Elizabeth Dole

Mrs. DOLE

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 President, I ask unanimous that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Madam President, our transportation infrastructure is one of this country's most important investments. It is literally the foundation of America. Each day our roads, bridges, buses, and railways help countless Americans travel to their jobs, visit a faraway relative, or take a day trip with their kids. As a former Secretary of Transportation, I am constantly in awe of this vast reach of modern-day transportation. I can still recall from my tenure at the Department the completion of the Interstate 40 corridor which runs from Wilmington, NC, to southern California, an enormous stretch of highway that literally links us from coast to coast. It is these kinds of investments that are vital to sustaining our communities and our economy. By ensuring that our roads, bridges, and infrastructure are prepared for the future, we provide economic stability. For my home State, that is a crucial component of our economic recovery. As many of you know, North Carolina is going through painful economic times as traditional textile, furniture, and other manufacturing jobs are diminishing. Improving our transportation infrastructure is a vital part of getting North Carolina's economy back on track. Let me give an example. Construction is already underway for Interstates 73 and 74 in North Carolina, and planning has begun for Interstate 20. The Department of Transportation estimates that the projects in this bill would create 86,900 jobs in North Carolina. Further, these roads go through areas that are among the hardest hit by economic difficulties, creating jobs especially in rural parts of North Carolina, where mobility between towns and cities is essential for commerce. These routes of opportunity make our communities more attractive to businesses and promote investment in our neighborhoods. Additionally, there is an 89 percent increase in funding to address North Carolina's growing transit needs, with a special emphasis on our rural areas. This money can be used to provide more buses as our rural residents travel from home to work each day. And for urban areas, such as Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, I am proud that the Banking Committee on which I serve has included much-needed dollars to relieve congestion by investing in buses, street cars and, in some cases, light rail. We all know that relieving congestion creates a cleaner environment, improves worker productivity, combats stress, and gives employees more time with their families and less time struggling with a long commute. This legislation also addresses a problem that exists with the highway trust fund. Right now, North Carolina gets just 90.5 cents for every dollar we put into the trust fund. This legislation guarantees that North Carolina's share will increase to 95 cents over the next 5 years. That will mean an additional $50 million a year for transportation construction, and we all know how much good can be done with those dollars. The bill also expands the Small Starts program to include mass transit projects under $75 million. My State and local leaders' biggest complaint is the mounds of paperwork and regulatory hurdles that must be completed, even for the smallest transportation project. It simply is not fair that these smaller projects must jump through the same large hoops as the biggest projects in the United States. The Small Starts project will allow for simpler, less costly review of these projects, and that is good news for our States. Now let me touch on another area of the legislation that is near and dear to my heart. Safety was at the forefront during my 5 years as Secretary of Transportation. Our rule 208, as we called it at Transportation, encouraged the passage of State seatbelt laws and the inclusion of passive restraints in new cars. In 1984, there were only a handful of airbag-equipped cars on the road. Not a single manufacturer was currently offering airbags at that time. I remember a long search for a car with an airbag to use in a demonstration on the White House lawn. But today that number stands at 40 million. And as we all now know, airbags save lives and prevent crippling, disabling injuries. At that time, in 1984, there was only a 14 percent usage rate for seatbelts, and there was not one single State seatbelt law in the United States. Our regulation 208 helped change all of that. Today, 49 States and the District of Columbia have seatbelt laws. As of 1998, the national seatbelt use rate was 69 percent. Some States, such as my home State of North Carolina, have a use rate of over 80 percent. It is estimated that 11,900 fatalities and 325,000 serious injuries are prevented each and every year due to usage. It is said that rule 208 literally changed the climate of highway safety in America. It was also a privilege back then to work with my friend, Senator Frank Lautenberg, to champion legislation encouraging States to raise their drinking age to 21, thereby helping to eliminate drunk driving and blood borders between our States. There are many safety provisions included within this bill. Funding is there to ensure that our secondary roads are safer, something that is vitally important to rural areas. Too often accidents occur on the small two-lane secondary roads, in many cases leaving death and destruction in their wake. The money in this bill will make those roads safer for our families and our children. There are also provisions for installing skid-resistant surfaces at intersections, traffic signal upgrades, and improvement in pedestrian and bicyclist safety. All of these are sorely needed. Safety on our roads must continue to be a priority. Madam President, it is imperative we act now to pass this critical legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it. It is a win-win for all of our States, for businesses, and especially for the millions of Americans who rely on our transportation infrastructure each and every day. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise to salute a woman who has just completed a stellar tour serving our Nation as Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, Bonnie McElveen-Hutner. I am proud to call Bonnie, and her husband, Bynum, my friends. Today, the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, will award Bonnie the Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion, an honor recognizing her exceptional and outstanding services. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter is truly worthy of this distinction. I first met Bonnie in 1999, and was immediately impressed with her intelligence, her drive, her confidence, her spirit, and without a doubt, her Southern charm. She is the eldest of three children born to John T. McElveen, a former Air Force U2 pilot and Madeline, a school teacher. In fact, even to this day, though retired, Madeline is the ever present teacher and is known to impart her ``pearls of wisdom'' upon her daughter. Bonnie's credentials are impeccable. She is a serious, successful CEO who serves as head of Pace Communications in Greensboro, NC, one of the top women-owned businesses in the country. The company's impressive client list has included United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Holiday Inn, Radisson Hotels, and Toyota. Under Bonnie's leadership, the company became the largest custom publishing company in America, based on revenue. Bonnie's successes led President Bush to call her a ``trailblazer among female entrepreneurs.'' How true indeed. Bonnie's service as ambassador has been as successful as her endeavors in the private sector. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/ 11, she forged close relationships with Finland's leaders. During this trying time of international tension, Bonnie not only promoted unity between Finland and the United States in the face of terrorism, she helped to improve commercial ties between the two nations. After the change of government in Finland, Bonnie worked to foster strong bonds with the new Finnish leadership. She developed a close relationship with Prime Minister Vanhanen, helping to ensure continued warm relations with the Finnish leadership. She met with every new minister in the Cabinet to emphasize the importance of our bilateral ties and to explore ways to enhance our partnership on key issues. While serving as ambassador, Bonnie also worked on several ``non- traditional'' diplomatic items, including collaboration with Secretary of State Colin Powell to organize The Helsinki Women's Business Leaders Summit. This summit brought together American, Finnish, Russian, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian entrepreneurs to share their business ideas across international borders. And she helped broker an arrangement that allowed women from Finland, the Baltics and Russia to shadow fifty of our country's top female business leaders. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter has always had a keen interest and concern for her fellow man. As ambassador, she advanced the ``child of Karelia'' project, which helps Finnish and Russian charities assist children who are at risk for drugs, crime HIV/AIDs, and trafficking in the transborder region of Karelia. Bonnie is also one of the United Way's most effective fundraisers. And, when she and Bynum moved into a new home, they raised $1 million for Habitat for Humanity as part of their housewarming. I love a story Bonnie tells about her childhood When she was 9 years old, her mother had her write the word ``can't'' on a piece of paper and bury it in a shoe box in the backyard of the home. She has not used the word since. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter epitomizes the American spirit through her compassion and sense of entrepreneurship. She serves as an inspiration for us all. Congratulations, Madame Ambassador.

Mrs. DOLE

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

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, when Jerry Richardson founded the Carolina Panthers 9 years ago, he said his goal was to be in a Super Bowl within 10 years. After upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles recently, this dream has become a reality. But the dream is not over, of course. There is one more hurdle the Panthers must clear. Today I salute Jerry, Coach John Fox, and the Panthers players for giving North Carolinians a season with a fairy tale ending. When Coach Fox arrived in 2002, the Carolina Panthers were 1 and 15. This turnaround has been nothing short of miraculous, and it is not just the fact that the Panthers have made it to the Super Bowl but how they got to Houston. The Panthers are called the ``Cardiac Cats'' because 10 of their victories have been achieved by 6 points or less, and they have won 4 of their 5 overtime games this season. All over the State, ``Go Panthers'' signs adorn buses, mailboxes, and cars, and those black and blue jerseys have become the fashion craze of the day. Even Coach Fox had to comment on the groundswell of fan support after about 10,000 of them--10,000, Mr. President--showed up on a blustery day as the team left for Houston. ``It makes you proud,'' he said. Charlotte Observer columnist Danny Romine Powell wrote recently: A team has transformed a city into Mount Olympus. We're eating ambrosia with the gods. How true, indeed. I want the Panthers to know that this Senator is coming to Houston, and I can't wait to watch the ``Cardiac Cats'' shock the world with a victory. In fact, I have challenged my friend and colleague, Senator Ted Kennedy, to a friendly wager. I am putting up our famous North Carolina barbecue against his New England clam chowder. I love something that Coach Fox tells his team each week. He says: We will define ourselves. No one else is going to do that for us. It is a motto that stands true for all of North Carolina. Earlier this week, late night host David Letterman cracked: Who knew Carolina had a team. I daresay that after Sunday the world will know. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. As I understand it, some of our Democratic colleagues oppose Justice Owen because she is too pro-business, her opinions are results-oriented. Didn't the leading tort law professor, Victor Schwartz, look at Justice Owen's opinions and find those opinions, those characterizations of the opinions to be untrue?

Mrs. DOLE. Senator, is it not the case that former Texas Supreme Court Justices John Hill, Jack Hightower, and Raul Gonzalez, all Democrats, say Justice Owen is unbiased and restrained in her decisionmaking?

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, will the distinguished Senator yield for a question?

