratulate IBM for its decades of support and investment in the Research Triangle Park and the surrounding communities in North Carolina. As the largest employer in the Triangle Park, IBM is an excellent example of corporate citizenship that provides dependable, high-paying jobs in both the area and worldwide. With over 13,000 jobs in the Triangle Park alone, the largest concentration of IBM jobs worldwide, IBM uses the graduates and resources from the State's extensive college and university system. IBM invests in our State by helping to keep North Carolina talent at home. Please join me and other North Carolina leaders in congatulating IBM on its commitment to build a better company for our region and wishing IBM and the Research Triangle Park ongoing success as they broaden their partnership with the people of my home State.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I find it troubling that the war in Iraq is not being equated to the overall war on terror. Polls have shown evidence that Americans are not making the connection. So the question at hand is, Was removing Saddam's government a positive step in the overall war on terror? Our ability to turn over control to a peaceful and sovereign Iraqi government is an integral part of the overall war on terror. Collaboration of Iraq's former regime with terrorist groups and its funding of them have not been in question. Yet few critics and naysayers have passed up the chance to undermine a link between Iraq and al-Qaida. Despite recent media reports that have clouded, or even misrepresented, the facts, there is compelling evidence that al-Qaida and Iraq have been linked for more than a decade. Democratic cochairman of the 9/11 Commission, former Representative Lee Hamilton of Indiana, told reporters there were connections between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein's government. In a speech earlier this afternoon, former Vice President Al Gore accused President Bush of lying about a connection between al-Qaida and Iraq. This is the same Al Gore who was a member of the same Clinton White House that first made charges about the dangers of Iraq passing chemical or biological weapons to al-Qaida. Those charges formed the basis for the missile strikes against alleged terrorist targets in Sudan in August 1998, according to on-the-record statements from no fewer than six top Clinton administration officials. Documents discovered recently by U.S. forces at Saddam's hometown of Tikrit showed that Iraq gave Abdul Rahman Yasin both a home and a salary. Yasin was a member of the al-Qaida cell that detonated the 1993 World Trade Center bomb. Is this not a clear example of Iraq not only having a relationship with al-Qaida but also harboring and rewarding a terrorist, a person who was directly involved in a terrorist attack on our soil? Let me highlight the case of Zarqawi, arguably the most dangerous terrorist in the world today. He and his men trained and fought with al-Qaida for years. Zarqawi's network helped establish and operate an explosives and poison facility in northeast Iraq. Not only was Zarqawi in Baghdad prior to Saddam's ousting, but nearly two dozen members of al-Qaida were there as well. One al-Qaida associate even described the situation in Iraq as good and stated that Baghdad could be transited quickly. Let me be clear. Mistakes have been made in Iraq, and this operation has been far from perfect, as evidenced by the fact that Zarqawi and other terrorists continue to wreak havoc throughout Iraq. But those who undermine the rationale for our mission in Iraq for political gain make our mission even more difficult and certainly do not boost the morale of our men and women in uniform. Many of these young men and women are from my home State of North Carolina. They seek to assist the Iraqi people in transforming a country that harbored and gave safe haven to terrorists, a country to which terrorists traveled to consort with one another about how to produce weapons and how to inflict them on a common enemy. The terrorists know what is at stake, which is why they are pulling out all the stops to derail our efforts. They understand that a free and democratic Iraq is a serious blow to their interests. I want our men and women in uniform to know that this Senator understands and appreciates the importance and the magnitude of the great work they are doing in Iraq. As my colleague, Senator Lieberman, stated very succinctly this morning, the war in Iraq is the central battleground in the war on terror. Because of the efforts and eventual success of many brave men and women, the American people and the world are much safer. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I wonder if I might engage the distinguished Chairman in a brief colloquy.

Mrs. DOLE. I thank my colleagues. Mr. President, as a member of the Personnel Subcommittee, I am acutely sensitive to the enormous challenges confronting our National Guard and Reserve forces, and their families, as they are called upon to defend our Nation in the war on terrorism. North Carolina is at the forefront of National Guard and Reserve mobilizations, with 31 percent of our State's 23,300 National Guard and Reserve members currently mobilized. The University of North Carolina, in partnership with a wide range of universities and community organizations, is developing a National Demonstration Program for Citizen-Soldier Support to augment, strengthen, and refine the existing framework of support for National Guard and Reserve personnel, and their families. The objectives of the demonstration program are to strengthen communication and information dissemination; strengthen community support systems; strengthen support systems for children and adolescents; strengthen health and mental health care systems; strengthen employment support networks; and address proactively emerging issues of importance to our personnel and their families. This National Demonstration Program of Citizen-Soldier Support has been presented to a wide variety of civilian and military leaders, and has been uniformly supported as timely, substantive, and highly promising as an adjunct to existing Department of Defense programs and services. Unfortunately, as a relatively new initiative, this National Demonstration Program for Citizen-Soldier Support was not included as part of the President's budget request and was not authorized within the bill now before the Senate. It is my understanding that the decision to not include the National Demonstration Program for Citizen- Soldier Support in the FY05 Defense Authorization bill was not made with prejudice to the program but, rather, was based on the emerging nature of the structure and deliverables associated with this program-- a program that is focusing on how to best assist our Reservists and their families in their newly emerging roles in the war on terror.

Mrs. DOLE. I thank the Chairman. I might also ask the Chairman if he would agree with me that our Nation's security depends on the mission- readiness and retention of our citizen-soldiers, and that for the total force to function effectively, we must make certain that these men and women, their families, and employers have needed support while they prepare for, carry out, and eventually return from active military service.

Mrs. DOLE. I thank the distinguished Chairman. Given this concurrence on the importance of ensuring necessary and effective support for our National Guard and Reserve families, I ask the Chairman if he would be willing to support my effort to bring this proposed Demonstration Program for Citizen-Soldier Support to the attention of the appropriate Department of Defense offices. This effort will require modifying elements of the proposed program, where appropriate, to maximize synergies with ongoing Department of Defense initiatives and exploring options within the defense budget for funding implementation of the program.

