J. Exon

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I thank my dear friend and colleague from Virginia for his most kind remarks. Indeed, we came here together. But, indeed, we knew each other even before that. I remember very well my friend, the Senator from Virginia, when he served as Secretary of the Navy with great distinction. When I was Governor of Nebraska, he was the head of the centennial commission and came out to Nebraska. That is the first time I really got well acquainted with John Warner. At that time I had no idea we would eventually serve in the U.S. Senate. As students of history understand, and I think most people would believe, probably more great individual contributors to government at all levels have come from the State of Virginia than from any other. Certainly, I just want to say from my perspective, none has done more, none has dedicated himself more fervently to what he thought was right for Virginia and for the United States of America than my good and dear friend, John Warner. I wish you nothing but the best, my friend. I assure you that we will be keeping in touch. Thank you very much.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. In my retirement I will surely miss my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle. However, my loss of personal associations goes even further than that. I thank my personal staff here in Washington and in my Nebraska offices, many of whom have been with me for all those 18 years and indeed a few who were with me back when I was Governor of Nebraska. The staff of the Budget, Armed Services, and Commerce Committees all were more of personal relationships and coworkers than just staff. The same is true of the Cloakroom personnel who have been so helpful and considerate over the years. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to serve in the U.S. Senate which is a collection of talented and dedicated individuals. I thank and appreciate all of you and I thank the people of the great State of Nebraska for making it possible for me to serve here. God bless and good luck. Thank you, all. All of you have been great, and I shall always be indebted to you for your understanding and for your help. Mr. President, I thank the Chair and, for the final time, I yield the floor. [Exhibit 1] [From the Omaha World Herald, Sept. 25, 1996] A Step Toward a Safer World Leaders of more than 60 nations have given the world a fitting symbol of peace and hope to mark the approach of a new century. On Tuesday, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, they signed a treaty agreeing not to set off nuclear explosions as a means of testing weapons. The signers included the main nuclear powers--the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and China. Also signing were nations, such as Israel, that either have a covert nuclear program or the resources to start a nuclear weapons program if they wanted to. President Clinton signed for the United States. He wrote his name with a pen used by President John Kennedy to sign a limited nuclear test ban treaty in 1963. The gesture in honor of Kennedy was appropriate. Kennedy's 1963 pact eliminated most open-air nuclear tests, as well as tests underwater and in space. Since then, most nuclear testing has been conducted underground. The agreement signed Tuesday adds underground tests to the ban, eliminating testing by explosion. It was hailed as a major step toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. Certainly it would be premature to assert that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is likely, or even practical. India, a potential nuclear power, refused to sign, which is troubling. North Korea and Libya voted against the treaty in the United Nations, an illustration of the danger that remains when law-abiding nations disarm. Caution is essential, as even a leading proponent of nuclear disarmament has written. Robert S. McNamara, who was Kennedy's defense secretary, wrote last year that he believes in total disarmanent ``insofar as is practical.'' With that language, he said, he meant to call attention to ``the necessity of maintaining protection against the covert acquisition of nuclear weapons by terrorists or nations violating the nuclear disarmanent agreements.'' But it's a good time to act. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism have brought about a climate in which significant reductions in force can be realisitcally considered. Rising affluence tends to act as a brake on warlike behavior. The spread of democracy has reduced tensions. High-speed communications make it harder for dictators to maintain the regimented societies that start was against their neighbors. Kennedy took a risk in 1963 when he limited the ability of the United States to test nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War. The result was one of his greatest accomplishments. It demonstrated that good-faith negotiations could make the world safer and more secure. A treaty can't convert an evil heart into a good one. But it can reduce misunderstandings that sometimes lead to war. Kennedy's treaty also laid a foundation of understanding on which further agreements could be negotiated. In 1974, the nuclear powers outlawed the testing of the largest nuclear weapons. In the 1980s, the inventory of U.S. and Soviet warheads and delivery systems was cut back in a series of arms-reduction pacts. In the 1990s, the drawdown of warheads continued and the nuclear nonproliferation pact was extended. Yes, the practically of eliminating nuclear weapons may continue to be debated. But it shouldn't be abandoned as a goal. Dramatic progress has been made in the past three decades toward making the world less warlike. More progress can reasonably be assumed, even if it occasionally means taking a calculated risk.