Elizabeth Dole

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, our Nation mourns the loss of Bill Bright, a visionary who founded Campus Crusade for Christ more than 50 years ago. Bill died last week at his Orlando home from pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 81. In his lifetime, he spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of people across the world. I met Bill Bright long before my nephew went to work for Campus Crusade more than 10 years ago. I was in awe of both Bill and his wife, Vonette, for their unwavering commitment to communicating the love of Jesus Christ. You see, in an amazing act of faith, Bill and Vonette signed a pact with God more than five decades ago--and agreed to leave the business world and the making of money to devote their lives to spreading the Gospel. Not long after than, in 1951, they began Campus Crusade. The goal, at the time, was to preach the Gospel to students at the University of California at Los Angeles. But God had other plans. The Campus Crusade movement soon spread to other campuses in the United States and eventually around the globe. Today, it is one of the world's major ministries and serves people in 191 countries with a staff of 26,000 full-time employees and more than 225,000 trained volunteers. Indeed, I would dare say that Campus Crusade has touched the lives not only of students--but the poor and oppressed on every continent, and leadership on every level of society. Bill Bright's life reflected Christ and proclaimed him boldly. He made an eternal impact on our Nation and our world. In the 1970s, Bill came up with the popular ``I Found It!'' signs to signify that ``it'' was faith in Jesus. He later released a film, called ``Jesus,'' which was a feature length motion picture on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. That film has been seen by millions of people and translated into many languages. Throughout it all, Bill remained a humble man, simply doing the Lord's work. In 1996, he was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. That award came with a $1 million gift. Bill donated all of the money to causes promoting the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer. He was, indeed, a true servant of God--a man who lived a life that all of us can admire and strive to emulate. When I heard of his passing, I recalled something Bill said two years ago when Campus Crusade marked its 50th anniversary . . . ``A follower of Jesus Christ can't lose,'' he said. ``If we live, we go on serving. That's an adventure. If we die, we're in heaven with him, and that's incredible.'' I imagine somewhere high up in heaven, Bill Bright is having an incredible, miraculous adventure. God bless him! His words made me think of the book of Revelation on the Bible, in the 7th chapter, which reads, ``Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.'' My thoughts and prayers are with my dear friend Vonette, their two sons, and the entire Campus Crusade family.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I am delighted that my colleagues voted to confirm the nomination of Brent McKnight for one of the newly created judgeships in the Western District of North Carolina. Mr. McKnight brings a wealth of experience to this position, and his resume and experience are impeccable. More importantly, Mr. McKnight is highly respected by his peers, a testament to his character and integrity. Since 1993, he has served as a federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and he was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the Judicial Conference by Chief Justice Rehnquist in October of 2001. Brent McKnight has served as a state prosecutor and a District Court Judge for the 26th North Carolina Judicial District, and he maintains membership in the North Carolina Bar Association, the Federal Magistrate Judges Association, and many other organizations. He has had a lifelong thirst for knowledge, having been a Rhodes Scholar and perhaps, even more impressive to those of us in North Carolina, a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a prestigious award named after the well-known philanthropist and scientist, John Motley Morehead III. Currently, Mr. McKnight shares his knowledge with aspiring students as an adjunct professor at both Wingate University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It is so critical that the Senate move quickly on this and other nominations so that our courts can get much needed relief. In the Western District, where Mr. McKnight is nominated, caseloads have increased significantly. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has indicated that the three U.S. District Court judges in the Western district have the fourth-heaviest caseload per judge among the 94 federal judicial districts across the country. For instance, the number of case filed in the district grew from 1,321 in 1996 to 1,518 in the year 2001. The number of cases pending rose over the same time period from 1,209 to 1,522. This backlog in our courts must be alleviated. Approving the nomination of Brent McKnight would place a qualified and credible jurist on the bench and provide the overburdened Western District with much needed relief. Brent McKnight has my full support, and I would urge my colleagues to support his nomination.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, tobacco farmers across the Southeast have been anxiously waiting for this day--the day when they can see hope for the future. During the past 6 months, Senator McConnell, Senator Bunning, and I have been working with all of the other Senators from major tobacco States to craft legislation that will enable tobacco- dependent communities to survive. The Tobacco Market Transition Act, which we are introducing today, will mark a major change from the current tobacco program, and it will bring a major sigh of relief to countless farm families across the Southeast. For years, the Federal tobacco program created economic opportunity for farm families in North Carolina and other tobacco-producing States. It allowed towns to prosper that would have been hard pressed to make it otherwise. It provided stability when other commodities suffered low prices. It was the standard bearer of all farm programs. Buyers of tobacco would come from all over the world to purchase America's leaf. America's tobacco farmers held the world standard for quality, and they still do today. But the environment in which they find themselves is much different. And it is not of their own making. The current tobacco program was never designed to accommodate the significant changes that have engulfed this industry during the past decade. Extensive litigation has forced the companies to cut costs and thereby purchase increasing amounts of cheap foreign tobacco. The increasing cost of U.S. leaf as a result of the current tobacco program has caused more and more foreign buyers to look elsewhere for their supply. The numbers do not lie: The United States now accounts for only 7 percent of all flue-cured tobacco production in the world. We must not forget that behind every economic statistic is a human element. The tobacco farmer bears the brunt of these changing forces with nowhere to turn. Unlike the companies that can, and most often do, pass their extra costs on to the consumer, the tobacco farmer must absorb any extra cost and hope for better days ahead. During the past 6 years, the amount of tobacco allowed to be grown-- also known as quota--has been cut more than 50 percent. In fact, not since 1874 has so little been grown. Let me explain what that really means. The tobacco farmer's paycheck has been cut in half. They only get that if they can produce a good crop. The weather, disease, and insect infestation make it all the more challenging. Costs continue to rise. And making this even more unbearable is the increasing cost of leasing quota. In North Carolina, more than 60 percent of quota is leased--a major factor in the increasing cost of production. As quota has continued to decline, farmers have sought to rent more quota in order to maintain the economic viability of their operations. The quota owners, trying to maintain their income stream with less, demand a higher price for the use of their quota. It is simple supply and demand, with an aim at meeting a bottom line. But you can only go on like this for so long-- until you reach the breaking point. This is where the growers are today. Many have hung on and have continued to produce in hopes that things will get better, knowing that if they got out they would have to sell their farm and liquidate other assets to settle up their debt. Even then, many would still be short. Every week my office receives calls from farmers in desperation. They have worked hard all their lives, sent their children to college, contributed to their community, but now--now--all of that is passing before their eyes. There is a deep feeling of helplessness. It is estimated that more than 60 percent of the tobacco farmers today will exit the business entirely if a tobacco buyout is achieved. Most are at retirement age, just hanging on a little while longer in the hopes of being able to pay off their debt. Those who would like to continue to produce know their market is shrinking, not because of a lack of demand in the world for tobacco but because the price of U.S. tobacco is too high as a result of the current tobacco program. All they can do is watch as Brazil and other countries take their market share. Many say: Well, why don't they just produce another crop? The truth is, they are. North Carolina ranks third in agricultural diversification, behind only California and Florida. Our farmers are very diversified but, as other Members from farm States will attest, prices have been at historical lows for every commodity over the past 5 to 6 years--further exacerbating the problem for tobacco farmers in the Southeast. Tobacco farmers are at a crossroads but, unlike most people who reach a point of decision in their lives, these salt-of-the-Earth folks have no options because the current tobacco program does not accommodate the changes needed for them to have an opportunity to survive in this new marketplace. To them it is like standing on the tracks while watching a train speed closer and closer and yet they can't move. They strain and try but they are shackled with nowhere to go. This is why a tobacco buyout is so sorely needed. It will allow those who want to retire the opportunity to do so with dignity, the opportunity to know that all they have worked for has not been in vain. It will allow the widow whose sole source of retirement income is from quota rent and Social Security the opportunity to get a fair return in exchange for the taking of her quota. It will allow young farmers who want to continue to produce the opportunity to compete in the world market--and compete very well