Mrs. DOLE. I have heard that the Senate minority leader called Priscilla Owen unqualified. Yet I understand Justice Owen attended Baylor University and Baylor University Law School, graduating cum laude from both institutions. I understand that she finished third in her law school class and earned the highest score on the Texas bar exam. And she accomplished these remarkable achievements at a time when women were a distinct minority in the legal profession. Isn't it true that 15 past presidents of the Texas State bar, both Democrats and Republicans who hold a variety of views on important legal and social issues, agree that Justice Owen is an outstanding nominee and should be confirmed as a Federal judge?

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Madam President, when the Constitution was drafted so many years ago, it outlined a process by which the President of the United States would nominate judges with the ``advice and consent'' of the U.S. Senate. The filibuster expands the Senate's advice and consent role in nominations well beyond what the Constitution envisioned. And for too long, politics has prevented the Senate from doing its constitutional duty. The judicial process is obviously gridlocked. Qualified candidates have been nominated only to find that they are unable to get proper consideration on the Senate floor. In the meantime, burgeoning court dockets, delayed trials and overworked judges have become the norm for far too many of our courts, especially in North Carolina. This simply isn't right. Every President, Republican or Democrat, deserves to have his nominees voted on. Every Senator has a responsibility to exercise his or her constitutional duty to vote on the President's nominees, and every nominee deserves a hearing, a committee vote, and an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. Americans deserve courts that are staffed with qualified judges, and the process should be absolutely free of politics. I was sworn in as a U.S. Senator to represent 8 million North Carolinians. In doing so, I took an oath to fulfill the duties of this office, including one of a Senator's most important responsibilities-- voting on judicial nominees submitted by the President. Unfortunately, politics has undermined this process. Americans have the right to know where their Senators stand, and no one, no one should be able to hide behind parliamentary loopholes to avoid accountability to his or her constituents. The Constitution calls on all 100 Senators to give their advice and consent--not one Senator with a blue slip, not a group of Senators on the Judiciary Committee, but all 100 Senators. President Bush has said that each judicial nominee deserves a vote within 180 days of his or her nomination. Unfortunately, that is not the case for several of our excellent North Carolina nominees. Right now, we have three candidates whose nominations have been languishing in the Senate. Terry Boyle was first nominated to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991--and then again in May 2001--this means he has been denied the courtesy of a vote in the Senate for more than a decade. Let me make that clear--More than a decade. The 4th Circuit hears federal appeals from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. North Carolina is the largest State in the 4th Circuit, and historically the number of judges roughly corresponds with population. By this measure, we should have four to five judges on the court. We have only one. This seat has been vacant so long it has been declared a judicial emergency, so it is imperative that we act now. And Terry Boyle is extremely well qualified for the job. He is Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, having served on that court for 17 years. He was designated to sit with the court of appeals 12 times, and he has authored over 20 appellate opinions. Everett Thompson, an Elizabeth City lawyer and a Democrat, said this of Terry Boyle: ``I think he is really one of the best trial judges I've every appeared before. He's a student of the law, he works hard, he's bright, he's fair. And I never saw him be political about anything at all.'' And then there is Jim Dever, former Editor-in-Chief of the Duke University Law Journal, nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for Eastern North Carolina. How long should a nominee have to wait for a hearing? Three weeks? Six week? Six months? This distinguished attorney has waited 18 months just to get a hearing. The seat has been vacant for almost 6 years--currently, the longest district court vacancy in the country. And the Eastern District is an area where his skills and expertise are desperately needed--this vacancy has been a judicial emergency since 1999--and, until the recent confirmation of Louise Flanagan, there were only two full-time judges there. The caseload got so heavy last year that U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard had to continue seven civil cases because of the pressing criminal docket, which takes precedent by law. In an order announcing his decision, Judge Howard wrote, ``For more than two years, this four- judge authorized court has functioned with two active judges. The result over time is that the caseload, civil and criminal, has become almost insurmountable.'' Mr. President, there hasn't been one single objection raised about Jim Dever's qualifications. He has broad bipartisan support. Robinson Everett, a Duke Law professor and former chief judge of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, describes Jim Dever as having ``all the requisite qualities''--``he will be a superb jurist.'' And, Bob Conrad is a well-respected U.S. Attorney nominated in April to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. He is sorely needed. This is a district that had one of the highest caseloads in the country for the sixth year in a row. Bob Conrad is held in high esteem by his colleagues--Republicans and Democrats. He is known for his prosecution of a cigarette smuggling ring funding the terrorist group Hezbollah. In 1999, he was appointed by then-Attorney General Janet Reno--Janet Reno, as the point man for a Justice Department Task Force looking into illegal fundraising on the campaign trail. Roy Cooper, the Democrat Attorney General for North Carolina, said of him, ``Bob is a straight shooter. We are from different political parties, but I believe he is a student of the law and his decisions are not affected by partisan politics.'' All three North Carolina nominees come with superb credentials, yet none has ever been considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee or, of course, the full Senate. This is a fairness issue. It isn't fair to these nominees and certainly isn't fair to our judicial system, which must not be subjected to political maneuverings. If a Senator believes a nominee is not qualified, then have the confidence to convince fellow Senators to vote against him. But at least take a vote. I trust my colleagues will vote based on a nominee's qualifications, like integrity, fairness, intelligence, work ethic, adherence to the rule of law and judicial temperament. We owe it to their constituents to take a stand on each and every judge. And that simply isn't happening in the U.S. Senate. There are a variety of ways that nominees have been held up in the Senate over many years. But we have reached an unparalleled level with the filibuster of judges. Instead of continuing a trend of retaliation, we have the ability to stop this downward spiral in its tracks. If we don't, the loser will be justice, the hundreds of thousands of crime victims in the United States and the judges who are overworked and unable to meet the demands on their courtrooms. And common sense tells us that many of America's highest courtrooms don't have judges to run them, and as a result, the legal system simply can't function. Yes, justice delayed is justice denied.