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this will be my final speech as I conclude 18 years in the U.S. Senate. Measured in length, it may be my best in the opinion of many of my valued colleagues on both sides of the aisle. What will I miss? Not the Washington DC morning traffic, and driving the obstacle courses. My Ford Taurus will get a reprieve from this pot hole capital of the world. My pocketbook will be spared from the $35 a shot in used hubcap replacement, experienced 10 times in only the last 2 years. With any luck, the Whitehurst freeway and its tributaries will be fully operable for 90 consecutive days sometime in the 21st century. I leave this place with the confidence that we will continue to build our bridges to the future of America on the firm footings of national security policy. I have labored on the Armed Services Committee for the past 18 years. We won the cold war, after spending a lot of money, without firing a shot. I suggest that that is the best way to win wars. As the only true superpower of the world, we have the dual responsibility of providing for a strong national defense and, just as important, using our statute to lead and promote peace and understanding, including ratification and implementation of international agreements. To that end, a keen disappointment has been the failure this year to ratify in a timely fashion the chemical weapons convention. A bright spot has been the signing at the United Nations 10 days or so ago of the compenhensive nuclear test ban treaty. This treaty is one that this Senator has been very much involved with. When I was in New York for that signing event, it was inspiring as a giant leap for mankind's survival. An editional from the Omaha World-Herald dated September 5, 1996, makes the case very well and I ask that it be printed in the Record immediately following my remarks.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the senior Senator from Maine, Bill Cohen, is among those Senators who have decided to not seek another term in service to their country. Senator Cohen and I both arrived in the Senate in January 1979 and we have served together on the Armed Services Committee ever since. Bill Cohen's skills as a United States Senator were evident from the beginning. His mastery of detail along with his understanding of the larger implications of legislative policies has made him a universally respected oracle on a wide range of issues. His views are no more revered, perhaps, than those in the area of national defense and foreign policy. I can attest firsthand to how important Senator Cohen has been in furthering our national security interests over the past two decades. There is no aspect of our collective national security policy over this time that has not benefitted from Senator Cohen's contribution. Whether in the area of arms control or military reorganization or shipbuilding, Senator Cohen has displayed an effective ability to analyze problems and propose workable solutions that garnered bipartisan support. This is Bill Cohen's legacy to the United States Senate and the country as a whole. He has been a renaissance man of sorts during these past 18 years: A best-selling novelist and published poet, an articulate speaker, and a gifted legislator. His departure will certainly deprive the Senate of one of its most meaningful and respected voices. I have no doubt he will continue to be as successful in his future endeavors as he has been as a United States Senator.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Senator Hank Brown, the senior Senator from a neighboring State, Colorado, who is retiring at the end of this Congress. It seems, out there on the plains, we are dropping like flies. Hank Brown's service to the State of Colorado and our Nation has ranged from the U.S. Navy and a tour in Vietnam, to serving in the Colorado State Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate. More importantly, however, I understand that Senator Brown played some football while at the University of Colorado. While Nebraskans are not usually humble about football, I humbly acknowledge that the Nebraska record against Colorado from 1958 to 1961 was 1 win and 3 losses. As the ranking Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, I have had the privilege of working with Senator Brown on several budget initiatives. I believe he and I share a commitment to deficit reduction and responsible Federal spending second to none. I appreciate Senator Brown's hard work in this area and have enjoyed the opportunity to work with him on these most important issues. Hank Brown possesses one of the keenest senses of humor in the Senate. He is a delightful individual. I commend Hank Brown for his hard work in the Senate and his contribution to our Nation and the State of Colorado. I wish him success in all his future endeavors. Mr. BOND addressed the Chair.