because of their skills. Let me bring a little more perspective to the buyout of quota. This program was created in the 1930s. Right or wrong, the Federal Government has allowed quota to be bought and sold. Rather than investing in stocks and mutual funds, as many Americans have, tobacco farmers and their spouses have invested in quota over the years to prepare for their retirement. But they never predicted this massive change in the environment for tobacco that has led to such a steep slash in quotas. And how could they? Unlike a stockholder whose shares lose value if the market tanks, the quota holder has lost not only the value from this steep decline in quotas but the quota itself--for good. Unlike the stock market where time is a prudent investor's best friend, those who have invested in quota will never get that investment back. In the legislation we are introducing today, the Federal tobacco program is eliminated. Quota owners are compensated for their investments--for the taking of their asset--just as the owners of the peanut quota were compensated with the peanut quota buyout in the 2002 farm bill. Traditional producers are provided direct payments over a 6-year period in order to allow them to better transition into this new marketing environment--again, mirroring what Congress provided for all program crops under the 2002 farm bill. There is no recreation of price supports or a new quota program. Rather, this legislation keeps tobacco production in traditional areas and on a traditional level of acreage while allowing private industry to develop insurance products so farmers will be better able to manage their price risk in the free market. Perhaps the most important point for my colleagues in the Senate: Every penny that this buyout will require is paid for in full by all manufacturers and importers that sell tobacco products in this country. Status quo is simply not an option. If nothing happens this year, many of these farmers will be forced to give up all they have. After 6 years of loaning on collateral, there is nothing left for the banks to do except foreclose. There will be no holding out for just a little while longer. This may sound like rhetoric to some but it is the precise truth for countless numbers of farm families. The lenders who call my office confirm it. Status quo is simply not an option. I thank Senator McConnell and his staff for working so diligently to address this issue. It is vitally important that this legislation is achieved this year. I am grateful, indeed, for Senator McConnell's commitment and Senator Bunning's commitment to making this a reality. I look forward to my continued work with them and all the other tobacco State Senators on this important legislation. It is either now or never. Many livelihoods hang in the balance, and with it the future of rural communities in North Carolina and other tobacco-producing States. These rural citizens, the very ones who have helped make this country great, have been caught in a battle between corporate interests, some greedy trial lawyers, and those whose true desire is to ban tobacco from the face of the Earth. Let us allow these farm families who have been trapped in this battle to move on with their lives. They deserve it. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I am pleased tonight we are confirming two of President Bush's judicial nominees from my home State of North Carolina, Allyson Duncan to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and Louise Flanagan to the Eastern District of North Carolina. Our free society is based on reasoned, dispassionate judgment of the men and women of our judicial branch of our Government who share a sense of honor and duty to our country and to our Constitution. Every indication is that these two talented and experienced individuals will provide just that. Judges interpret and apply the laws that govern our Nation, including our fundamental rights and liberties protected in the Constitution. However, on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, there is a North Carolina vacancy that is the longest on the entire Federal bench. It dates back nearly a decade to July 31, 1994. In fact, North Carolina has had no representation on the Fourth Circuit Court in nearly 4 years, though we are the largest State in the circuit. Two seats have stood empty on North Carolina's Eastern District Court for 2\1/2\ and 5\1/2\ years, respectively. I am pleased the Senate has stepped up and fulfilled its duties for these to nominees, taking steps to fill these vacancies to address the disparity for North Carolina. This vote is historic in more ways than one. Allyson Duncan is the first woman from North Carolina to serve on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is also the first African-American woman to serve on the Fourth Circuit Court. Ms. Duncan's resume is most impressive, marked with numerous positions of significant responsibility in both the public and private sectors. Currently, an attorney with the Raleigh law firm of Kilpatrick Stockton, Ms. Duncan is the president of the North Carolina Bar Association, and an active member of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys. Prior to that, she was a judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and a professor of law at North Carolina Central University.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, Louise Flanagan is the first woman to serve as a district court judge for North Carolina's Eastern District. Serving as a magistrate judge for the Eastern District since 1995, Louise Flanagan is consistently praised by her colleagues on the Eastern District Court for her integrity and her fairness in the courtroom. Whether in previous positions with the law firms of Ward and Smith in Greenville, NC, or Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal in Washington, DC, or at the Center for National Security Law, Ms. Flanagan's accomplishments are numerous on behalf of the public and the institutions she has served. I am certain she will bring judicial temperance, integrity, and character to the Federal bench. For these individuals and for so many other qualified men and women, being nominated to serve on the Federal bench by the President of the United States marks the pinnacle of a long and remarkable legal career. For those who are confirmed, it represents an opportunity to use their wisdom and legal training to uphold our Constitution and protect the rights and freedoms upon which our Nation was founded. As I campaigned for the Senate, I told the people of North Carolina that I believe each and every judicial nominee deserves a hearing and a vote by the full Senate. I believe in the capability, independence, and prudence of the Members of this institution. If a person has concerns about an issue or a nominee, then I believe he or she should make a persuasive case to the other members of this body in a forthright, open, and honest debate. This process is established in our Constitution, and it is what our representative democracy is all about. We are here today because the process is working for these two North Carolina nominees. I am confident that both of these highly qualified women will meet their duties with professionalism, impartiality, and competence, and I hope that other well-qualified candidates who have been sent forth, such as Judge Terrence Boyle, might soon join them. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, when word of Bill's passing came last Wednesday, I was with my 102-year-old mother in Salisbury, NC. Mother had met Bill on many occasions, and she shared in my great grief at losing such a cherished friend. As I expressed frustration over the unfairness of Bill's death at such an early age, mother said, ``Elizabeth, it isn't how long you live, it's how you live.'' Today we pay tribute to a remarkable individual who will always stand for me as a shining example of how a truly good life should be lived. Each of us here probably has a different word we would use to describe Bill. Words like: Kind. Thoughtful. Caring. Humble. Strong. Courageous. But perhaps the word that best captures Bill is one we hear all too infrequently these days. That word is ``gentleman.'' Gentle man. Webster's defines a gentleman as ``a courteous, gracious, and honorable man.'' I will always define a gentleman as Bill Reynolds. I first became acquainted with this gentleman when we were young lawyers in the Nation's capital and found ourselves on opposite sides of the courtroom. Bill was an assistant United States attorney, and I was taking cases for indigents--those who could not afford a lawyer. The Washington, DC criminal court of those days was straight out of a Damon Runyon novel, with colorful personalities like Racehorse Mitchell, a criminal who brought new meaning to the term ``recidivist,'' and Judge Buddy Beard, a jurist who brought new meaning to the word ``irascible.'' As I watched Bill navigate and operate in this world, it didn't take me long to appreciate his honesty, his integrity, his legal skills and the ever present smile on his face and twinkle in his eye. Bill and I became fast friends, and our experiences in the courtroom provided us with a lifetime of stories and smiles. I especially remember the night I was unexpectedly assigned by Judge Beard to my first case, a man accused of petting a lion at the zoo, a Greek immigrant who spoke no English. Mr. Marinas, after climbing into the lion's cage, was charged with the crime of violating a Federal law that says you are not to annoy or tease the animals at the National Zoo. Since he would have skipped town, I had to go to trial that very night--a trial I somehow won by arguing that without the lion there as a witness, how in the world could you know whether he was annoyed or teased? Bill's friend, Lee Freeman, the prosecuting attorney and first in my class at Harvard Law School, yelled, ``But your Honor, this man was found in the antelope cage just 3 weeks ago!'' I thought, uh-oh, take your victory and run! Bill was in the back of the courtroom providing moral support, and neither of us could drive by a zoo after that experience without a lot of laughter. Outside of work, Bill and I visited each other's hometowns, and I had the true privilege of becoming acquainted with his parents, brother, sisters and extended family--and traveling with the family on many weekend trips. How wonderful it was to see the love that Bill's family had for one another, the joy they took in each other's company, and the commitment they shared to use their resources to help those in need. As I continued my career in Washington and Bill returned to Richmond to help lead Reynolds Metals Corporation, his family business, the time we spent together decreased, but the admiration and respect I held for him only increased. I watched with pride as Bill earned a reputation as a respected and effective leader of