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I have great respect for Chairman Warner and Ranking Member Levin for their exemplary work on this conference report which will go so far toward improving our Nation's defenses and giving our men and women in the Armed Forces the resources they need. It is a great privilege to serve with these two outstanding leaders on the Committee on Armed Services. For the thousands of North Carolinians serving overseas, this bill is most important for them and for their families. One of the most fundamental duties of the Federal Government is to provide for the common defense. As I have said so often, if our young men and women are being called into harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the very best training, and the highest morale. With this bill, we are giving them just that. This legislation provides a 3.7-percent pay raise to all of our uniformed service personnel, and it continues the family separation allowance that helps provide much needed dollars for spouses and children when their loved ones are deployed. There is a provision to continue special pay for duty in hostile fire or imminent danger. I am also pleased that the housing needs of our military personnel and their families are so strongly supported in this bill. The legislation will provide much needed improvements in housing, especially for our bases back in North Carolina. TRICARE is also expanded for Reserve components under this legislation, something that is so desperately needed at a time when we are relying so heavily upon our Reserve Forces. This means our reservists and their families will get the health care and medical attention they need. This legislation remembers our veterans who deserve so much for their committed service to our country. It is unfair for disabled veterans to pay for their own disability compensation. Legislation enacted last year restored benefits to retirees with disabilities who were awarded the Purple Heart or were severely disabled by combat-related activities. It was a good beginning. The legislation before us now goes further by allowing special compensation to be extended to all military retirees whose disabling condition was due to combat or combat-related operations. Additionally, concurrent receipt will be phased in over the next 10 years for those retirees with noncombat-related disabilities of 50 percent or greater. And the fight is not over. Our next step is to work to find a solution that meets the goal of full concurrent receipt for all military retired who are eligible for disability benefits. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to keep this a priority. I am also pleased to see the multiyear procurement for the F-18 Super Hornets in this bill. This is the first step toward basing this new mission in North Carolina. Soon it will bring over 1,000 new jobs to eastern North Carolina where they are desperately needed. The legislation also authorizes $11 billion for the defense science and technology program, including $797.6 million for the critical, high-payoff science and technology programs. Many of these transformational technologies will be coming from new innovative businesses in North Carolina as well as from our exemplary university system. It also increases by more than 30 percent the funding for special operations to include over $61 million for weapons systems, psychological operations capabilities, and enhanced intelligence. And we all know how much we have relied on our brave and daring special forces literally on the front lines in the war on terror. The committee worked long and hard on the various ``buy American'' provisions, particularly the Berry amendment, which I am so pleased remains strong. At a time when we are all concerned about manufacturing jobs, I am glad we are going to take a good hard look at our industrial base to make sure that we give our troops the best equipment for years to come. At Seymour-Johnson and Pope Air Force Bases, at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, and Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, I was deeply moved by the dedication, the commitment, the patriotism of the members of our Armed Forces and their families. They make me proud and thankful to be an American. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work on this legislation and give something back to our men and women in uniform. This is a good bill. It goes a long way toward strengthening our military, protecting our military families, and caring for our veterans. I applaud the committee for its work and urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, the horticulture industry in North Carolina is a fast growing industry contributing significantly to the State's economy. Though local, State and Federal officials know that the industry is important, there has been no analysis done to quantify the impact of this industry on North Carolina's economy. Perhaps a possible remedy might be to direct the USDA Economic Research Service to coordinate with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and NC State University to collect the economic data and do the statistical analysis necessary to conduct this study.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I thank the Senator for his consideration on this matter. national rural development partnership