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I rise today to salute one of our departing colleagues and Senator from the neighboring State of Kansas, of course it is our own Senator Nancy Kassebaum. Nancy and I have served together in the Senate over the last 18 years. I have always admired her willingness to look beyond partisan politics and work to solve the problems at hand. She can be proud of the recently passed Health Insurance Reform Act. I have no doubts that this will be seen for a long time as a very important piece of legislation. Finally, people will be able to move from job to job without fear of losing their health insurance. Senator Kassebaum can also be proud in the role she played during the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act several years ago. Because of her efforts and those of the Labor and Human Services Committee more of America's young people can seek the higher education they need to fulfill their dreams. Nancy has also been willing to work on a very important issue to me, Impact Aid. With her help and leadership, improvements to this program were made so that the children of our military personnel have better educational opportunities. Senator Kassebaum comes from an honorable Kansas Republican family. Her father Alfred Landon served as Governor and Presidential nominee. Governor Landon and the legacy he left, has been significantly enhanced by the way that his daughter has continued in his footsteps. Kansas will be losing a great Senator, one who has served her constituents well. Pat and I wish Nancy and her family all the best for the future.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to salute my departing colleague and dear friend from Louisiana, Senator Bennett Johnston. It has been a sheer pleasure to serve for the past 18 years with Bennett Johnston. Since the time I came to the U.S. Senate in 1979, I have always admired Bennett's determination and rugged individualism. Bennett Johnston possesses many of the qualities that make this institution great, not the least of which is his ability to compromise. Some have called him the master of compromise. I, for one, have always admired his ability to work both sides of the aisle. And as we all know too well, a willingness to look past partisan differences is something of precious commodity in the Senate these days. Whether it was oil and gas price deregulation, the Supercollider, the Tongass National Forest, or nuclear waste disposal, Bennett always delved deep into the heart of the matter regardless of how complex or controversial. While we may not have always agreed on the issues, I have always known I could rely on him, time and again, for his wise and fair counsel. And, I did. For over two decades Bennett Johnston has been a dedicated public servant to the great State of Louisiana. As the Nation moves toward the new millennium, his service to this body and this country will not be forgotten. I salute Bennett Johnston, and Pat and I wish him all the best for the future.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, a record number of our colleagues are retiring from the Senate this year. I am among those who have voluntarily decided to not return and I do so knowing how much I will miss the nearly day-to-day contact with many of the great statesmen and women our country has known. I consider Senator Mark Hatfield among this pantheon of accomplished public servants. While some may speak highly of Senator Hatfield for his length of service to Oregon and the Nation as a whole, I have been most impressed by the strength of conviction he has brought to his job of U.S. Senator over the past 30 years. The fire of purpose has burned brightly and consistently within Senator Hatfield during this time and, on so many occasions too numerous to recount here, Senator Hatfield's voice has been the voice of the forgotten, the weak, and the disenfranchised. The steadfast humanity and moral judgment Senator Hatfield has displayed transcends political affiliation or partisan alignment. From what I have observed of him during my own 18 years in the Senate, I would sum up Mark Hatfield's credo in a simple and straightforward way: Senator Mark Hatfield has committed his energies to the betterment of all persons through the fight against the destructive forces of war, disease, ignorance and want. This raising of the human condition, this crusade against needless suffering and the ravages of mankind's self- destructive tendencies, has been Mark Hatfield's rich legacy to the Nation and the world. Above all else, I salute him for his unswerving dedication against heavy odds at times to his dedication to end nuclear testing, and without his steadfast leadership the treaty that was signed yesterday at the United Nations in New York would not have come to pass. I was there, and many people came up to me and talked about this great accomplishment. To each and every one of them I said I wished Senate duties would have allowed Mark Hatfield to be there along with myself and Senator Pell. I know he was invited. At year's end, he will leave this institution a lion among his peers. But lest anyone be fooled, beneath the chiseled and proud visage of this lion is the true source of his strength, a compassionate heart that has kept him humble and grounded, his path straight, his words true, and his conviction undiminished. The career of Senator Mark Hatfield should be an inspirational model to all those who aspire to public service, for to follow in his footsteps is to embrace all that is admirable in the pursuit of elected office and service to the people.