his industry, and as a wise and most generous philanthropist. As president of the American Red Cross, I was privileged to lead an organization that boasts over a million volunteers and I can't think of a one who took more joy in volunteering--and in fundraising--than Bill. If there is anyone here today Bill didn't recruit to play in the annual Red Cross Golf Classic he founded, then you must have been hiding from him! And just 3 weeks ago, 3 weeks ago, he attended the Golf Classic Dinner. I am told he was given a hero's welcome--though he modestly tried to discourage it,--and that everyone was so proud to tell how he knew Bill, about experiences they had shared. What a testimonial to the love in that room for Bill. What a testimonial to his grit! If Bill Reynolds had an enemy, it might only be someone he had put in prison. Brother Randy tells of a deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of Florida. One of the crew on the boat said, ``Mr. Reynolds, you don't remember but you sent me to jail in DC!'' Even he felt no resentment, though Bill felt a little nervous the rest of the fishing trip! The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver--and Bill was truly that--a cheerful giver. Joe Dippell shared with me something very typical of Bill. When Joe's son, Allen, was 7 years old and the family was visiting Bill here in Richmond, young Allen wanted everything he saw--he wanted this toy, he wanted that toy. Joe kept saying ``No, Allen, no, no, no.'' Later on, as they left to go play golf, Bill said ``Joe, follow me in your car.'' And suddenly Joe noticed son Allen had jumped in with Bill. Soon they pulled up to a store--Bill and Allen went in and came out loaded with boxes. Yes, I bet you have guessed it--Bill, with his heart of gold, had bought Allen every toy he wanted. As an officer of the Missionary Emergency Fund, just recently Bill instigated efforts to refurbish the Reynolds Lodge in my home state--in Montreat, NC, a part of the religiously based Montreat Conference Center, and there are so many more examples. What guided Bill to do so much and to give so much to so many others? I believe it was love: The love Bill had for God and for his fellow man. In the Bible we learn that the greatest commandment is to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength--and secondly, to love others as oneself. 1st Corinthians, Chapter 13, ends with the words ``Now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.'' I always thought that faith would be the greatest, but I have come to realize that faith is just the means to love, because, as the Bible says, God is love and love is the only thing that lasts. I believe Bill knew this. Whether it was law or business or athletics, he excelled and succeeded in everything he put his mind to. There were many accomplishments Bill never told me about, though I got to know him soon after they occurred. The obituary in the Richmond Times Dispatch mentioned all-State honors in three sports as a high school athlete; captain of the University of Pennsylvania tennis and squash teams; student body president at the University of Pennsylvania; student body president at UVA Law School; recipient of the Red Cross Philos Award--Philanthropist of the Year. Yes, I saw the extent of Bill's humility and modesty only after his death. But he knew that it is not the honors or the prestige or the accomplishments that really matter. Those don't go with us into eternity; rather, it is the acts of love, kindness, caring, compassion--because God is love, those go with us. There is a little book I often carry in my briefcase by Henry Drummond, who lived in the 1800's, in Scotland. It is called ``The Greatest Thing in the World''--Love. In it, Drummond writes that ``just as you have seen a man of science take a beam of light and pass it through a crystal prism, as you have seen it come out the other side of the prism broken up into its component colors red, blue, yellow, violet, orange, and all the colors of the rainbow,'' so, too, in First Corinthians does the Apostle Paul pass love through a prism, and it comes out the other side broken up into nine ingredients. As we celebrate Bill's life, think about these components listed in 1st Corinthians: Patience. Kindness. Generosity. Humility. Courtesy. Unselfishness. Good temper. Guilelessness. Sincerity. Those, the Bible tells us, are the nine ingredients of love. And I know we can all agree--those are characteristics Bill Reynolds exhibited each and every day of his life. Just as Bill provided us with an example of how to live, he also provided us an example of how to die. Throughout his battle with cancer, there were no complaints, no bitterness, no pity parties. Typically, Bill was more concerned about others, and when the course of his illness became clear, Randy tells me Bill apologized to his sister, Louise, that he would not be there to help her on projects and missions they shared. I especially recall a visit with Bill in Richmond last November, soon after my election to the Senate. Instead of discussing his battle, Bill wanted to talk politics--he loved politics--and he peppered me with questions about my campaign, providing me with his keen insight into the issues of the day. It was a time I will always remember, and the meal we shared just a few months ago in Washington, where he attended the Fentriss wedding. How his family and friends will miss his wisdom, his smile, and the warmth of his friendship. How this community will miss his leadership. How all of us are better off for having known this good and faithful gentleman. The Greek poet Sophocles wrote, ``One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.'' Although the evening of Bill's life came much too soon, it is my hope that we who loved him will take solace in the fact that in his final days, Bill could look back at a life filled with accomplishment, a life filled with family and friends, a life filled with love, and know without a doubt that the day had indeed been splendid.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the passing of a dear friend and a leader in this Chamber, Strom Thurmond. Strom retired this year at the age of 100--after more than a half century of serving the people of South Carolina and our Nation as U.S. Senator, as Governor of South Carolina, and as a State legislator. Remarkably, his career in the Senate spanned the administrations of 10 presidents--from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush. His passing certainly will be felt by so many Members of this Chamber who had grown accustomed to the courtly gentleman from South Carolina. But his life leaves a lesson for us all--in compassion, civility, dedication, hard work, and respect. Before he was elected to the Senate in 1954 as the only write-in candidate in history to win a seat in Congress, Strom Thurmond was elected county school superintendent, State senator, and circuit judge until he resigned to enlist in the Army in World War II. He landed in Normandy as part of the 82d Airborne Division assault on D-day, and the story goes, flew into France in a glider, crash-landed in an apple orchard. He went on to help liberate Paris, and he received a Purple Heart, five battle stars, and numerous other awards for his World War II service. My husband, Bob, and I were honored to have known Strom Thurmond for so many years and to count him among our friends. He and Bob shared a great deal of common history dating from their World War II days, and his Southern gallantry always had a way of making this North Carolinian feel right at home. I first worked with Strom Thurmond when I served as Deputy Special Assistant to the President at the White House. Even then, he was an impressive Senator. President Reagan praised his ``expert handling,'' as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. In fact, it was Strom Thurmond's skill as chairman that helped to shepherd through the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor as the Nation's first female on the United States Supreme Court. I always admired Strom Thurmond for his constant dedication to the people of South Carolina and the industries of that State. Bob Dole has joked that ``Someone once asked if Strom had been around since the Ten Commandments.'' Bob said that couldn't have been true--if Strom Thurmond had been around, the 11th Commandment would have been ``Thou shall support the textile industry.'' That industry still needs a lot of help. In fact, when President Reagan called Strom to wish him a Happy 79th birthday back in 1981, Strom Thurmond, with his constant attention to South Carolina interests, used the opportunity to talk to the President about the textile industry. Indeed, South Carolina is full of stories of how the senior senator from South Carolina managed to cut through red tape to make sure that his residents got the things they needed. And whenever South Carolinians called--or anyone else for that matter--Strom Thurmond could always be counted on to show up: at a Fourth of July parade, a county festival, or a State fair, armed with his trademark Strom Thurmond key chains. And North Carolinians developed a fondness for Strom Thurmond. He often flew into Charlotte before driving to his Edgefield, SC home. And he became so familiar in the airport that many of the workers there knew him--and he knew them, often stopping to share a kind word or a funny story. And I was so honored that just before he went home for good, he came in his wheelchair, with Nancy's help, to visit me in my basement office and welcome me to the Senate. Bob and I sent our heartfelt condolences to Strom's family: our dear friend Nancy and the children, and daughter, Julie, who worked with me at the Red Cross. He was a loving husband, proud father, and a new grandfather. And, of course, he loved the people of South Carolina--for whom he worked tirelessly throughout his career in public service, and to whom he chose to return when his work was done in the Senate. Today, as I remember him, his life, and his legacy, I think of the Bible in the 25th Chapter of Matthew, when the Lord said, ``Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . . Enter thou into the joy of the Lord.'' May God bless him and his family.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, today the Senate must make a decision that will affect the entire state of our health care system. 