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I am in strong support of S. 1753 to renew uniform national standards for managing consumer credit information. These provisions are due to expire January 1, and this legislation is vitally important so that economic empowerment can become a reality for all Americans. Since it was first enacted in 1970, the Fair Credit Reporting Act has served an important role in this Nation. Indeed, it is astounding to consider the fundamental changes which have occurred in our credit system. In 1970, credit card charges over $20 required the store owner to call the creditor who would then have an employee go through a card catalog system to approve the transaction. Today, it takes just seconds, even when you are on the other side of the world. While we take this innovation for granted, it demonstrates how much our system of payments has changed. In addition, the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act have also been responsible for many of the advancements in how we choose financial products which best meet our needs. Today a fairer and faster system of assessing an individual's financial responsibility means that consumers now have quick access to competitive offers for credit, insurance, or other financial products. Clearly, our current credit system has benefited individuals at every level of the economic ladder, and that has meant new opportunities for people who never before had access to credit. Judgments based on race and gender have been taken out of the equation of creditworthiness. No longer is collateral necessary when qualifying for a loan. People can now move on to the ladder of economic success simply by proving they can responsibly handle their financial affairs. Given this opportunity to reauthorize the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we must ensure that our actions do not result in increases to the cost of credit or lower access to credit. Both would have harmful effects on our recovering economy. At the same time, we must ensure that the law applies to everyone fairly and that the system to protect consumers against questionable material on credit reports operates efficiently and effectively. Recently, in the Banking Committee, we heard testimony about the harm caused to consumers who had false information on their credit reports as a result of mistakes or fraud. The legislation before us contains initiatives to increase the accuracy of credit reports, including providing consumers with one free credit report each year. This free report will give consumers a better understanding of the factors financial institutions take into account when pricing a product and when deciding whether to extend credit. Free credit reports will also ensure the accuracy of reports since consumers are best able to identify incorrect and false information. This will go a long way in stopping identity theft, a destructive crime that is, unfortunately, growing more common each day. This legislation also continues one of the most important provisions from the 1996 act, and that is affiliate sharing. Consumers clearly benefit when they are able to call a single person in their financial institution and that customer service agent is able to access each of their different accounts at once. We all know the frustration of being transferred from person to person when we are attempting to get questions answered. With these provisions, more institutions are able to develop systems to minimize the need to transfer customers from department to department. It also saves consumers time and money when financial institutions are able to realize greater efficiencies by consolidating customer service and administrative functions for their affiliate businesses. Let me be clear. Privacy of personal information is extremely important, and I continue to work to implement reasonable protections. However, we must strive for a balance and we must not sacrifice the efficiency of our credit system in the name of privacy. In many ways, I believe our responsibility is like that of doctors in the Hippocratic oath: First do no harm. Just as importantly, affiliate sharing assists financial institutions in their antiterrorism efforts by helping them detect and prevent money laundering. A customer service agent who can review all of the consumers' accounts is more likely to spot potential problems or concerns. The average American moves every 6 years. This is about 17 percent of the U.S. population, more than two-thirds higher than any other country. Our national uniform credit system plays a significant role in increasing the mobility of labor and in the ability of consumers to move while keeping portable credit reputations that preserve their access to low-cost credit. Advances such as these have ripple effects that help our communities tremendously. The families served find themselves with more money since the costs of their financial needs decrease, they have access to credit and loans to meet the needs of their families, and they are able to establish a good credit record so that they are eligible to obtain a home mortgage. Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, families are able to build wealth, many for the first time. They are able to provide greater stability for their families, and in turn they become more involved in their communities. It is the modern American dream so many consumers are beginning to realize because of our efficient and effective credit system. It is important that Congress act quickly to renew these uniform national standards for managing consumer credit information. Consumers and the financial sector will most definitely feel the impact if these provisions expire. The benefits to our communities and our economy are endless. I certainly thank Chairman Shelby for his excellent work on this legislation. His ability to resolve issues and work with all the parties is a true testament to his leadership. It is a privilege to serve on his committee. I also thank Senator Sarbanes for his tireless advocacy on behalf of consumers. Similar legislation has already passed overwhelmingly in the House. I urge all of my colleagues to join this truly bipartisan coalition of Senators in acknowledging the benefits the Fair Credit Reporting Act has brought to our Nation. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed for up to 1 minute.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to publicly thank our friend, Bob Schieffer, of CBS for revealing the story of his battle with bladder cancer. His going public will save the lives of countless others, especially men. In most every cancer case, early detection of and proper treatment can save your life. Bob Schieffer had a problem and immediately sought medical advice. The result was that in less than 8 months, he is cancer free. Thank you, Bob, for giving others direction and hope. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, thousands of young men and women from bases in my home State of North Carolina are currently fighting the war on terror in Iraq. We are forging a process of peace; and in doing so, we are moving toward turning control of the government and society back to the Iraqi people. With the major battles over in Iraq, our Nation is helping to rebuild schools and hospitals, water supply systems and roadways. Part of the President's supplemental request is being designated for the continuation of these efforts. The stabilization of Iraq depends on providing the Iraqi people basic services as well as humanitarian relief. And the safety of our men and women in uniform depends on the stabilization of Iraq. Our forces are on the offensive, and continue to capture key figures in Saddam Hussein's evil regime, so that they may be brought to justice. The vast majority of the President's request will go directly to American troops, giving them the pay, the equipment, and other resources necessary to fight the war on terror. We must ensure that these funds are available to allow them to complete their mission and return home safely. Recently a proud grandmother met with my 102-year-old mother in Salisbury, North Carolina. This grandmother forwarded me a letter from her grandson, Christopher Shawn Jensen, who is currently stationed in Baghdad. I would like to read to you what a soldier on the front lines has to say. I will read just a portion: I was invited to meet with a local Iraqi who works the engineering for our building's electricity . . . He graduated from the Baghdad University in engineering and showed me his class picture (from 1979). We talked about what it was like then, and the difference now. You could see the suffering in his eyes as he talked about the years of terror, the people lived with while Saddam was in power. I felt the same emotions of sadness for these people when I first rolled up here from Kuwait, to see their cheering faces of relief . . . many a soldier's eyes were filled with tears that day . . . I pray that we finish the job we started. At the end of the letter to his grandmother, Shawn made a request to his friends and family. ``I have started the ball rolling for several ideas, he writes, to help in the effort to free Iraqis and also to help to make this a safer place for liberty and freedom. I know many of you have big hearts and want to help, you just don't know how. Here are some things you can help with. I have written to the Editor of the Wilmington Star newspaper. The children in Iraq learn on the dirty floors in their schools. They need approximately 200,000 desks for their schools. I am trying to build support for a program where the American citizen can buy support for the Iraqi children.'' And let me add, my husband, Bob Dole, has already committed to Shawn's effort. Shawn's letter continues, ``We are also collecting money from the soldiers here and we are going to buy back weapons from the populous of Iraq. We are using the little money we earn in a combat zone to start this program. The regular citizens have all kinds of weapons like grenades, bombs, and rockets . . . things regular citizens don't need. We are asking American citizens to match funds that we are collecting for this cause. My father can be contacted for this via phone or a web-site that has been started.'' Shawn Jensen understands what freedom means to the people of Iraq-- indeed he is seeing it first hand. He is so committed to making Iraq a safe place for his fellow soldiers to complete their mission, and for the Iraqi people to live in a free and orderly society, that he and his fellow soldiers are making these tremendous sacrifices. My friend, Secretary of State Colin Powell, described last week his visit to Iraq in the most poignant terms, He said, ``anyone who doubts the wisdom of President Bush's course in Iraq should stand, as I did, by the side of the mass grave in Iraq's north. That terrible site holds the remains of 5,000 innocent men, women and children who were gassed to death by Saddam Hussein's criminal regime.'' Recently, in testimony before the Armed Services Committee, on which I serve, Ambassador Paul Bremer outlined a clear and well-defined course of action in Iraq. As he noted, there will be bumps along the way, but it is critical for us to stay the course. As he has said so poignantly, ``Gone are Saddam Hussein's torture chambers,'' he wrote. ``Gone are his mass killings and rape rooms. And gone is his threat to America and the international community.'' As we go forward, it is this that we should keep in mind. Today in Iraq, streets are lined with shops selling newspaper and books representing varied opinions. Already, 160 newspapers have sprung up in Iraq. Schools and universities are open; parents are forming PTA's; 95 percent of health clinics are open, and Iraq is on the way to a democratic government. Eighty-five percent of towns now have city councils. And a Constitution will soon be written, followed next year by elections which will provide legitimacy and credibility to the government. And millions of dollars of humanitarian aid are going to the Iraqi people to make sure they have food, water and shelter. Iraqis are also being trained to maintain peace and order in their own country. Thousands of members of the Iraqi police force will be trained over the next several months in Eastern Europe. And the area around Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, one of the most dangerous sections in Iraq, is currently being patrolled by the Iraqi army. These measures are part of the larger goal of turning over the security of Iraq to the Iraqis. Certainly, the operation there is proving to be a dangerous and more grinding conflict than some expected. The President addressed this fact candidly and resolutely in his recent address to the Nation. While Saddam Hussein was building palaces, the infrastructure was deteriorating terribly, more than we realized. Adequate resources for the proper reconstruction are essential to providing security and allowing our troops to leave as soon as possible. Eliminating terror is more than removing the leaders of an evil regime from power. Terrorism must be torn out by its roots, ensuring that there is no toehold for its sponsors to reestablish their violent ways. The bottom line; we can fight them there, or we can fight them here. The President's call for a supplemental spending bill for operations in Iraq has spawned the most recent round of debate over the war on terror. For those who have criticized the cost of the war, understand that inaction would be much more devastating. Just look at the September 11 attacks. One study has pegged the cost to the economy at well over $2 trillion. And a Brookings Institution study estimates that a biological terrorist attack against a major U.S. city would cost our economy $750 billion. There are other critics who have accused the military of being slow in their progress. But consider these numbers I heard recently from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. It took 3 years after World War II to establish an independent central bank in Germany; it was established in Iraq in 2 months. Police in Germany were establish after 14 months; in Iraq, 2 months. A new currency in Germany took 3 years; it took 2\1/ 2\ months in Iraq. The cabinet in Germany was created after 14 months. Iraq has a cabinet today--after just 4 months! We cannot afford