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I rise today to say a few words regarding the retirement of the senior Senator from Wyoming, our own Alan Simpson. It all came back to me last evening when my neighboring State Senator came by a reception honoring me, adding his usual good humor and sincerity. Alan Simpson was first elected to the Senate in the same year as me and I have been honored to serve in this body with him for the past 18 years. Senator Simpson has served the people of Wyoming through his hard work and dedicated efforts in matters of importance to his constituents and the American people. I am sure he will be missed by the people of Wyoming and his colleagues in the Senate. Through his service on the Judiciary Committee, Alan Simpson has been the Senate's leading force in reforming our immigration laws. His common sense approach to immigration reform has been vital to cracking down on illegal immigration. The highlight of the 1986 reform bill was a provision which made it unlawful for an employer to hire an illegal immigrant. For many years, I worked to place into law another common sense measure to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving Federal benefits and I appreciate Senator Simpson's support of my efforts. Despite his moderate and bipartisan approach, Senator Simpson has been the target of criticism from groups on both sides of the immigration issue. Alan Simpson's willingness to push forward in the face of strong opposition from many tells a lot about how seriously he takes his position as a public servant. Without his determination, I doubt we would have been able this year to adopt such a strong, yet fair, bill to crack down on illegal immigration with such overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation will serve as yet another testament to Senator Simpson's dedicated efforts to bring illegal immigration under control. Alan Simpson, while always fighting for what he felt was right and never being shy about speaking up, will also surely be remembered for his efforts to highlight the looming financial crisis that is facing our Federal entitlement programs. I strongly believe that the disintegration of bipartisan cooperation has seriously weakened the ability of this body to tackle the most difficult issues facing our Nation and has led to far too many ill feelings. Senator Simpson, while undoubtedly a true conservative, has been willing to go against the majority of his party on major issues while remaining true to himself and his constituents. Pat and I commend Senator Alan Simpson for his dedicated public service over the years and wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. The Senator from Nebraska understands we are in morning business, is that correct?

Mr. EXON. I ask that we continue morning business for the purpose of making remarks with regard to several retiring Members of the U.S. Senate.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I would like to proceed in making some brief statements with regard to several of the retiring Members that this Senator has had the honor of serving with. Let me start, Mr. President, if I might, with a statement with regard to the great Senator from Georgia, Sam Nunn. We will be leaving the U.S. Senate together. This Nation will likely lose the most important Senator of all with regard to national security and foreign policy when my colleague Sam Nunn departs this body. I believe Senator Nunn is one of the greatest leaders of the current era. He has been a leader and a close personal friend and confidant of mine since the very first day I came here 18 years ago. Sam Nunn has been my Democratic leader on the Senate Armed Services Committee. We have worked closely together, and always in harmony, on many, many issues of vital importance to this Nation's national security. Sam has been a stalwart in helping to win the cold war. I remind all that Sam is, bar none, the Senate's top expert on national security matters. No one has done more to help recruit and retain the Nation's soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, who are on duty today and are the best that we have ever had in uniform in our Nation's history. I was proud to be a charter member of the informal ``Sam Nunn for President'' group in 1988. I believed then, and continue to believe to this day, that Sam Nunn would have been an outstanding President of the United States. Sam has the unique qualities of being strong in his principled viewpoints and yet compromising in the means to achieve his goal. In short, Sam Nunn is a true statesman in every respect of the word. I will always treasure my association and my friendship with him. Pat and I want to wish him and his family all of the best and, indeed, all of the blessings of the future.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my departing colleague from Arkansas, Senator David Pryor. I have treasured our 20 years of friendship. Senator Pryor is one of the true gentlemen of the Senate and it has been my good fortune to serve as Senators together as it was my pleasure to serve as governors during the same time period in the 1970's. David has been a good friend to me here in the Senate and I have appreciated his leadership in a number of areas including pharmaceuticals, seniors, taxpayer rights issues and many, many more. Senator Pryor has taken his intelligence and sense of fair play and worked to see that America's seniors are treated with dignity and respect by serving as the top-ranking Democrat on the Special Committee on Aging. Government programs do a better job of serving Americans because of the leadership of David Pryor. A leader in keeping pharmaceutical prices low, Senator Pryor has fought long and hard to make sure that Americans do not pay for the low prices pharmaceutical companies charge other countries for their products. Because of his leadership, the Medicaid program instituted a prescription drug rebate program so that drugs could be purchased at a more favorable rate. I was also pleased to be an original cosponsor of Senator Pryor's Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. This was landmark legislation to remind the Internal Revenue Service to treat taxpayers' with dignity and respect. The hallmark of Senator Pryor's tenure here in the Senate is leadership. Leadership in legislation, a leader among his fellow Senators and leadership for his beloved State of Arkansas. The people of Arkansas have always been his priority and he has served them well. Farewell my friend. Pat and I wish you the very best for the future.