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 that our doctors are trained in ground-breaking procedures. Indeed, our Nation has accomplished much in the area of health care. But today the future of our world-renowned health care system sits in the balance as this Senate mulls two very important choices. Will we succumb to some trial lawyers who have nearly crippled the system by filing hundreds of frivolous lawsuits each year? Or will we do the right thing and place limits on these lawsuits and the big-money fees lawyers earn off of them, so that our doctors can have the peace of mind they need to do the job they love? I challenge my colleagues to do the latter. America is in the midst of a crisis. Those who need health care, the most vulnerable and sickest among us, are the real victims. We have all heard their stories. Too many of our patients can't get doctors, can't get specialists, can't get health care. In North Carolina, rural residents have been among the hardest hit. Patients tell stories of driving miles just to find a doctor to treat an illness. There have been reports of women driving for miles and miles just to find someone to deliver their baby. This is beyond unacceptable. No one in this country should have to struggle like this for health care. The America I know is better than that. I have heard from doctors in my State. And this crisis is having a detrimental effect on our medical providers. Too many of them can't afford rising malpractice insurance rates. They have had to curb their medical practices, stop taking some patients, move to another State and perhaps the most painful, leave the profession altogether. Dr. Jack Schmitt says his insurance premiums went from $18,000 to $45,000 a year. He eventually decided to leave his practice and teach at the University of Virginia Medical School. Doctors who decide to remain 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. This cannot continue. North Carolina is included on a list of 18 States that the American Medical Association says is suffering from a medical liability crisis. According to the AMA, some North Carolina hospitals have seen their liability insurance premiums rise three- and five-fold in the last few years. Specialists--like our obstetricians, emergency doctors, and anesthesiologists--are seeing even higher increases. Consider this: Novant Health, the corporate parent of Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, saw its malpractice insurance increase by 114 percent between the years 2000 and 2003. They are now paying $4.5 million in malpractice insurance. In Catawba County, doctors participating under the Network of Primary Care practices have been told that because of rising premiums, charity care will no longer be purchased for them under their policy. This means if doctors want to volunteer their medical services at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or some other charity, they are going to have to first buy separate, costly insurance coverage themselves. Even our Level III trauma center in Cabarrus County is in danger of closing after premiums increased 88 percent. The list, the stories, and the pain are endless. The legislation before us is a solution that we know works. It is modeled after California's MICRA law which has been in place since 1975 and has kept insurance premiums down in that State. This legislation does not cap damages. 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 and so would attorneys' fees. 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 what is in the bill. This really is one of those issues where the Senate cannot sit idly by. The House has passed a bill. It is time for the Senate to do the same. We have a choice. We can vote with some 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 the bill for our patients who need it most.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, last evening we received the news of the passing of a dear friend and leader in this Chamber, Strom Thurmond. Strom Thurmond retired this year at the age of 100 after more than half a century serving the people of South Carolina and our Nation as a Senator, as Governor of South Carolina, and as a State legislator. Remarkably, his career in the Senate spanned the administrations of 10 Presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush. His passing last night certainly will be felt by so many Members of this Chamber who had grown accustomed to the courtly gentleman from South Carolina. But his life leaves a lesson for us all in compassion, respect, civility, dedication, and hard work. Before he was elected to the Senate in 1954, as the only write-in candidate in history to win a seat in Congress, Strom Thurmond was elected county school superintendent, State Senator, and circuit judge. He resigned his judgeship to enlist in the Army in World War II. He landed in Normandy as part of the 82nd Airborne assault on D-Day and, the story goes, flew into France on a glider, crash-landing in an apple orchard. He went on to help liberate Paris, and he received a Purple Heart, five Battle Stars, and numerous other awards for his World War II service. My husband Bob and I were honored to have known Strom Thurmond for so many years and to count him among our very special friends. He and Bob shared a great deal of common history, dating from their World War II days. And his southern gallantry always had a way of making this North Carolinian feel right at home. I first worked with Strom Thurmond when I served as Deputy Special Assistant to the President at the White House. Even then he was an impressive Senator. President Reagan praised his expert handling as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee of nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. In fact, it was Strom Thurmond's skill as chairman that helped to shepherd through the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor as the Nation's first female on the U.S. Supreme Court. I had always admired Strom Thurmond for his constant dedication to the people of South Carolina and to the industries of that State. Bob Dole has joked that someone once asked if Strom had been around since the Ten Commandments. Bob said that couldn't have been true; If Strom Thurmond had been around, the 11th commandment would have been: Thou shalt support the textile industry. And that industry still needs a lot of help. In fact, when President Reagan called Strom to wish him a happy 79th birthday back in 1981, Strom Thurmond, with his constant attention to South Carolina interests, used the opportunity to talk to the President about the textile industry. Indeed, South Carolina is full of stories of how the senior Senator from South Carolina managed to cut through redtape to make sure that his residents got the things they needed. And whenever South Carolinians called, or anyone else for that matter, Strom Thurmond could always be counted on to show up--at a Fourth of July parade, a county festival, or a State fair, armed with his trademark Strom Thurmond key chains. North Carolinians developed a fondness for Strom Thurmond. He often flew in to Charlotte before driving to his Edgeville, SC, home. He became so familiar in the airport that many of the workers there knew him, and he knew them all for stopping to share a kind word or a funny story. I was so honored that just before Strom went home for good to South Carolina, he came in his wheelchair, with Nancy's help, to my little basement office to welcome me to the Senate. Bob and I send our heartfelt condolences to Strom's family, our dear friend, Nancy, and the children, including daughter Julie, who worked with me at the American Red Cross. He was a loving husband, a proud father, and new grandfather, and, of course, the people of South Carolina, for whom he worked tirelessly throughout his career in public service and to whom he chose to return when his work was done in the Senate. Today as I remember him, his life, and his legacy, I think of the Bible in the 25th chapter of Matthew when the Lord said: Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. May God bless him and his family. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I am honored today to talk about a pioneer for North Carolina in the field of journalism . . . the late David Brinkley. David died on June 12, at the age of 82, from complications resulting from a fall. He was laid to rest in his beloved home, Wilmington, North Carolina . . . beside his father--William Graham Brinkley and mother--Mary MacDonald West Brinkley. David was born in Wilmington . . . He attended high school at New Hanover High School. While there . . . and after several long hours pouring over books in the Wilmington Library . . . David got an itch for journalism. He didn't wait. He took a part-time job while still in high school, working for the Wilmington Morning Star and its afternoon edition, the Wilmington News. He said he made about $11 a week. But the young boy, who once made extra money by changing light bulbs and running a soft-drink stand at Wrightsville Beach's Lumina Pavillion, went on to become an icon for millions of viewers who watched him each night. He and co-anchor Chet Huntley had the highest rated news program on American television during the 1960's with ``The Huntley-Brinkley Report.'' Many of us still remember their familiar sign-off of ``Good night, Chet,'' ``Good night, David.'' David went on to host ``This Week With David Brinkley,'' until he retired in 1996. Mr. President, at a time when we often get news that is too short, too sensationalized and sometimes too slanted, David Brinkley was the consummate newsman. He knew the issues, and his intelligence, quick wit and thirst for answers kept us all glued to the television. I had the pleasure of personally knowing David Brinkley, and in addition to sharing a distinctive Southern twang, we shared a fondness for our home state. David wrote about Wilmington in his 1995 memoirs and even with all this success, all his fame, David and his wife, Susan, returned to his home in North Carolina often and supported his hometown. He was an ardent supporter of downtown Wilmington preservation. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington presented him with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1974. He was added to Wilmington's Walk of Fame in 2001. As much as David loved North Carolina--North Carolina loved him, too. His life has been a model for so many North Carolinians--the local boy doing good . . . remembering his roots. We will forever be indebted to David Brinkley for solid Washington reporting and his wry sense of humor. The Senate passed a resolution, which I co-sponsored, honoring the life and accomplishments of David Brinkley. May his legacy live on and inspire those who follow in his footsteps. In an interview 11 years ago, David said this of his profession, ``People go and find out what is happening, and then tell what they have seen. That's all a reporter ever did. I think it's a very honorable thing to do.'' Indeed, it is, David, indeed, it is. Mr. President, I send out my heartfelt condolences--and those of all North Carolinians--to Susan and to David Brinkley's family.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 19, 2003, at 10:00 A.M. to conduct a hearing on ``The Growing Problem of Identity Theft and Its Relationship to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.''