Mrs. DOLE. I thank the distinguished Chairman for his courtesy.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, this past weekend we lost one of Americans greatest leaders, Ronald Reagan. I had the privilege of serving under President Reagan's strong, principled leadership for 7 years--2 years in his White House as assistant to the President, or public liaison, and almost 5 years as his Secretary of Transportation. Greatness in a President is marked by the ability to chart and implement a new course, a better course, and by his level of decency and integrity. Ronald Reagan knew why he wanted to be President. He came to office with the clearest of vision, a passion for achieving his goals and in conveying them with an eloquence almost unsurpassed. Ronald Reagan made all of us, the American people, believe in ourselves again. He literally changed the world. Despite conventional wisdom, he determined that communism had to be defeated, not tolerated. He rejected the Iron Curtain, rejected the status quo, and his legacy to the world is freedom. His strength of character and bedrock belief in right and wrong ended the cold war, and his leadership unshackled the yoke of tyranny for millions upon millions of people who had known only oppression. I will always remember his remarkable rapport with the American people and what a true gentleman he was. During my time on his White House staff, I brought scores and scores of people, organizations, and groups into the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Roosevelt Room, and he treated every person with courtesy and respect. Occasionally, there would be some who had a difference of view with him on some issue or another, and they were going to give him a piece of their mind. Well, they came into his presence and you could almost see that anger just fading away. He would express his views, he would address their concerns, and then he might sit back and tell them a story or two-- perhaps a humorous one--and maybe pass jellybeans around. They would be ready to climb any hill for Ronald Reagan. When the President would explain his position, obviously, he did it in a very eloquent manner. What a remarkable person his wife Nancy is. What a tremendous partner. She was his best friend, his confidant, his trusted, beloved spouse. She deserves great credit for his accomplishments and hers. When I left the Cabinet, a farewell function was planned, and we talked about the fact that it would be nice to invite to that farewell party people who would not otherwise be able to meet the President of the United States. He readily agreed. I can remember one young woman from Arkansas. She was a part of the Make a Wish group. She had a terminal illness and her great desire was to meet President Ronald Reagan. I can still see her there in the White House and the compassionate way in which he greeted her and talked with her. There was a young man named Tommy, from my hometown of Salisbury, NC, who was in a wheelchair; he had to wear a helmet most of the time because if he were to fall, it would be very severe. His mother and his uncle very tenderly brought him to Washington to carry out his wish to meet the great Ronald Reagan, President of the United States. Once again, to watch the President and his compassion as he talked with Tommy is something I will remember forever. One of the things that will really be an inspiration to me for the rest of my life is a conversation I had with the President when the two of us were alone. We were waiting in the holding room for him to give a speech. You don't often find yourself alone with the President of the United States. On this particular day, we were waiting for a speech and I said: Mr. President, I just cannot resist. I have to ask you how in the world, when you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, are you able to be so gracious, so thoughtful, and so kind? I never see you flustered or frustrated. How do you do it with such weight on your shoulders? He kind of leaned back, and he loved to tell a story and to reminisce. He said: Well, Elizabeth, when I was Governor of California, it seemed like every day yet another disaster would be placed on my desk, and I had the urge to hand it to someone behind me to help me. One day I realized I was looking in the wrong direction; I looked up instead of back. I am still looking up. I don't think I could go 1 more day in this office if I didn't know that I could ask God's help and it would be given. There is no doubt in my mind that President Reagan was welcomed into the gates of Heaven with open arms and with the words: Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done, indeed. God bless President Ronald Reagan and his family, and God bless this great land of the free, America. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Yes.

Mrs. DOLE. Morning business.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I have a set of amendments to the Defense bill that have been cleared by both managers. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the amendments be considered and agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, 1 year ago, I shared my thoughts on the Senate floor on a matter that weighs heavily on my mind. I reserved my maiden speech for a topic I chose to make one of my top priorities as a Senator. Hunger is the silent enemy lurking within too many American homes and a tragedy I have seen firsthand far too many times throughout my life in public service. Today, on National Hunger Awareness Day, I call once again for a hunger-free America. The battle to end hunger in our country is a campaign that cannot be won in months or even a few years, but it is a victory within reach. What we need is to help our fellow Americans understand the terrible reality of hunger and how to put a stop to it. As Washington Post columnist David Broder said: America has some problems that defy solution. This one does not. It just needs caring people and a caring government working together. We are fortunate, indeed, to have a President who strives to lead our Government and our Nation in a compassionate direction. President Bush has said poverty runs deep in this country, and we need to take the war on poverty a step further by recognizing the power and promise of faith-based and community-based groups that exist not because of Government, but because they have heard the universal call to love somebody in need. I am curious if the majority of the American public knows how many of their fellow citizens go hungry each and every day. The number is astounding. The Census Bureau reports that in the year 2002, 34.6 million Americans were living in poverty. Within that figure, over 7 million families, families with children, young little ones fall asleep with an empty stomach. It is hard to believe that here in America, where we are desperately trying to get a handle on obesity, there are literally millions of children who do not have enough to eat. Families in my home State of North Carolina are especially struggling. According to the most recent studies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we are one of the few States that has an increasing rate of food insecurity. From 1996 to 2002, food insecurity among North Carolina households rose from 9.6 percent to 12.3 percent. That means tens of thousands of families have difficulty affording food at some point each year. A great deal of this can be attributed to the significant economic hardship we have faced over the last few years. Once-thriving towns have been decimated by the closing of furniture and textile mills. In the summer of 2003, less than 1 year ago, North Carolina experienced the largest layoff in State history when textile giant Pillowtex closed its doors forever. That day alone, 4,400 people lost their jobs, and eventually nearly 5,000 were laid off. In eastern North Carolina, plant closures have resulted in more than 2,200 layoffs since last summer, and in the last few months, the western region of North Carolina has lost more than 1,500 jobs. Now there are signs that the situation is improving, but even as our employment numbers rise, there are families struggling to put a balanced meal on their table. Sadly, their story is not unlike so many others across the country. There are many Americans who, after being laid off, were fortunate enough to find new employment. But in the changing climate of today's workforce, simply being able to hold down a job will not necessarily guarantee your family three square meals a day. A recent report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that many of the jobs lost between the years 2001 and 2003 will be replaced by jobs paying at least 20-percent less. The face of the hungry has changed over the last 10 years. While many associate those who struggle with hunger as being unemployed Americans, the sad truth is that the number of the working poor has escalated in the last decade. There are 43 million people in low-income families. That means millions of those lining up at soup kitchens, low-priced pantries, and other charitable organizations are men and women working anywhere from one to three