not to do what is necessary to win the war against terror and secure our homeland. The funding for the war is necessary and significant, but it is temporary. The cost of fighting this war is well below the cost of previous conflicts. And more than words . . . more than negotiations . . . the President's significant spending request sends an unmistakable signal to the sponsors of terror, to the liberated Iraqi citizens, and to the world--that the United States of America is staying the course. Attacks on U.S. troops and other targets in Iraq are aimed at undermining freedom and democracy--but these attacks will not cause us to shy away from our commitment. Failure to follow through in our mission would leave a lethal void--a void that would rapidly be filled by terror and its supporters. President Bush has said, ``Liberty is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to Mankind.'' I believe that God's gift to all of his children is liberty--and also justice and equality, tolerance and opportunity. These belong to all people--no matter where they live. Let us remember the steadfast resolve of Shawn Jensen in that letter to his grandmother. He is a witness to a country being transformed from a reign of terror to a beacon of hope. Let us, like him, commit to the stabilization of Iraq diminishing the threat to our troops and ensuring greater stability and peace in the Middle East.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation, ``To replace certain Coastal Barrier Resources System maps'' be printed in the Record.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation, ``To replace certain Coastal Barrier Resources System maps'' be printed in the Record.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, today we remember the thousands of people who so tragically lost their lives in the September 11 attacks. It was just 2 years ago today that terrorists launched an assault on America and everything she stands for--her freedom, her liberty, her democracy. Our hearts were broken, our lives were ever changed and left with the jarring memories of that day, those moments which seemed to last through eternity. We will never forget. Because these tragedies, those centered in New York, Pennsylvania, the Pentagon, touched the hearts of each and every American across the country, together we mourn. In our collective grief we became the embodiment of an American family, from New York to California to Mississippi to my home State of North Carolina, where we struggled to come to grips with the deaths of several of our own. Today we pause to remember these men, women, and children and honor their lives--the mothers and fathers, the sons and daughters. I recall something that was said shortly after the attacks by Fred Cranford, of Drexel, NC. He and his wife lost their 32-year-old son, LCDR Eric Cranford, at the Pentagon. Yet even in the midst of a grief most of us cannot even imagine, Fred Cranford said: Even out of evil, God can bring good things. Two years ago, the very personification of evil sought to tear us apart, but today the United States stands strong, dedicated, committed, and more than ever we are a nation united against terrorism. We are the most powerful country on the face of the Earth, but 2 years ago our lives changed forever. September 11 and its aftermath have demonstrated that America cannot ignore events in far-flung places such as Afghanistan and Iraq. We can and must act when our security is threatened. Our leadership was decisive and our leadership will continue to be necessary as the war on terror proceeds. This Nation dedicated itself to winning the global war on terror. We must remain dedicated. And that means continuing to work with the international community to help the Iraqi citizens stabilize their country and establish their government. Recently, in an editorial in the Washington Post, Ambassador Paul Bremer outlined a clear and well-defined course of action in Iraq. As he noted, there will be bumps along the way, but it is critical for us to stay the course--stay the course. One particular paragraph stood out to me, and his poignant words bear repeating: Gone are Saddam Hussein's torture chambers. Gone are his mass killings and rape rooms. And gone is his threat to America and the international community. As we go forward, it is this that we should keep in mind. Certainly the operation in Iraq is proving to be a dangerous and more grinding conflict. The President addressed the fact candidly and resolutely in his address to the Nation Sunday night. But eliminating terror is more than removing the leaders of an evil regime from power. Terrorism must be torn out by its roots, ensuring that there is no toehold for its sponsors to reestablish their violent ways. More than words, more than negotiations, the President's supplemental spending request sent an unmistakable signal to these sponsors of terror, to the liberated Iraqi citizens, and to the world that the United States of America is staying the course. Attacks on United States troops and other targets in Iraq are aimed at undermining the efforts of democracy. But these will not cause us to shy away from our commitment because we know that failure to follow through in our mission could leave a lethal void, a void that would rapidly be filled by terror and its supporters. A routine criticism, even from the start of actions in Iraq, is that inadequate resources were dedicated to the Iraqi theater. The supplemental requested by the President not only gives our men and women in uniform the resources they need to succeed in their mission in Iraq and in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the war on terror, it also targets funds to help build safe, stable, and self-governing societies in nations that have been torn apart by the self-serving regimes of rogue leaders such as Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For our soldiers engaged in these military operations, the supplemental must equate to equipment that will ensure their safety, supplies that will make their mission achievable, and something else which is essentially priceless--time, even if only 2 weeks, to get away from the tireless effort necessary to maintain peace in Iraq. These men and women in uniform deserve our highest respect and admiration for the often difficult and dangerous jobs they do. Our troops deserve the very best--the best equipment, the best training, the best housing, and the best leadership. I have a great deal of confidence in our current leaders--President Bush, Vice President Cheney, National Security Adviser Rice, General Myers, and my old colleagues Secretary Rumsfeld and Secretary Powell. They understand how and when to ask our military to go into action. But our men and women in uniform must be given the tools to do the jobs we ask of them. To them I say, Congress will not let you down. Also, it is clear we cannot transform Iraq