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, June 19, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. in Hart Room 216. I. Nominations: William H. Pryor, Jr., to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit; Diane M. Stuart to be Director, Violence Against Women Office, United States Department of Justice. II. Bills: S. 724, A bill to amend Title 18, United States Code, to exempt certain rocket propellants from prohibitions under that title on explosive materials. [Enzi, Craig, Durbin, Sessions]; S. 1125, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2003 (``The FAIR Act'') [Hatch, DeWine, Chambliss]; S. 1233, A bill to authorize assistance for the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center [Mikulski, Hatch, Edwards]; S.J. Res. 1, A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect the rights of crime victims [Kyl, Chambliss, Cornyn, Craig, DeWine, Feinstein, Graham, Grassley].

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing on intelligence matters.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, June 19, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., on pending Committee business. S. 1264. The Federal Communications Commission Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Bill Bailey/Lee Carosi/James Assey). S. 865. Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (Bill Bailey/James Assey). S. 1234. The Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Ken Nahigian/David Strickland/Cathy McCullough). S. 1046. Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 (Lee Carosi/James Assey/ Rachel Welch). S. 1261. The Consumer Product Safety Commission Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Ken Nahigian/David Strickland/Cathy McCullough). S. 1244. The Federal Maritime Commission Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Rob Freeman/Mary Phillips/Carl Bentzel). S. 1262. The Maritime Administration Authorization Act of 2003 (Rob Freeman/Mary Phillips/Carl Bentzel). S. 247. Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2003 (Drew Minkiewicz/Margaret Spring). S. 1106. Fishing Quota Act of 2003 (Drew Minkiewicz/Margaret Spring). S. 861. Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act (Drew Minkiewicz/ Margaret Spring). S. 1152. United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Ken LaSala/Jean Toal Eisen). S. 1260. The Commercial Space Transportation Act of 2003 (Floyd DesChamps/Jean Toal Eisen/John Cullen). S. 189. 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Ken LaSala/Jean Toal Eisen/Chan Lieu). S. 877. Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act of 2003 (Paul Martino/David Strickland). Nomination of Annette Sandberg (PN 440), of Washington, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, (Rob Freeman, May Phillips, Virginia Pounds/Debbie Hersman/Vanessa Jones). Nominations for Promotion in the United States Coast Guard (PNs 689, 671, 672) (Virginia Pounds/Army Fraenkel/Vanessa Jones).

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Government Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, June 19, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. for a hearing entitled ``Self-Dealing and Breach of Duty: An Initial Review of the ULLICO Matter.''

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet for a hearing on ``Teachers Union Scandals: Closing the Gaps in Union Member Protections'' during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 10:15 a.m. in SD-430.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise in favor of a Medicare prescription drug benefit. We live in different times now. Thirty-eight years ago when the Medicare Program was created, most people were treated in hospitals. Many illnesses were untreatable, and the average lifespan was shorter than it is today. But we have made great strides since then. Today people are living longer, better, and healthier lives. My own mother turned 102 years old last month--something perhaps she never even imagined. But new medical technologies and advanced drugs have made it possible for many of our elderly to live productive lives for many years. Unfortunately, the high cost of these life-sustaining medications is preventing many of our seniors from reaping the benefits of these advancements. The elderly in my State of North Carolina have been hit particularly hard. The State's Division of Aging estimates that one-half of North Carolina's residents aged 65 and older have no prescription drug coverage. As I traveled our 100 counties, I have heard their stories. They are cutting their pills in half to make them last longer--a dangerous practice that can lead to unanticipated drug reactions. They are sacrificing groceries so they have money to buy the drugs they need. Even worse, far too many of them are simply going without needed drugs. Many of North Carolina's seniors have even been forced to go back into the workplace from retirement--often with an ailing condition-- just to earn some income because of prescription drugs. I talked last night to a woman in Clayton, NC named Kathy Roberts. She retired after 13 years of working at Wal-Mart with dreams of spending time with her grandchildren, but a heart condition ran up medical costs. Kathy had soon lost $29,000 in savings. She recently returned to her job at Wal-Mart for the extra money. But because she is only working part time in order to keep her $700 a month Social Security check, she is ineligible for the health insurance benefits Wal-Mart gives to its full-time employees. Her prescription drugs cost $170 each month. In Mecklenburg County, officials recently completed a report on the status of seniors there. The study found that 45 percent of older adults said the high cost of prescription drugs made them decide not to take a medicine as frequently as prescribed. Forty percent had not purchased a prescription because of costs, and more than 15 percent said they put off paying for food, rent, or utilities to buy medicine. This is simply not right. Our elderly deserve better treatment. This Government made a promise to our seniors when the Medicare program was created, and we should keep our promise. This year we have our best chance yet to get a prescription drug benefit signed into law. It is an opportunity that should not be allowed to slip away. I have been reviewing the prescription drug plan passed by the Finance Committee as well as proposals put forth by other Senators. The Finance Committee legislation commits $400 billion over the next 10 years for a benefit. It is a voluntary program, something I have long advocated. But I have concerns. While the legislation adds a drug benefit to Medicare, it does not make sufficient changes to strengthen and improve an outdated program. None of us want to add a benefit that is simply going to send Medicare's bills through the roof as soon as the baby boomers retire. Just 3 months ago, Government trustees reported Medicare was 4 years closer to insolvency than expected. It is projected to start paying out more money than it brings in in the year 2013. With Medicare so close to the brink of insolvency, shouldn't we look more closely at ways to improve this aging program? This bill provides a prescription drug initiative--an enormous change. But in terms of improving and strengthening Medicare, it simply does not go far enough. For instance, the bill does not do enough to eliminate the mountains of paperwork and red tape that discourage doctors from participating in Medicare--100,000 pages of regulations, according to the Mayo Clinic. Where is the regulatory reform Medicare so desperately needs? There is also a need to provide for more disclosure among our pharmacy benefit managers and plans. The Senate should consider amendments such as that offered by Senators Enzi and Reed which promote greater transparency and require plans to disclose how much of the rebates from drug manufacturers are being passed on to consumers. We must seek to provide a prescription drug benefit that maintains fiscal responsibility, too. There are also concerns that this drug benefit will cause private insurers to drop coverage. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 37 percent of employers would be inclined to terminate prescription drug coverage for retirees. This would shift those retirees into the Government-sponsored system and further drive up costs of the program. Our Nation cannot afford that. The budget is already being stretched because of national security concerns. The Senate must ensure this program stays within the cap of $400 billion over 10 years we agreed to in the budget resolution. I intend to spend the next several days listening to the debate and further examining proposals. I hope we can find ways to address these issues so we can pass a benefit for our seniors this year without creating a system that will balloon into a tremendous burden for future generations. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. I want to explain why I was necessarily absent from the June 13 vote on the confirmation of R. Hewitt Pate to be an Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust. At the time the vote took place, I was speaking to the Flue Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corporation, a group of more than 500 North Carolina tobacco farmers, in Raleigh, NC. My attendance at the event was important in order to listen to the major concerns of our State's tobacco farmers, as well as to address one of North Carolina's top priorities, a tobacco quota buyout, which is critical to the livelihood of all tobacco farmers and the economic security of our State. Had I been present, I would have voted for Mr. Pate.