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, while I have had ample opportunity to review the Record of yesterday while I was awaiting my chance to make remarks, I want to thank very much my close and dear friend, Senator Byrd, for his kind remarks about this Senator as printed in yesterday's Record, S. 11134. Senator Byrd made some very kind remarks about me and our association and work here in the U.S. Senate. I thank him for that. I also wish to take this opportunity and thank others who have made farewell remarks with regard to this Senator from Nebraska, and with particular reference to Senator Byrd. I think we all recognize what a unique experience we have had here in the U.S. Senate, serving with one of the greatest U.S. Senators, by any measurement, that this body has ever seen. Bob Byrd of West Virginia has no peer with regard to his understanding of the rules of the U.S. Senate. He has written books on the history of the U.S. Senate. Certainly, as I think back over my last 18 years, and I will be thinking about this in the future, I thank the Lord for the great opportunity, and the people of Nebraska, for giving me the opportunity to serve with a truly great American, a true pillar of the U.S. Senate, Robert Byrd of West Virginia. In that regard, I also would like to take just a moment, Mr. President, to thank a number of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle that stopped by a reception held for me last evening. My wife Pat and I appreciated that. A good time was had by all.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I rise to salute the service of Senator Howell Heflin and give the Senator and his family best wishes. Senator Heflin and I came to the U.S. Senate together and we will be leaving this grand institution together. Over the years I have not only developed a tremendous working relationship with the senior Senator from Alabama but also a deep and lasting friendship. Mike and Howell Heflin have been among the closest friends and associates of the Exons. Over the years, I think that there are few Senators with whom I vote with more frequently than with Senator Howell Heflin. I value his opinion and respect his views. He is not only a mainstream Democrat, he is a mainstream American. Few Members realize that Howell Heflin is a bona fide war hero. If I may Mr. President, I would like to share a little story about the Senator from Alabama. A few years ago I had an opportunity to lead a delegation to the Pacific rim. Howell Heflin was a member of our group. We had scheduled a stop in Guam for refueling en route to Manila. When we arrived, I was informed that there would be a brief unscheduled ceremony for Howell Heflin. It was anything but a brief ceremony. It was obviously one of the most important ceremonies that the Island of Guam has had, I suppose, since the American forces drove out the Japanese from that island during the war in the Pacific. There was a large entourage of cars. I could not imagine what was going on. Finally, I began to get the feel of things. They wanted to take us out to the beach where the American Marines landed when the United States of America started taking back that very important and strategic island. We went out to the beach, and we saw where they landed. This beautiful beach was once a bloody battlefield. During the war the Marines had great difficulty in landing. The coral reefs reeked havoc on the landing crafts and on the men. Our delegation went to the museum out on the beach. We were greeted by the mayor, the Governor and there was a small Navy band playing. In addition, there was a small tent with a number of people from the Island of Guam who were there when the Americans landed. This celebration was not in honor of the Senate delegation but in honor of one of our Members, Senator Heflin. It was a moving sight. There was a big sign out there that I shall never forget. It said, ``Welcome Back Our Liberating Hero, Lt. Howell Heflin.'' Because of all his other accomplishments, I suspect few of my colleagues in the Senate even know about Senator Heflin's heroism. He was one of those marines who liberated Guam. Lt. Howell Heflin was part of the assault force of the Americans landing to take Guam from the Japanese. He was wounded in the initial assault and kept on fighting. He pointed out the hill to me where he took his second hit. He was evacuated to the United States where he spent considerable time in the hospital. This story illustrates that Senator Heflin's love of country has been a constant throughout his life. As marine, judge, and as Senator, duty, honor, and valor are all words associated with Howell Heflin. This is a side of the proud Howell Heflin that I know. That is a side that I want his colleagues and history to know. He is one of those who serves his country in time of need, and we must never forget that. As I bring my Senate career to a close, I point to serving and knowing people like Howell Heflin as one of the most wonderful benefits of being involved in politics. Having known Howell and Mike Heflin and knowing of their stature, and character, having had them as friends, means a great deal to me as I look back on my life in public service and see what really has been important. I simply say that one of the great treasures of my life has been knowing the Heflins. May God bless and keep Howell and Mike Heflin forever in his grace.