jobs, raising children, and under daily pressure to make ends meet. They have been called the new poor in the editorial sections of our newspapers. I think of families such as Danny and Shirley Palmer of rural Ohio, a State such as North Carolina that has been devastated by thousands of job losses. Danny worked for a quarter of a century at a local power company until he was let go in November 2002. After over a year of job searches, he obtained a union card as a pipefitter. He pays union dues but has yet to be tapped for a job. He works now as a Wal-Mart employee, but with bills, including a $343-a-month mortgage, their savings account is almost empty. Their frustration is not being able to find suitable employment, and that frustration is growing rapidly. Our food banks are having a hard time finding food to feed these families. As America struggles in today's economic hardships, financial donations have dropped off or corporations have scaled back on food donations. As recent numbers have shown, many times there are just too many people and not enough food. In the year 2003, at least 23 million Americans stood in food lines. In any given week, it is estimated that 7 million people are served at emergency feeding sites around the country. The numbers in specific parts of our country are just as disheartening. In western North Carolina, the Manna Food Bank says over 68,000 people seek food assistance throughout the year, with over 20,000 seeking assistance each week. This means many of the same people are coming back again and again. Since I came to Congress, I have visited homeless and hunger shelters, food distribution sites and soup kitchens. I went through the process of applying for Government assistance through the WIC Program, helping women, infants and children. As I learned more about the efforts to combat hunger, I gained a great respect for groups such as the Society of St. Andrew. For the last 25 years, this organization has been doing yeoman's work in the area of gleaning. That is when excess crops that would otherwise be thrown out or taken from farms, packing houses, and warehouses are distributed to the needy. Gleaning also helps the farmer because he does not have to haul off or plow under crops that do not meet exact specifications of grocery chains, and certainly it helps the hungry by giving them not just any food but food that is both nutritious and fresh. Last year, the Society of St. Andrew told me $100,000 would provide at least 10 million servings of food for hungry North Carolinians. Just before last year's National Hunger Awareness Day, I set out to raise that amount for the society. Thanks to the compassionate hearts of several individuals, companies, and organizations, we surpassed the original goal and raised $187,000 in 2 weeks. That money was enough for at least 18 million servings of food. The Society of St. Andrew is the only comprehensive program in North Carolina that gleans available produce and then sorts, packages, processes, transports, and delivers excess food to feed the hungry. In the first few months of this year, the society hosted over 168 events, gleaning 4.2 million pounds of food. Between January and March, they gleaned 12.8 million servings. Incredibly, it only cost one penny a serving to glean and deliver this food to those in need. All of this work is done by the hands of the 9,200 volunteers and a minimal staff. Like any humanitarian effort, the gleaning system works because of cooperative efforts. Clearly, private organizations and individuals are doing a great job, but they are doing so with limited resources. It is up to us to make some changes on the public side and help leverage scarce dollars to feed the hungry. Transportation is the single biggest concern for gleaners. As the numbers tell us, the food is there. The issue is simply how to transport such a large volume. I am proud to say that with the help of organizations such as the American Trucking Association and America's Second Harvest we are making progress at easing that transportation concern. I have introduced a bill with cosponsor Senators Chris Dodd, Richard Lugar, and Lamar Alexander that will change the Tax Code to give transportation companies tax incentives for volunteering trucks to transfer gleaned food. Such tax incentives would be especially helpful to organizations such as Relief Fleet. This food distribution system is run through transportation companies who donate empty trailer space to move food donations to the proper sites. Last fiscal year, Relief Fleet moved 16.7 million pounds of food free of charge. More than 555 truckloads traveled to 130 food banks, generating a savings of $382,000 in shipping costs. Gleaning and transportation efforts are just some of the possible initiatives to help end hunger. There is so much more that can be done. Take, for example, child nutrition programs. There is no question that far too many of our children are going hungry each and every day. Of the 23 million Americans being fed at soup kitchens, 9 million of those are hungry children under the age of 18. This is why the School Lunch Program is so important. In fact, recent research at Tufts University indicates that even mild undernutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth may affect brain development and lead to reductions in physical growth. Under the current School Lunch Program, children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of poverty are eligible for free meals. Additionally, children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of poverty are eligible for reduced price meals, no more than 40 cents per meal. This may seem like a nominal amount, but for struggling families with several children, the costs add up. School administrators in my State tell me they hear from parents who just do not know how they will be able to pay for their child's school meals. These income eligibility guidelines are not consistent with the WIC Program and other Federal assistance. For example, families whose incomes are at or below 185 percent of poverty are eligible for free benefits through WIC. It makes sense to harmonize these income eligibility guidelines, allowing us to clarify this bureaucratic situation. Doing so would enable us to immediately certify children from WIC families for the national school lunch and breakfast programs. Difficulty paying the reduced price fee is an issue that is real across America. More than 500 State and local school boards have passed resolutions urging the Congress to eliminate the reduced price category, thereby expanding free lunches and breakfasts to all of those children whose families' incomes are at or below 185 percent of poverty. In addition, the American School Food Service Association, the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Public Health Association have endorsed this idea. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. I was pleased when the Senate agriculture panel went on record in the child nutrition reauthorization bill in favor of eliminating the reduced price meal program. This initiative will begin through a pilot program in five States. I thank Chairman Cochran, Ranking Member Harkin, and my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee for their support and assistance. Since introducing this legislation, colleagues on both sides of the aisle have joined me and two bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives. Of course, this is only the first step. There is far more to be done. Our work to end hunger stretches outside of our own country, of course. There are more than 300 million chronically hungry children in the world. More than half of these children go to school on an empty stomach and almost as many do not attend school at all but might if food were available. I believe the distribution of food in schools is one of the most effective strategies to fight hunger and malnutrition among children. Studies have shown this encourages better school attendance which in turn improves literacy rates and helps fight poverty. This increased school attendance for students in poor countries may very well protect some children who would otherwise be susceptible to recruitment by groups that would offer them food in return for attending extremist schools or participating in terrorist training camps. I was proud to introduce a joint resolution with Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts that recognizes the worldwide problem of hunger and acknowledges the vital significance of food distribution to millions of starving children. This resolution recognizes the benefits of increased school attendance due to food availability for needy children, benefits ranging from improved literacy rates and job opportunities to protection from root causes of terrorism. In short, children who attend school on a regular basis have a much brighter future. Let us build on this foundation. On this third annual Hunger Awareness Day, I urge Americans to join me in the campaign to end hunger. As I have said before, hunger does not differentiate between Democrats and Republicans, and just as it stretches across so many ethnicities, so many areas, so must we. Bill Shore, director of Share Our Strength, an antihunger organization, said it best. There are two kinds of poverty in America. There are those who don't have and there are those who don't know. The majority of Americans are fortunate not to be in the category of those who don't have. Too many have been willing to remain in the category of those who don't know. Men and women of conscience must do more than accept or reject allegations about the conditions of the society in which they live. They must find out for themselves. Those who do will learn that hunger is a serious but solvable problem. It is only as invisible as Americans allow it to be. It is a privilege to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle toward the goal of ending hunger. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, 50 years ago our Nation witnessed a significant step in providing equal education for every child of every race. On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of a young girl who had been denied enrollment in her neighborhood school simply because of the color of her skin. On the 50th Anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling, I want to recognize the courage, vision and boldness of that decision and celebrate how far our country has come--and focus on a new bold vision that will lead us into the future. The Brown decision not only called for an end to segregation--it began a process of healing in America, still needed almost 100 years after the Civil War. The Brown decision affirmed the constitutional promise of equality for all Americans. It overturned laws that denied millions of school children freedom and choice in education and set this country on a new course, affirming civil and human rights while demanding the full respect and protection of the law for all people. Brown vs. the Board of Education was a decision of courage and conviction and was one of the finest moments of the American judicial system. But while this decision paved the way for the establishment of equal learning environments, today there is evidence of work yet to be done. Unfortunately, 50 years later, we still have a relatively two-tiered education system. Many students are in schools where they are receiving an incredible education; other children are in mediocre classrooms, emerging at the end of each school year barely even able to read at the levels of their peers. The reality is disheartening: nationally, at the fourth-grade level, the achievement gap in reading between blacks and whites is 28 percentage points. And consider this: only one in six African-Americans can read proficiently after graduating from high school. It truly is hard to believe such disparity exists today. Years after opening the doors of opportunity to every child-- regardless of their race--we have yet to truly take advantage of the possibilities Brown vs. Board created. Breaking through prejudice in school enrollment was the first step--educating each and every student to his or her full potential is the next. I give President Bush much credit for recognizing this problem and applaud his willingness to make it an issue in the last national election. He said that, if elected, he would institute change, and he did. Within four days of assuming office, he provided a blueprint that became the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001--an act that was passed with wide bipartisan support. With this law our country is beginning to address the achievement gap. The ``old ways'' will no longer be tolerated. Along with many mothers, fathers, teachers and school administrators, we are demanding equity, justice and inclusion for every child. This significant piece of legislation raises academic standards, holds schools accountable for performance, requires that every child learn to read, works to ensure that there is a quality teacher in every classroom, and provides more choices and flexibility for parents. Accountability is the cornerstone of what makes No Child Left Behind so bold and visionary. In the past, the Federal Government would send checks to fund education and hope something good might happen. Now the Government is sending checks--at record levels, contrary to partisan charges--and asking school systems to show what progress they are making and what problems remain to be addressed. While many years passed before the Brown vs. Board decision made a visible difference in our classrooms, it took far less time to see the changes initiated by No Child Left Behind. I am pleased to say we have witnessed this progress in my home State of North Carolina. In Charlotte, our State's largest city, reading levels have risen significantly. Dr. Jim Pugsley, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, has a lot to be proud of. Just a few years ago, only 35 percent of African-American fifth graders in his district were reading at grade level, but today, that number has more than doubled to 78 percent of African American fifth graders reading at grade level. Schools all over the country are celebrating similar results. The Chicago Sun Times recently reported that Chicago public school children who transferred from schools in need of improvement to higher performing schools under NCLB showed an 8 percent greater learning gain in reading and math than the national average. Granted, you cannot set lofty goals for thousands of schools without providing the funding to back it up. I am pleased to say president Bush, along with this Congress, is working to secure significant amounts for our school system. In fact, the United States spends more money in our K-12 education system than any other country in the world with the exception of Switzerland. This year, the President has requested unprecedented funding increases for education in his overall fiscal year 2005 budget. Never before has a President invested so much in education. Total spending for K-12 education has gone up $9.7 billion since No Child Left Behind was signed into law. In fact, the President's 2005 budget requests $2.5 billion for North Carolina education--that is 54 percent more than when President Bush took office. The 2005 budget also increases title I funding to $290.5 million to help our State's neediest children. That is more than $113 million above 2001 levels. Funding for schools in North Carolina and throughout the country is finally tied to real accountability for real results. I will continue to work with the education leaders in my home State to ensure that each child receives the best education possible-- and to ensure that No Child Left Behind continues to build on the foundation the Brown Decision laid for closing the opportunity gap in classrooms across America. Our classrooms are the training ground for America's future, and our schools and teachers are entrusted with the minds of tomorrow. We must guarantee that those minds are being challenged, educated and encouraged to their greatest potential. Together with the standard of excellence provided by the No Child Left Behind Act, teachers, parents and students have the opportunity to continue the dream first realized 50 years ago through the Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling. A dream where every child has the right to be educated--and none of them will be left behind.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources estimates that there are tens of thousands of potential brownfield sites in North Carolina. To date 44 of these sites have $600 million in committed private investment which was raised with less than $500,000 in Federal funds. These 44 sites represent a good step forward to address this issue; however, there are many more steps necessary before we can declare victory. The critical component to this equation is the greater availability of private capital. Currently, the State of North Carolina has 55 more brownfield sites in the pipeline for remediation and the availability of private capital will be essential to this effort. The Nation's mayors have estimated that there are half a million brownfield sites in the United States. Others have said that there may be as many as a million such sites. EPA, in an analysis conducted with George Washington University, has estimated that remediation costs for all brownfield sites in the country exceed $650 billion. The Chamber of Commerce estimates that, at the current rate of cleanup, it could take ten thousand years to clean up all these sites. According to Environmental Defense, a leading environmental group, New York City alone has over 4000 acres of vacant industrial lands, the equivalent of almost four Central Parks' worth of land lying unused in the core of our largest metropolitan area. That is why I am a strong supporter of legislation to make available greater sums of private capital to brownfield remediation efforts. This is why I am proud to join with my colleagues, especially Senators Lautenberg, Chafee, Lieberman and Jeffords to support this proposal to allow non-profits to invest in brownfield remediation efforts. I yield back to Senator Lautenberg.