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise in favor of the Graham amendment to S. 14, the omnibus Energy bill. My State like so many others, is going through a painful economic transition. We have lost tens of thousands of jobs in textiles and the furniture industry, family farms are going out of business, and many of these traditional manufacturing jobs have been in rural areas, where there are fewer jobs and residents are already struggling to make ends meet. In 1999, North Carolina had the 12th lowest unemployment rate in the United States. By December 2001, the State had fallen to 46th--from 12th to 46th. That same year, according to the Rural Center, North Carolina companies announced 63,222 layoffs. Our State lost more manufacturing jobs between 1997 and the year 2000 than any State except New York. Entire communities have been uprooted by this crisis. According to the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, the jobless rate rose from 6 percent in March to 6.4 percent just one month later. So you can see, Mr. President, North Carolina is hurting. But one area that remains strong is tourism--one of the State's largest industries. Each year, travelers venture into our State to enjoy the mountains of Asheville, the Southern-city charm of Charlotte, the beaches of the Outer Banks, and many other State treasures. Last year, there were 44.4 million visitors to North Carolina, ranking it the sixth most popular destination behind California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York. In fact, last year domestic travelers spend nearly $12 billion across the State, generating $2.2 billion in tax receipts. The industry remains strong, despite the war, and the Nation's economic concerns. In fact, while the tourism volume nationwide increased by less than 1 percent last year, North Carolina saw a 3 percent increase in visitors. Put simply, tourism plays a vital role in North Carolina's economy, but offshore drilling could drastically impact these numbers. Communities along the Outer Banks have spoken out time and again against offshore drilling because of the impact it cold have on the economy and the environment--and I agree with them. I thank my good friend, Chairman Domenici, for his hard work and dedication to produce a comprehensive energy bill, one that will help our country end its dependency on foreign oil. While I fully support Senator Domenici's efforts, I must disagree with regard to section 105. Section 105 in the Senate bill has been presented as a study of the oil and gas reserves in the Outer Continental Shelf, but the effect of this section would be to open up scientific exploration. The final bill that passed the House of Representatives, as we have heard, rejects language that would open up scientific exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf. The waters off the coasts of North Carolina have been placed off limits to further leasing under the current moratoria. President Bush extended the moratorium and Secretary Norton has been very clear about the administration's intention to uphold it. Congress and the Administration in the past have agreed with States in the moratoria areas that drilling would pose too many risks to their economies and shores. Why then, in these tough economic times, should States such as North Carolina be asked to bear the risk of exploration for resources that are under moratoria and not even accessible for development? Section 105 hints to a backsliding from that protection by allowing intrusive activities into moratoria areas, through a study that is not needed. The Minerals Management Service already compiles estimates of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas resources every 5 years. In fact, the last one was completed in the year 2000, and includes estimates of undiscovered conventionally and economically recoverable oil and natural gas. We already know, for instance, that 80 percent of the Nation's undiscovered, economically recoverable Outer Continental Shelf gas is located in the Central and Western part of the Gulf of Mexico, which is currently not subject to the moratorium. So it would appear that section 105 of this energy bill is duplicative and unnecessary. In fact, the only logical explanation for new data under section 105 would be for future exploration activity like drilling, which is inconsistent with the current moratorium. We have a national crisis. Now, more than ever, we must work to end our dependence on foreign oil sources. It is vital that this Nation boost its domestic oil production, but we cannot do so by ignoring the wishes of coastal communities in North Carolina and other States that oppose drilling. Our local people, not the Federal Government, should decide what is best for their areas. The Federal Government should not take action that will further hurt our already struggling State economies. That is why I urge support for the Graham amendment, which would continue to protect those areas under moratorium. We owe it to our States. We owe it to our local communities. I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, on Saturday, May 31, I had the honor of being present at the renaming of the Battle Creek, MI Federal Center for three American heroes, the late Senator Phil Hart, my husband Bob Dole, and my Senate colleague Dan Inouye. This recognition would not have happened without the efforts of my friend and colleague, Carl Levin. At the dedication Senator Levin spoke eloquently and his message about honor, duty, country captured the attention and respect of all those present at this important event. I thank him again and ask unanimous consent that his remarks be included in the Record.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I first thank the majority whip, Senator McConnell, and the Democrat whip, Senator Reid, for their very kind comments this morning. Then I thank you, Mr. President, and other members of the leadership, for your unwavering support of this freshman class. I also recognize Senator Frist for the traditional courtesies of a maiden speech to be extended to the new Senator and express my appreciation for his commitment to the rich history of this great tradition. Tradition is held that, by waiting a respectful length of time, senior colleagues would appreciate the humility shown by a new Member of the Senate who would use the occasion to address an issue of concern. I come in that sense today to share my thoughts on a matter that weighs heavily on my mind. Hunger is the silent enemy lurking within too many American homes. It is a tragedy I have seen firsthand and far too many times throughout my life in public service. This is not a new issue. In 1969, while I was serving as Deputy Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs, I was privileged to assist in planning the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health. In opening the conference, President Nixon said: Malnutrition is a national concern because we are a nation that cares about its people, how they feel, how they live. We care whether they are well and whether they are happy. This still rings true today. On National Hunger Awareness Day, I want to highlight what has become a serious problem for too many families, particularly in North Carolina. My home State is going through a painful economic transition. Once thriving textile mills have been shuttered. Family farms are going out of business. Tens of thousands of workers have been laid off from their jobs. Entire areas of textile and furniture manufacturing are slowly phasing out as high-tech manufacturing and service companies become the dominant industry of the State. Many of these traditional manufacturing jobs have been in rural areas where there are fewer jobs and residents who are already struggling to make ends meet. In 1999, North Carolina had the 12th lowest unemployment rate in the United States. By December 2001, the State had fallen to 46--from 12 to 46. That same year, according to the Rural Center, North Carolina companies announced 63,222 layoffs. Our State lost more manufacturing jobs between 1997 and the year 2000 than any State except New York. Entire communities have been uprooted by this crisis. In the town of Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, 30 percent--30 percent--of the town's residents lost their jobs in the year 2001. Ninety percent of those layoffs were in textile and furniture manufacturing. These are real numbers and real lives from a State that is hurting. Our families are struggling to find jobs, to pay their bills, and, as we hear more and more often, to even put food on the table. In fact, the unemployment trend that started in 1999 resulted in 11.1 percent of North Carolina families not always having enough food to meet their basic needs. That is according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And North Carolina's rate is higher than the national average. This means that among North Carolina's 8.2 million residents, nearly 900,000 are dealing with hunger. Some are hungry, others are on the verge. My office was blessed recently to meet a young veteran, Michael Williams, and his family. Michael served his country for 8 years in the U.S. Army before leaving to work in private industry and use the computer skills he had gained while serving in the military. He was earning a good living, but after September 11 and the terrorist attacks, he and his wife Gloria felt it was time to move their two children closer to family back home in North Carolina. As he said, ``It was time to bring the grandbabies home.'' But Michael has found a shortage of jobs since his return. He worked with a temp agency but that job ended. It has been so hard to make ends meet that the family goes to a food bank near their Clayton, NC, home twice a month because with rent, utilities, and other bills, there is little left to buy food. Their story is not unlike so many others. Hard-working families are worrying each day about how to feed their children. As if this were not enough, our food banks are having a hard time finding food to feed these families. In some instances, financial donations have dropped off or corporations have scaled back on food donations. In other cases, there are just too many people and not enough food. At the Food Bank of the Albemarle in northeast North Carolina, executive director Gus Smith says more people are visiting this food bank even as donations are off by 25 percent. Thus Gus says, ``We just can't help everybody at this point in time.'' To try to cope, they recently moved to a 4-day workweek, meaning the entire staff had to take a 20-percent pay cut just to keep the doors open. America's Second Harvest, a network of 216 food banks across the country, reports it saw the number of people seeking emergency hunger relief rise by 9 percent in the year 2001 to 23.3 million people. In any given week, it is estimated that 7 million people are served at emergency feeding sites around the country. These numbers are troubling indeed. No family--in North Carolina or anywhere in America--should have to worry about where they will find food to eat. No parent should have to tell their child there is no money left for groceries. This is simply unacceptable. I spent most of the congressional Easter recess going to different sites in North Carolina: homeless and hunger shelters, food distribution sites, soup kitchens, farms, even an office where I went through the process of applying for Government assistance through the WIC Program, the Women, Infants, and Children Program. I was also able to meet, on several occasions, with a group known as the Society of Saint Andrew. This organization, like some others across the country, is doing impressive work in the area of gleaning. That is when excess crops, that would otherwise be thrown out, are taken from farms, packing houses, and warehouses, and distributed to the needy. Gleaning immediately brings to my mind the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. She gleaned in the fields so that her family could eat. You see, Mr. President, in Biblical times farmers were encouraged to leave crops in their fields for the poor and the travelers. Even as far back as in Leviticus, Chapter 19, in the Old Testament, we read the words: And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shall leave them for the poor and the stranger. So gleaning was long a custom in Biblical days, a command by God to help those in need. It is a practice we should utilize much more extensively today. It is astounding that the most recent figures available indicate that approximately 96 billion pounds of good, nutritious food, including that at the farm and retail levels, is left over or thrown away in this country. It is estimated that only 6 percent of crops are actually gleaned in North Carolina. A tomato farmer in North Carolina sends 20,000 pounds of tomatoes to landfills each day during harvest season. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to present an example of produce on the Senate floor.