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, when the Senate concludes its business this year and adjourns the 104th Congress, we will be bidding farewell to one of the most respected and accomplished Senators this institution has known. Senator Claiborne Pell's decision to retire following the completion of his sixth term has brought to a close a legislative career that is noteworthy for not only its longevity but also its accomplishments. Whether in the area of student educational loans, arms control or foreign affairs, Senator Pell has distinguished himself as an effective force in not simply representing the interests of Rhode Island residents but in authoring a national agenda designed to improve the quality of life for all Americans. Senator Pell's colleagues know him as a quiet, thoughtful man of strong intellect and compassion. In his words and by his actions, Claiborne Pell has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to serving the public good for the past 36 years. This remarkable devotion to serving the common good will long be remembered by those of us who worked with Claiborne Pell and lament his departure from the Senate. After devoting so much of himself to improving the welfare of this Nation, he can retire with the comfort of knowing that it is well-earned.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I rise today to say a few words regarding the retirement of the senior Senator from Illinois, Paul Simon. Paul Simon was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and I have been honored to serve with him for the past 12 years. Before entering the Senate, Paul Simon represented his constituents as a Member of the House of Representatives for 10 years. He will truly be missed by the people of Illinois and his colleagues in the Senate. Over the years I have worked with Senator Simon on the Budget Committee. Despite his reputation as a compassionate liberal who believes the Federal Government has an important role to play in the lives of Americans, Senator Simon has not shied away from following his personal convictions, even if it meant going against the majority of his party. Senator Simon has been a leading proponent of a constitutional amendment to require the Federal Government to balance the budget each year. He has been guided by his common sense, midwestern views on living within your means. I, too, have been a long-time proponent of a balanced budget constitutional amendment. Senator Simon's ability to work with Members on both sides of the aisle is unfortunately a diminishing quality among Members of this body. Paul Simon has been a strong supporter of free speech as a Senator. He is an author and began his career as a newspaper editor and publisher. Despite his background, Senator Simon has also been willing to criticize the television broadcasters over the excessive amount of violent programming. Paul Simon has a special connection to my State of Nebraska. He was a student at Dana College in Blair, NE. I know that Dana College appreciates his continued interest in the students and the college over the years. I commend Senator Paul Simon for his many years of dedicated service to the people of Illinois. Pat and I wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the senior Senator from New Jersey, Bill Bradley, who will be retiring at the end of this Congress. Senator Bradley and I were elected to Congress in the same year, 1978, and it has been a great pleasure and an honor to have served three terms in the Senate with him. Senator Bradley has distinguished himself as a thoughtful and outspoken leader on the issues of tax reform, education, community revitalization and crime reduction. He has also been a vocal critic of wasteful Government spending. Senator Bradley and I share a keen interest in fiscal responsibility and concerns about the impact of the debt and deficit situation on our Nation's future. I was pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with Senator Bradley on line-item veto legislation. A form of this legislation was signed into law this year and I believe it is a crucial step toward eliminating wasteful spending and keeping us on the path of deficit reduction. I commend Bill Bradley for his hard work in the Senate and his contribution to our Nation. I expect that he will continue to participate in the debate over important public policy issues. Pat and I wish him success in all his future endeavors.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Before the distinguished Senator from North Dakota leaves the floor, I would like to ask him a question or two. I have been listening, with keen interest, to his addressing this issue that I know he has been involved in for a long, long time. I have some comments to make on this. But I simply would like to ask him, who brought the action? Under whose auspices was the case filed that he has just addressed, where the decision came down yesterday? Where was this case and who brought the action?