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, this morning I want to praise the work of Elaine Chao and her staff on the final regulations to strengthen overtime rules for all Americans. Elaine Chao worked with me when I served as Secretary of Transportation, and I know her to be a public servant of the highest intelligence and integrity. Secretary Chao has identified the problems with outdated regulations and has taken the action necessary to rectify them. I admire her principled stand on such a controversial issue, and I commend her for her foresight in recognizing and working to fix the problems. The Fair Labor Standards Act regulations have not been revised since 1954, but labor forces, as well as employers, have changed dramatically over that 50-year period. These updates take into account the economic demands of technological advancements, salary growths, and shifts in the labor force that have occurred in the past half century, and they modernize these regulations for a modern workforce. Updating the rules is crucial to the 6.7 million Americans making $23,660 or less a year because until now only workers earning less than $8,060 annually were guaranteed overtime. The final rule provides a greatly needed increase, and, in addition, 1.3 million white-collar workers will benefit from their new earnings. The benefits do not stop there. More than 5 million workers will enjoy an ironclad guarantee of overtime rights, regardless of job duties, under this final rule. As a woman well acquainted with labor issues across this Nation, I have watched the increase of Fair Labor Standards Act class action suits over the years with growing concern. To my dismay, the number of suits has almost tripled--tripled--since 1997. Even worse, these lawsuits are estimated to cost our economy approximately $2 billion a year. The vague language in the laws has allowed an opportunity for class action attorneys to render a defense extremely expensive and difficult to counter, regardless of how well the employer complies with the law. These suits have placed even greater pressure on our already overburdened judicial system, and they reinforce the need for these rules. Certain groups out to prevent the Department of Labor from improving the rules and making the necessary clarifications have greatly exaggerated the effects of the rule. Fortunately, their efforts were unsuccessful. Critics expressed concern about who is and who is not potentially affected by the new rules--why, for instance, a first responder's overtime is protected. There is no question that America has a profound sense of the significance of our first responders, especially following the events of 9/11. This new protection extends to all of our first responders, our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and emergency medical technicians. For those who feared team leaders could be unfairly disadvantaged under the proposed rules, let me assure you the final rules make it clear blue-collar workers who are team leaders are guaranteed overtime pay. Additionally, white-collar team leaders will enjoy greater protections than they do today. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will give careful consideration to the clear benefits these final rules will afford our Nation before voting. I believe these final rules are the product of constructive feedback that is afforded to all proposed rules through the public comment period. In this case, I am told 75,000 to 80,000 comments were received and analyzed. With the new rules in place, workers will clearly know their rights and employers their responsibilities. Again, I thank Secretary Chao for her extraordinary leadership and vision in making millions of low-income workers eligible for overtime, updating the antiquated and confusing rules and regulations, and taking this important step toward eliminating the billions of dollars in lawsuits related to overtime cases. I quote from today's Washington Post: What's needed now is not to block these regulations but to ensure that they are vigorously enforced with an eye to protecting the vulnerable workers the law was intended to benefit. I urge all my colleagues to support this rule and vote no on the Harkin amendment. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, when I came to the United States Senate last year, it was with great optimism--with a mission to get real results accomplished for my North Carolina constituents and for our great Nation. During my tenure in the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, and the American Red Cross, I was blessed with the opportunity to tackle some very important and challenging issues--like the sale of Conrail, modernizing the American Red Cross, settling a bitter coal strike, transferring Dulles and National airports from Federal control to ensure that Dulles' capacity would be doubled and the gateway to the Nation's capital would be our beautiful new airport. These issues required me to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle at every turn. If I had just tried to work with Republicans when tackling these matters, you can bet that nothing would have ever been accomplished. These success stories were achieved in a bipartisan and constructive manner. I looked forward to the same experience when entering this great body last year; however, the pattern of obstructionism occurring over the past few months is at a crossroads. The opportunity to vote--to even vote--on the following legislation has been blocked: Medical liability reform: After a comprehensive bipartisan bill was blocked last July, two additional targeted attempts to protect access to ERs and OB-GYNs were blocked February 24 and April 7. A comprehensive Energy bill has been thwarted for 3 years--3 years. Passage would not only create an estimated 1 million American jobs but also reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Energy tax relief that would have created an estimated 650,000 jobs was also blocked on April 7. Workforce Investment Act: This legislation, projected to help more than 940,000 dislocated workers obtain the training they need to get good jobs was passed by both the House and Senate but now my friends across the aisle refuse to even appoint conferees. There are other examples of blocked legislation: Class action reform, Faith based/charities--the Care Act--welfare reform, and the Fair Act-- Asbestos--but I want to highlight the legislation that could directly benefit the economy. And I use the word ``could'' because unfortunately none of this legislation can even get the courtesy of an up or down vote. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot come down to the Senate floor and deride the administration's economic policies--then, in the same day, vote to block job-creating legislation. A piece of legislation that underscores this point is S. 1637, the JOBS bill. Why in the world would we not be passing this legislation? I really want to know the answer so I can tell my constituents, in a State that has been hit especially hard by manufacturing job losses. Why is there objection to removing tariffs from our companies? Why is there objection to cutting taxes on manufacturing companies when they need it most? I must be missing something. When a bill is passed out of the Finance Committee 19-2--yes 19-2--and it is blocked from coming to a vote on two separate, that is simply outrageous. Those of us on both sides of the aisle recognize the need to deal with the increasing concerns associated with the current Extraterriorial Tax Regime ETI. The World Trade Organizations has determined that if not repealed, the current rules for exportation would necessitate $4 billion in tariffs. If passed, the JOBS bill will not only eliminate the WTO's exorbitant tariff imposition; it will also replace ETI's tax relief with a tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. At a time when America's manufacturing industries need immediate relief, the benefits of this legislation are clear--and the necessity of its passage is obvious. However, Senate Democrats are continuing to play petty political games and in so doing, are preventing direct aid to our hurting manufacturers. These partisan antics harm our American businesses directly--businesses run by men and women who deserve better from their elected officials. I am particularly focused on this issue because North Carolina has areas that are severely affected by the loss of manufacturing jobs, mainly in textiles and furniture. This past summer, North Carolina experienced the largest layoff in State history when textile giant Pillowtex closed its doors forever. The result of Pillowtex's closing was 4,400 people losing their jobs in a single day--and eventually nearly 5,000 being laid off. In eastern North Caroline, layoffs and plant closures have resulted in more than 2,200 layoffs since last summer. In just the past few months, the western region of North Carolina has lost more than 1,500 jobs. And in February, 22 of North Carolina's 100 counties had double- digit unemployment rates. Now there are signs that the situation is improving--initial data for March unemployment in North Carolina shows that just four counties have double-digit rates--but we must take action to help our manufacturers and to ensure upward trends will continue. Action can begin with final passage of the JOBS bill. This is not the time for political games. This is a time for doing what is right for the American people--and providing our manufacturers with legislation that will directly benefit their businesses. I urge my colleagues to allow the final vote on the passage of S. 1637 to protect our companies from undo tariffs and excessive taxes. Democrats say they want to find a way to rejuvenate our economy and prevent more factories from shutting down. If they are truly searching for such answers, then why don't they step forward and allow for the solution to reach final passage? I am hoping my friends on the other side of the aisle will remember the American people who depend on Congress and put aside partisan antics and pass good legislation. We need to put an end to this obstruction and work together to get things done in the Senate. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to address the repeated attacks towards the Bush administration's role in Iraq. Yesterday, one critic claimed that our unilateral policy in Iraq has steadily drifted from tragedy to tragedy and made America less safe. The very mention of Iraq and the current situation there incites what I have begun to call the ``liberal naysayers'' to launch into steady streams of empty rhetoric against our plans in Iraq. Just this week these critics said that our troops are paying the price for flawed policy. These brazenly political claims have no basis, in fact, and serve no purpose other than to undermine the administration in a time of war. In liberating Iraq, we have rid the nation and the rest of the world from the danger of Saddam Hussein. 46 of the 55 of his most wanted regime members have been captured or killed. In removing this tyrant from power and undermining his regime, we have brought about increased security in a nation that at one time barely comprehended the term. Today, over 150,000 Iraqis, including 75,000 new police personnel, are protecting the Iraqi people. Recently the Iraqi Governing Council signed the Transitional Administrative Law. This unprecedented framework promises long overdue civil rights for all Iraqis. It ensures freedom of religion and worship, the right to free expression, the right to peacefully assemble, the right to be treated equally under the law, the right to stand for election and cast a ballot secretly, the right to privacy, and the right to a fair, public and speedy trial. We have removed many barriers in the Iraqi society and allowed women to finally play a role in every day life--including the new Iraqi government. To abandon our mission in Iraq today would undermine all we have accomplished up until now. We would leave behind a devastating breeding ground for terrorists. More importantly, it would give the insurgents in Iraq reason to believe they have won--that they finally succeeded in driving us out and halting the process of peace. The recent surge of violence in Iraq is not indicative of failed policy--rather it is proof that terrorists see freedom arriving there--and it terrifies them. Just recently I read of that fear firsthand in a memo written by captured al Qaida operative Zarqawi. Concerned that the Mujahidin may lose its footing in Iraq he wrote: There is no doubt that our field of movement is shrinking and the grip around the throat of the Mujahidin has begun to tighten. With the spread of the Army and the police, our future is becoming frightening. The very idea of freedom incites fear in the hearts of terrorists across the world. Insurgents from Syria, Libya, Iran and other countries continue to cling to the fruitless hope that their violence will force the coalition forces out and allow the eradicated reign of terror back in. They don't just hate freedom--they fear it. These terrorist cells infiltrating Iraq know that the introduction of democracy and peace in the Middle East is only the beginning of the annihilation of terrorism worldwide. The accomplishments are many, and the truth is the liberation of Iraq is just one battle in the war on terror. The process of creating a democracy and turning the government over to an entire new governing council will take time. But we are a nation of our word. President George Bush has told the world that we would return power to the Iraqi people on June 30, and we intend to stick to that deadline. Our desire is to restore sovereignty to the people of Iraq--and ensure peace and stability in the transfer. To abandon Iraq prior to either of those goals being accomplished would be a failed mission--and that simply is not an option. While it is important to note the administration's successes in Iraq, Americans should also be aware that our actions in Iraq have made us safer here in the U.S. President Bush recognized that in order to contain the growing threat of terrorism from Iraq we had to eliminate it at its source. Our President chooses to allow the war on terror to be fought in Kabul and Baghdad, rather than Washington, DC, or New York. As he so boldly explained just recently, his desire was not to stand idly by. He said: I made a pledge to this country; I will not stand by and hope for the best while dangers gather. I will not take risks with the lives and security of the American people. I will protect and defend this country by taking the fight to the enemy. I applaud our administration for carrying out their mission in Iraq so effectively. Our role in Iraq has brought about freedom to 50 million Iraqis and Afghans and underscored America's character in keeping our word. Former secretary of State George Shultz said it best this week when he wrote: Above all, and in the long run, the most important aspect of the Iraq war will be what it means for the integrity of the international system and for the effort to deal effectively with terrorism. The stakes are huge and the terrorists know that as well as we do. That is the reason for their tactic of violence in Iraq. And that is why, for us and for our allies, failure is not an option. The message is that the U.S. and others in the world who recognize the need to sustain our international system will no longer quietly acquiesce in the take-over of states by lawless dictators who then carry on their depredations--including the development of awesome weapons for threats, use or sale . . . September 11 forced us to comprehend the extent and danger of the challenge. We began to act before our enemy was able to extend the consolidate his network. The war on terror will not easily be won, but America is up to the task. May God bless our brave men and women in uniform fighting for democracy and freedom--and God bless this land of the free, America. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. About 8 minutes.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, a few years may have passed since I had the pleasure of serving President Ronald Reagan, but I can still remember the liberal naysayers attacking him for his fixed resolve in fighting the cold war. They questioned President Reagan's reasoning, they questioned his strategy, and they questioned America's chances of coming away victorious in a battle to free the Soviet Union and other countries from the grasp of communism. President Reagan rejected communism, he rejected the Iron Curtain, and he refused to concede that freedom could not prevail. While the Soviet Union was extending its influence and doctrine throughout the world, President Reagan had a different idea for the course of history. He knew that the enemy must be defeated, not tolerated. So in the face of severe criticism, Ronald Reagan did just that. Of course, we now know Reagan was right in his actions to eradicate communism. Millions were freed, and a global threat no longer exists. Does this kind of skepticism have a familiar ring? It should. It is frighteningly similar to the opposition our current President is facing. In fact, some of the faces are even the same. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now. As did Reagan, President Bush determined that terrorism must not be tolerated. It must be defeated. Since declaring a global war on terror, the United States has succeeded in two operations against countries that harbored known terrorists. We have captured a brutal dictator in Saddam Hussein, immobilized Osama bin Laden, destroyed al-Qaida's base, and Iraq now has a constitution built on democratic principles. We are also seeing positive signs from known sponsors of terrorists. After years of successfully hiding from United Nations inspectors, Libya has now relinquished its nuclear weapons program. Libya, as well as other rogue terrorist regimes, knows this President means business. Does this sound like a record that deserves criticism and skepticism? Since liberating Iraq, the coalition forces have made tremendous progress, but insurgents remain who do not wish to embrace freedom but instead choose violence and terror. Coalition forces are presently seeking cleric al-Sadr. He is an individual who has a lot in common with Saddam Hussein. Much like Saddam, he is inciting criminals and loyalists of the old regime to take up arms against peace and freedom. Much like Saddam, he is hiding somewhere while others fight his battle--this time in a mosque, not a hole. And much like Saddam, he and other rogue supporters will be brought to justice by our forces. We are blessed with brilliant and hard-working men and women, under Paul Bremer's leadership, who have sacrificed their way of life in the United States to aid the Iraqi people in the transition to democracy. Our men and women in uniform have done and are doing a phenomenal job of bringing stability to nations previously under the reign of terror. Sadly, there are casualties still occurring abroad, and it is heartbreaking. I have personally visited with our men and women in uniform, as well as their families, and have seen firsthand their unwavering commitment. They underscored how strongly they felt about their mission and the need to see it through to completion. Just this week, President Bush was in my home State of North Carolina where he met privately with the family of 26-year-old Army Specialist Christopher Hill. Christopher was killed in Iraq when his vehicle fell victim to a roadside bomb and exploded. During the tear-filled meeting, an emotional President Bush spent time with Christopher's young widow, Cheryl Hill, and her 14-month-old daughter. Cheryl Hill was unyielding in her support of President Bush as our Commander in Chief. Amidst her prayers for her family, Cheryl told the President she not only supports him 100 percent, she prays for him as well. I conclude with a story that pulled at my heartstrings this week. A soldier in Iraq was gravely injured when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while on patrol. His driver and gunner were killed. He suffered extensive burns on his legs, back, and face and permanent nerve damage to his left leg. After undergoing rehabilitation and several skin grafts in Germany, he told his commander to send him back to Iraq or he would not reenlist. He went through tests to ensure he was still mission capable and was ultimately sent back to Iraq to resume his post. When this seriously injured soldier was asked why he returned to Iraq after that kind of ordeal, he simply responded, ``The job is not done.'' Simple words, but how powerful and how poignant. Our job is not done, but I know we have men and women capable of completing it. May God bless each and every one of them and may God continue to bless those who yearn for freedom around the world. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I watched with horror yesterday as the media displayed the images of crowded streets, in Fallujah--and burning bodies in the center of that horrific celebration. In the middle of that city that is part of the volatile Sunni Triangle, four Americans were attacked, executed, and then burned as a mob of Iraqis danced around the corpses. I found it hard to believe I was watching a news program, given that the scene playing out before my eyes looked far more like a gruesome movie than tragic reality. Sadly, it was a reality--and that reality continues today. Families have been notified that their loved ones were among the four casualties and are mourning the loss of these brave souls. My home state of North Carolina grieves today as well. The four men who were brutally assassinated yesterday were employees from Blackwater Security Consulting, based in a city in northeastern North Carolina. Preliminary reports tell us that three had been Navy SEALs and one had been an Army Ranger. The four contractors were stationed in Fallujah to provide a convoy of security--the very purpose of their presence was to protect the lives of Iraqi men and women and they in turn were subjected to such barbaric and despicable acts. Yesterday's attack on these innocent men only further illustrates the evil influence Saddam Hussein still has over so many Iraqis. We are told that the 150,000 residents of Fallujah are being held captive by a brutal regime that wants nothing more than to return to the past days of tyrannical rule and streets of violence. The perpetrators of these ghastly acts hate freedom, loathe democracy and wish to turn back the clock--it is important to say now more than ever that we will not let this happen. Mr. President, the horrific slaughters yesterday will not weaken the American resolve to bring order, democracy, and peace to this war torn nation. The criminal who orchestrated these murders are few--and the Iraqis who stand firm against such violence are the men and women we are seeking to serve as the Coalitional Provisional Authority acts to establish stability in the middle of chaos. As peace and order are brought to all regions of Iraq, may justice arrive alongside them. It is my sincere hope that those responsible for these attacks will not escape punishment. Let our response be swift and just. While I wish there were more I could offer to the families who grieve the horrific loss of their loved ones, my condolences and my prayers are all I have. My heart aches for the tears of so many--and my earnest prayer is that we see the end of these tragedies as brave Americans continue their work in Iraq. I deeply believe in their mission and in the cause of democracy, freedom, and peace. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, last year I gave my maiden speech on the issue of hunger. I believe now, just as I did then, that we must make a concerted effort to eradicate this problem. It is the silent enemy that lurks in too many American homes. I am not one to duck tough issues. And this is a problem that I know we can conquer with both sides of the aisle working together. There are a number of areas where one could focus in this effort, and the amendment I send to the desk represents a good first step toward strengthening the National School Lunch program which is very popular and effective. Under the current program, children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of poverty are eligible for free meals. Children from families with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of poverty are eligible for reduced price meals--charging no more than 40 cents per meal. This may seem like a nominal amount, but that is not what I am hearing in North Carolina and from folks around the country. To quote the resolution from the North Carolina Department of Education, ``many families in the reduced price income category are finding it difficult to pay the reduced fee and, for some families, the fee is an insurmountable barrier to participation. Sharlyn Logan, the Child Nutrition Supervisor for Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina says--. . . ``In many of our schools, we daily see children with no money. Many times we allow the child to eat and the Child Nutrition program takes a loss. When the problem persists, we will provide a peanut butter sandwich and milk at no cost to the child to insure they receive some nutritional sustenance. This may be the only meal they receive.'' Recently, I spoke at the American School Food Service Association's annual banquet, where I was inspired by more than 1000 enthusiastic people who have devoted their careers to making sure children get the nutrition they need. You probably saw them on the Hill wearing their buttons that said ``ERP''--eliminate reduced price. They are on the front lines on this issue, and they have tremendous passion. It was an evening that I will never forget. They will be the first to tell you that these income eligibility guidelines are inconsistent with other federal assistance programs. For example, families whose incomes are at or below 185 percent of poverty are eligible for free benefits through the WIC program--the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. It just makes sense to harmonize these income eligibility guidelines allowing us to clarify this bureaucratic situation. Doing so would enable us to immediately certify children from WIC families for the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs. More than 500 State and local school boards have passed resolutions urging the Congress to eliminate the reduced price category, thereby expanding free lunches and breakfasts to all of those children whose family incomes are at or below 185 percent of poverty. In addition, the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Public Health Association have endorsed this idea. This is the right thing to do. For this reason, I was pleased to introduce S. 1549, to eliminate the reduced price meal program in graduated steps over a 5 year period. Since introduction of this legislation, colleagues on both sides of the aisle have joined me, and two bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives. The amendment that I have at the desk does not provide funding for the total elimination of reduced price meals over a five year period as laid out in S. 1549. Rather, it would enable the Senate Agriculture Committee to permanently increase the eligibility guideline for free school meals from 130 percent of poverty to 140 percent of poverty--the first step of the graduated approach outlined in S. 1549--when the Committee reauthorizes the Child Nutrition programs. Of course, we will still have a long way to go to eliminate the reduced price category, but progress is better than status quo, any day. Hunger and malnourishment among children--that's a battle that can be won. This is not a partisan issue, and enactment of this amendment will mark the first step in our crusade to strengthen the National School Lunch program and begin to address a serious problem for many families in need across this country--and especially those who have been laid off and are out of work. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. President, the American School Food Service Association, Child Nutrition Forum, the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the American Public Health Association, and organizations in 44 States have passed resolutions endorsing elimination of reduced price meals.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, for years America has enjoyed world class health care. We have led the way in cures and treatments. We have developed the latest and the best technologies, and we have ensured our doctors are trained in groundbreaking procedures. Indeed, our Nation has accomplished much in the area of health care. But today, the future of our world-renowned health care system is at risk. Some trial lawyers have nearly crippled the system by filing hundreds of frivolous lawsuits each year and defeating efforts to place limits on these lawsuits and the big-money fees lawyers earn off of them. Nineteen of our States are in a full-blown medical liability crisis, according to the American Medical Association. North Carolina is among the hardest hit, particularly our OB/GYNs, who face constantly rising, astronomical premiums just to stay in business. Many have been forced to move or quit their practices. This problem is particularly evident in our rural areas where some women have had to drive for miles just to find someone to deliver their baby. This is unacceptable. It is understandable why doctors are leaving their practices, when the State's top five jury awards in 2001 ranged from $4.5 million to $15 million. The annual number of settlements greater than $1 million for medical liability cases has more than tripled between 1993 and 2002. Meanwhile, women in our States are struggling. Consider these facts: Obstetricians in western North Carolina are seeing their insurance premiums increase from 50 to 100 percent. Women's Care, P.A., the largest OB/GYN physician group in North Carolina saw its premiums increase 30 percent last year--for 3 times less coverage. One of its obstetricians will soon stop delivering babies. Others may join him. And there are more stories. Dr. Mary-Emma Beres of Sparta, NC, a small town in the northwestern part of the State with a population just under 2,000, had to stop delivering babies after facing a 300 percent increase in her malpractice premiums. Her departure left only one obstetrician to handle high-risk cases. And it meant some women who needed C-sections had to endure a 40-minute ambulance ride to another hospital to deliver their baby. Then there is Dr. John Schmitt. He is an OB/GYN who left his practice in Raleigh after seeing his insurance premiums triple from $17,000 to $46,000. He decided instead to join the medical school faculty at the University of Virginia. One of his patients, Laurie Peel, highlighted this dilemma best when she said, ``When you are a woman, you try to find a gynecologist who will take you through lots of things in life. You develop a relationship with your doctor. To lose someone like that is very hard.'' It is time to stop this deplorable situation that leaves the most vulnerable and sickest among us as the real victims. No one in this country should have to struggle like this for health care. The America I know is better than that. Doctors who do remain in business are forced to practice defensive medicine and order an excessive amount of tests and procedures to protect themselves from lawsuits. Dr. Steve Turner of Garner estimates that internists like him prescribe close to $5,000 a day in defensive medical practices or $1.2 million a year per doctor. The legislation before us offers a solution that works. It is modeled after California's law which has been in place since 1975 and has kept premiums down in that State. This legislation does not cap damages. As you know, there are cases where compensation is absolutely justified and deserved. Under S. 2061, victims who suffer from a doctor's malpractice will be able to recover every penny of their actual economic damages. It does limit noneconomic damages, like pain and suffering. Punitive damages would be limited. But the legislation allows patients to collect for medical bills, funeral expenses and other costs. And States would still have the option of setting higher or lower caps than these in the bill. Each week in North Carolina, nearly 2,200 babies are born and 300 of those babies are born early. This legislation deals with the immediate crisis facing OB/GYNs, so that at the very least women can have the best health care available to them when they deliver their babies. Today we have a choice. We can vote with those trial lawyers who file endless lawsuits and watch our health care system spiral into decay. Or we can put an end to this debate, and protect our health care system, by casting a vote for our patients and the medical professionals who so tirelessly care for them. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of cloture. Let's pass this bill for our patients who need it most. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, a short time ago Congress debated legislation to make the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a national holiday. The floor leader for that legislation was a fellow name Bob Dole. And during the final debate, I had the privilege of sitting in the gallery with Coretta Scott King, as we heard Bob deliver these words: A nation defines itself in many ways; in the promises it makes and the programs it enacts, the dreams it enshrines, or the doors it slams shut. Thanks to Dr. King, America wrote new laws to strike down old barriers. She built bridges instead of walls . . . there is nothing partisan about justice. It is conservative as the Constitution, as liberal as Lincoln, as radical as Jefferson's sweeping assertion that all of God's creation is equal in His eyes. I could not agree more. I am very proud of the rich and vibrant African American Heritage in my home state of North Carolina. Indeed, Mr. President, our history is full of trailblazers, including, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr., and David Richmond, known as the Greensboro Four because of their February 1960 sit-in at a Woolworth Store counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. They, along with others, laid the foundation for the America we strive to be, where all people are given an opportunity regardless of the color of their skin. We have come a long way since then. Today, African Americans and minorities serve in every aspect of business, politics, and the legal profession. They're represented in judgeships throughout the country. John Wesley Winters, Sr., who died just a few weeks ago at the age of 84, was the first black Raleigh, NC, City Council member and one of the first black state senators of the 20th century. He was known as a bridge-builder between the races. And in 1992, my good friend Eva Clayton became the first African American woman to represent North Carolina in Congress. And just last year, Mr. President, I was privileged to support Allyson Duncan, confirmed as the first African American woman to serve on the 4th Circuit Court. Higher education is another area where strides have been made. North Carolina is home to 11 historically black colleges and universities, including Shaw University in Raleigh, founded in 1865 and the oldest H.B.C.U. in the South. And I was honored to give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree several years ago from Livingstone College, another outstanding historically black college in my hometown of Salisbury, NC, where Dr. Algeania Freeman currently serves as the first woman president. And I am so very proud that my husband Bob is serving as chairman of a $50 million dollar fundraising campaign at Bennett College in Greensboro, one of only two historically black women's colleges in America. In fact, Bennett's president, Dr. Johnetta Cole, currently serves as national chair of the United Way, and in that capacity has worked with Hillary Clinton and me on legislation to create a nationwide 2-1-1 line, a one-stop community service referral system. This month we honor the steadfast commitment of so many people, many of whom gave their lives so that African Americans could have the same opportunities as any other citizen in our Nation. Today, as the Nation continues to celebrate Black History Month, I salute this heritage and the fine citizens who have contributed to North Carolina's greatness. May we continue their work on behalf of all Americans. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.