Mrs. DOLE. Sometimes the produce cannot be sold. Sometimes it is underweight or not a perfect shape, like this sweet potato I show you in my hand. This would be rejected because it is not the exact specification. Other times it is simply surplus food, more than the grocery stores can handle, but it is still perfectly good to eat. Imagine the expense to that farmer in dumping 20,000 pounds of tomatoes each day during his harvest season. And this cannot be good for the environment. In fact, food is the single largest component of our solid waste stream--more than yard trimmings or even newspapers. Some of it does decompose, but it often takes several years. Other food just sits in landfills, literally mummified. Putting this food to good use, through gleaning, will reduce the amount of waste going to our already overburdened landfills. I am so appreciative of my friends at the Environmental Defense Fund for working closely with me on this issue. Gleaning also helps the farmer because he does not have to haul off and plow under crops that do not meet exact specifications of grocery chains, and it certainly helps the hungry, by giving them not just any food but food that is both nutritious and fresh. The Society of Saint 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 year 2001, the organization gleaned 9.7 million pounds--almost 10 million pounds--or 29.1 million servings of food. It only costs a penny--1 penny--a serving to glean and deliver this food to those in need. Even more amazing, the Society of Saint Andrew does all this with a tiny staff and an amazing 9,200 volunteers. These are the types of innovative ideas we should be exploring. I have been told by the Society of Saint Andrew that $100,000 would provide at least 10 million servings of food for hungry North Carolinians. I set out to raise that money for the Society in the last few weeks, and thanks to the compassion of a number of caring individuals, companies, and organizations, we were able to surpass our goal and raise $180,000--enough for over 18 million servings of food. More than ever, I believe this is a worthy effort that can be used as a model nationwide. I am passionate about leading an effort to increase gleaning in North Carolina and across America. The gleaning system works because of the cooperative efforts of so many groups, from the Society of Saint Andrew and its volunteers who gather and deliver the food, to the dozens of churches and humanitarian organizations that help distribute this food to the hungry. Indeed, gleaning is, at its best, a public-private partnership. Private organizations are doing a great job with limited resources. But we must make some changes on the public side to help them leverage their scarce dollars to feed the hungry. I have heard repeatedly that the single biggest concern for gleaners is transportation. The food is there. The issue is how to transport it in larger volume. I want to change the Tax Code to give transportation companies that volunteer trucks for gleaned food a tax incentive. And there are other needed tax changes. Currently, only large publicly traded corporations can take tax credits for giving food to these gleaning programs. But it is not just large corporations that provide this food; it is the family farmers and the small businesses. Why should a farmer who gives up his perfectly good produce or the small restaurant owner who gives food to the hungry not receive the same tax benefits? The Senate has already passed legislation as part of the CARE Act that would fix this inequity. Now the House of Representatives needs to complete work on this bill. However, but the answer to the hunger problem does not stop with gleaning. That is just part of the overall effort. There are other ways we can help, too. This year, we will be renewing the National School Lunch Program and other important child nutrition programs, and there are some areas I am interested in reviewing. Under School Lunch, 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 can be charged no more than 40 cents. This may seem to be a nominal amount, but for a struggling family with several children the costs add up. School administrators in North Carolina tell me that they hear from parents in tears because they don't know how to pay for their child's school meals. The Federal Government now considers incomes up to 185 percent of poverty when deciding if a family is eligible for benefits under the WIC program. Should we not use the same standard for School Lunch? Standardizing the guidelines would even allow us to immediately certify children from WIC families for the School Lunch Program. It is time to clarify this bureaucratic situation and harmonize our Federal income assistance guidelines so we can help those most in need. The School Lunch Program is the final component of our commitment to child nutrition, and we must do everything to maintain and strengthen its integrity so that it works for those who need it and isn't viewed as a Government giveaway. There are a lot of interesting ideas being discussed such as adjusting area eligibility guidelines in the Summer Food Program. But these need to be looked at carefully, and we need to ask important questions such as how many people would be affected and what is the cost. I have discussed many of these ideas with groups such as America's Second Harvest, Bread for the World, the Food Research and Action Center, and the American School Food Service Association. I look forward to the opportunity of exploring them further during reauthorization of these important programs in the Agriculture Committee, on which I am honored to serve. Our work cannot stop within our own borders. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says hunger affects millions worldwide. During my 8 years as president of the American Red Cross, I visited Somalia during the heart-wrenching famine. In Mojada, I came across a little boy under a sack. I thought he was dead. His brother pulled back that sack and sat him up and he was severely malnourished. He couldn't eat the rice and beans in the bowl beside him; he was too malnourished. I asked for camel's milk to feed him. As I put my arm around his back and lifted that cup to his mouth, it was almost as if little bones were piercing through his flesh. I will never forget that. That is when the horror of starvation becomes real, when you can touch it. There are many things that will haunt me the rest of my life. When I visited Goma, Zaire, which is now Congo, this was a place where millions of Rwandans had fled the bloodshed in their own country but they stopped at the worst possible place, on volcanic rock. You couldn't drill for latrines so cholera and dysentery were rampant. You couldn't dig for graves, so I was literally stepping over dead bodies as I tried to help those refugees. Those bodies were carried to the roadside twice a day. They were hauled off to mass graves. Former Senators Bob Dole and George McGovern are the architects of the Global Food Program, which has a goal of ensuring that 300 million schoolchildren overseas get at least one nutritious meal a day. The Department of Agriculture estimates that 120 million schoolage children around the world are not enrolled in school in part because of hunger or malnutrition. The majority of these children are girls. The Global Food for Education Program is now operating in 38 countries and feeding 9 million schoolchildren. I want to see this program expanded. I plan to work on Appropriations to advance that goal. Just helping a child get a good meal can make such a difference in developing countries. Feeding children entices them to come to school which allows them to learn, to have some hope, some future. And improved literacy certainly helps the productivity, thereby boosting the economy. This problem deserves national discussion. Hunger affects so many aspects of our society. In the spirit of that landmark conference held by the White House in 1969, I am asking President Bush to convene a second White House conference so that the best and brightest minds can review these problems together. I am honored to work with leaders of the battle to eradicate hunger: Former Congressman Tony Hall, now the United States Ambassador to the U.N. food and agricultural programs, and former Congresswoman Eva Clayton from my own State of North Carolina, now an assistant director general for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. Both were champions on hunger while in Congress. And there are many others. Former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, a leader on gleaning; Catherine Bertini, Under Secretary General of the United Nations who was praised for her leadership to get food aid to those in need throughout the world; Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, cochair of the Congressional Hunger Center who carries on the legacy of her late husband Bill who was a dear friend and leader on this issue. Here in this body, my chairman on the Agriculture Committee, Thad Cochran, and ranking member Tom Harkin, Dick Lugar, Patrick Leahy, Pat Roberts, and Gordon Smith are leaders in addressing hunger issues. Partisan politics has no role in this fight. Hunger does not differentiate between Democrats and Republicans. Just as it stretches across so many ethnicities, so many areas, so must we. As Washington Post columnist David Broder wrote yesterday: America has some problems that defy solution. This one does not. It just needs caring people and a caring government working together. I get inspiration from the Bible and John, chapter 21, when Jesus asked Peter: Do you love me? Peter, astounded