without more help from the Iraqi people themselves. That is why it is so important that sufficient funds are dedicated to training and equipping an Iraqi police force and helping the Iraqis establish a strong judicial system. I look forward to hearing how the State Department plans to work with the United Nations to jointly provide assistance and further these and other goals. The evolving Iraqi Government needs the support of the entire international community to gain a credible foothold. While it is important in the near term for the United States to retain control over the military forces to ensure this fledgling government can grow strong without the fear of terrorist sabotage, it is just as important for the long term that a sound structure is put in place so that the Iraqis can govern themselves and ensure their citizens' security when coalition forces leave. While it has fallen off the front pages of the daily news, Afghanistan remains a key component to peace in this region. In the most recent military operations, United States troops engaged fighters in the southern part of the country who were suspected of being Taliban. Members of this military operation are part of a campaign to combat a major Taliban regrouping effort. Again, we cannot afford to leave a void for terror--not for a lack of patience or a lack of resources. The war against terror continues in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it will require a sustained commitment of time and resources similar to our commitment in rebuilding Germany and Japan after World War II--a commitment that resulted in the hard lessons learned after World War I. This effort will be difficult and costly, but it is critical to our national security here at home. We must continue fighting the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan lest the fight return again to American soil. Two years ago, more than 3,000 innocent lives were lost in a terrible strike against America. We must vow in their honor that our spirit will continue to triumph and ensure those families that America will not shrink from those who seek to destroy our values. We will continue to be a good and great Nation, because we are a good and great people. God bless this great land of the free--America.

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

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, last year, my husband, Bob, had the privilege of introducing Members of the Senate to John Dawson, who was nominated to serve as the United States Ambassador to Peru. Ambassador Dawson assumed leadership of the Embassy in Lima in November 2002, at a time of increasing discontent with the government of President Alejandro Toledo. Undaunted, John was excited about the challenges and opportunities of the new post. But his tenure there was all too brief. Sadly, just as he was entering the prime of his life and at the pinnacle of his career, John died of cancer on August 1, 2003. Those who knew John well, knew him to be very dedicated to duty a man with a high sense of optimism and great compassion for others. He was kind and thoughtful, and generous in the giving of his time. At his Senate confirmation hearing, it was clear that John had extraordinary interpersonal skills, and the work history and experience to qualify him for his ambassadorship. But one curious professional experience that he and Bob share bears mention: At one time in their lives, both John and Bob were soda jerks at Dawson's Drug Store in Russell, KS. It was 1915 when John's great-grandfather took over the drug store. A quarter century later, John's grandfather--Ernie Dawson--gave Bob Dole one of his first jobs working behind the soda counter. Bob was a freshman in high school, and Ernie Dawson was the pharmacist at Dawson's Drug Store. John's two uncles, Bub and Chet, ran the store. Growing up in the dust bowl days of the 1930s, Bob and John's father, Bob Dawson, became fast friends. John's father, his mother Joan, and the rest of the family in Kansas instilled in John the work ethic, integrity, dedication, public spiritedness and patriotism that helped make him a success in his life and his work. Later, John was also fortunate to have the loving support of his wife, Susana. John was born in Kansas City in 1950, but spent much of his childhood in Latin America. After achieving a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Michigan in 1973, where he majored in economics and Latin American studies, John earned a Master of Arts degree in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1975. That year, John joined the State Department as a foreign service officer. During a long and distinguished career in the U.S. foreign service, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in El Salvador, Country Director for Panama, Office Director for Andean Affairs, and Economic Counselor at our U.S. Embassies in Panama and Costa Rica. Early on, he held positions as Financial Economist at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York, at the U.S. Mission to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, in Paris, and in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. John also served his country in Argentina and Brazil, and was the Director of Mexican Affairs for the State Department prior to his ambassadorship in Peru. During his years at the State Department, John received numerous awards and commendations for his work in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, and Argentina, at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. His dedication and success in his life's work was recognized with the Herbert Salzman Award for Excellence in International Economic Performance, a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, and Superior and Meritorious honor awards. Having achieved the post of Ambassador to Peru, John began his assignment with great hope and optimism. Within months, however, he became seriously ill and returned to the United States for treatment. Displaying his characteristic good humor, John looked forward to making a full recovery and spoke with family and friends of his desire to return to Peru and continue his work. Tragically, his life was cut short, but his memory lives on through his friends and family, and his many good deeds. Truly, America has lost a faithful public servant and John's family has lost a loving son, husband, father and brother. After John's death, Secretary of State Colin Powell stated, ``Ambassador Dawson was very popular with his State Department colleagues and will be remembered for both the dedication and collegiality he brought to all of the posts in which he served.'' A fitting tribute for a remarkable man. I join Bob Dole, Secretary Powell, and John's family, friends and colleagues in saluting this great American and thanking him for his service to our Nation.

Mrs. DOLE

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