that Jesus was asking him this question again, says: Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. And Jesus replies: Then feed my sheep. One of North Carolina's heroes, the Reverend Billy Graham, has often said that we are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are vessels made for sharing. I look forward to working with Billy Graham in this effort. Indeed every religion, not just Christianity, calls on us to feed the hungry. Jewish tradition promises that feeding the hungry will not go unrewarded. Fasting is one of the pillars of faith of Islam and is a way to share the conditions of the hungry poor while purifying the spirit and humbling the flesh. Compassion or karuna is one of the key virtues of Buddhism. This issue cuts across religious lines, too. I speak today on behalf of the millions of families who are vulnerable, who have no voice, for this little Sudanese girl in this picture, stumbling toward a feeding station and so many like her. I saw this picture some years ago in a newspaper. It broke my heart. I went back to find that picture today because, as I recall the story, she had been walking for a long, long way and she had not yet reached that feeding station. That has been emblazoned on my mind since that time. Anthropologist Margaret Meade said: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. One of my heroes is William Wilberforce, a true man of God. An old friend John Newton persuaded him that his political life could be used in the service of God. He worked with a dedicated group. They were committed people of faith. His life and career were centered on two goals: abolishing slavery in England and improving moral values. He knew that his commitment might cost him friends and influence but he was determined to stand for what he believed was right. It took 21 years and Wilberforce sacrificed his opportunity to serve as Prime Minister. But he was the moving force in abolishing slavery and changing the moral values of England. In my lifetime, I have seen Americans split the atom, abolish Jim Crow, eliminate the scourge of polio, win the cold war, plant our flag on the surface of the Moon, map the human genetic code, and belatedly recognize the talents of women, minorities, the disabled, and others once relegated to the shadows. Already a large group of citizens has joined what I believe will become an army of volunteers and advocates. Today I invite all of my colleagues to join me in this endeavor. Let us recommit ourselves to the goal of eradicating hunger. Committed individuals can make a world of difference, even, I might say, a different world. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my letter to President Bush be printed in the Record.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1298. Our world is in the midst of a crises. HIV/AIDS has taken hold of many parts of the world and left death and destruction in its wake. Millions have been affected, wives have lost husbands, parents have lost sons and daughters, small children have been left alone, orphaned after AIDS took the life of parents. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS reports that as of the year 2002, there were 29.4 million people living with this disease. Sadly, most of them are in sub-Saharan Africa. Estimates are that by the year 2020, an additional 55 million Africans will lose their lives to the epidemic. Women are particularly affected and make up 58 percent of the HIV- positive population in sub-Saharan Africa. Perhaps even more troubling, 6 to 11 percent of women aged 15 to 24 were HIV positive in 2001, compared to 3 to 6 percent of young men. Women are dwarfed by men in economic and political affairs, and far too many of these women have no way to protect themselves. The political and cultural standards in many countries have left them unable to defend themselves from unwanted sexual activity and advances and their reluctance to submit to male domination. With this pandemic, these women are victimized yet again. During my time as President of the American Red Cross, I saw firsthand the poverty and countless other socio-economic factors that make Africa particularly vulnerable to the spread of AIDS. Rwanda, for instance, is one of the areas with a high rate of adults infected with HIV. And Mr. President, while there, and in Goma, Congo, where a million Rwandans had fled from the bloodshed in their country, I saw 100s of children with no parents, no home, no food, no clothes, no hope. To this day, I can close my eyes and see a little boy sitting by himself on a mound of dirt. He was probably 13 or 14 his face was covered with dust and he was crying. The tears left little paths down his cheeks. I sat beside him, and put my arm around him to try to comfort him but there was no reaction. Nothing moved, not a muscle moved, as the tears flowed. He was traumatized. This is the challenge we face, ending the poverty and despair of that little boy, and replacing them with hope and life. Due to AIDS, the region is in a dangerous cycle that affects global health, the global economy and global security. Consider this: labor forces are decreasing because of the disease. Since there are fewer workers to farm the land, harvests are depleted, and famine is running rampant. As hopelessness sinks in, people become vulnerable and susceptible to evil terrorist predators. It is an endless cycle of despair, a boiling pot that cannot go unchecked. This Nation, the world's global leader, cannot sit idly by. We must pass this bill today. An entire generation is in danger of being wiped out by HIV/AIDS. This legislation takes a historic step in fighting this battle. It commits $15 billion dollars over the next five years to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It establishes within the Department of State a coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS so that the U.S. can continue to lead on this issue. And it commits $1 billion dollars for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The legislation is the important springboard to real changes in Africa related to AIDS. It brings together many nations to participate in this effort, and through the conscience clause, allows for non- governmental and faith-based organizations to lend their efforts to eradicating this epidemic. This clause and the participation of community and faith-based organizations are vitally important. The funding will work two-fold, through public private partnerships, to offer prevention and treatment. At the Red Cross, I was also able to work firsthand on AIDS prevention education. Ours was the first nationwide effort, so I know the benefits. The Red Cross has provided AIDS prevention education to more than 18 million people across the United States since 1985. More than 30,000 have been trained as HIV/AIDS education instructors. In the time since, our nation has made great strides in battling AIDS. People are taking precautions and living longer. But I also know firsthand that prevention efforts can sometimes get bogged down in controversy. There are so many different views and beliefs. But this is not the time for the Senate to engage in partisan or ideological delays. America is needed in this crisis; we are needed now, not next month, not next year. Lives are literally hanging in the balance on this bill. Saving them should be our only focus. We must step forward now to help our global neighbors, to offer a helping hand to those who need it, to end the death and destruction. We must pass this bill.

Mrs. DOLE

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Senate passage of legislation I have sponsored to award the Congressional Gold Medal to The Right Honorable Tony Charles Lynton Blair, Prime Minister of Great Britain, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. The rules of Congress require that the recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal ``shall have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement.'' Indeed, Prime Minister Tony Blair has done just that. In the more than a year and a half since the tragic attacks of September 11th the United States has been thankful for the demonstration of solidarity from nations across the world. But, Tony Blair and the people of Great Britain deserve special recognition for their steadfast resolve in all of the challenges our nations have faced in the war against terror. Together, we have determined that ridding the world of terrorism and the regimes that support them and encourage them, is in the best interests of all of the nations of the world. For years, our nations have been close allies, and our allegiance to each other has been demonstrated time after time when our men and women have joined together to defeat a mutual threat. However, since the attacks of September 11, 2001, we have rediscovered the closeness in our relations just as tragedy brings families closer together. Let us keep the British troops and the families who have lost loved ones in our prayers as we pray for our own armed forces and families. In the 18th century, English philosopher Edmund Burke said, ``The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'' It is clear that Prime Minister Blair and the people of Great Britain understands the truth in these words, and that strong leaders often hold lonely positions when they forgo the politically expedient. Prime Minister Blair took a courageous and principled stand before the world during a time that must have been politically lonely, and some might even say risky. But he stood strong for what was right and for what was just. And for that, he deserves nothing less than our highest accolades.