Mr. EXON. Were there any other organizations involved in this, to your knowledge? Or was it just an individual action by a parent?

Mr. EXON. I have not seen the information that the Senator from North Dakota has. I guess I am specifically asking whether or not there were other organizations who hired attorneys or had attorneys there representing those who brought the action.

Mr. EXON. I appreciate that very, very much. The fact that the Senator has the courage to stand up on the floor of the U.S. Senate and make such an obvious, commonsense argument encourages me that we are beginning to look at some of the real problems in America. One of the problems in America today is kids with guns. Certainly I would agree with my friend from North Dakota. If we are powerless to do anything about that, regardless of the status, the opinion, the background of one court, or one judge, then we are in serious trouble. As a former Governor who had appointed lots of judges, I have never launched an attack on the courts per se because I think by and large the courts do a good job. Unfortunately, it is obvious to me from some of the recent decisions that I have seen on a whole series of areas--it indicates to me that perhaps all too often the courts think they are not the third branch of Government but they are the branch of Government, and they seemingly are becoming all powerful. There was a time when the courts of the United States were somewhat restrained and did not become activists for causes. It seems to me that all too often those who are foremost in bringing these actions have scrutinized the judiciary to the point where they know what judge to go to on a certain issue and what judge would be most likely to go along with this particular point of view. To me, that is not a good comment on the judiciary that is supposed to be under the law, ones that make legitimate decisions based on law. And breaking new ground in the judiciary at one time was somewhat reserved. These days the judiciary is breaking more new ground more often and, in the opinion of this Senator, more wrongly than ever before. So I will be looking forward to hearing the next comment on this.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I thank my friend. I find myself aligned almost identically with the viewpoints that the Senator has just addressed. I was very much interested to see how a judge resented the fact that a U.S. Senator called him asking the reasons for the decision that the judge had rendered. That takes me to the place that, while I recognize the courts as the legitimate third force of government, the courts are not sacrosanct, and the courts had better get off of the kick that they seem to be increasingly on, as evidenced at least by the one instance that the Senator from North Dakota addressed. Judges are human beings like all of us. Those of us who are in public service expect to receive criticism. That is what making hard decisions is all about. But I simply say that, from what I know of the case that the Senator from North Dakota referenced today about the most recent decision, probably the most recent outrage by at least one court against what thinking people are trying to do to provide at least some degree of safe haven for our kids in school, highlights the point that the Senator from North Dakota is making and this Senator from Nebraska is making about the way things are happening today. The three equal branches of Government--the executive, the judiciary, and the legislative--had better be looked on. I say as a legislator to the courts, ``Do your job but don't trample on us as a second-class part of the equal three-part series of our Government that has served this Nation and this country so well for so very long.''

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. May I inquire of the Chair, what is currently the procedure in the Senate and what matter are we on?

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, as I understand it, the manager of the bill on the other side will be here briefly. Since this matter is now before the Senate, I would like to proceed with a statement on this particular measure. I assure all that contrary to the misunderstanding of half an hour ago, I am convinced that all possible disagreement with certain points of the bill had been earlier cleared today. The bill I believe is ready for acceptance on both sides of the aisle, so I will, since the measure, S. 1505, is before us, continue with my statement on the bill, with the hopes that the manager on the other side will be here and ready to act on the measure, and we will not attempt to act on the measure until the majority representative is here. Mr. President, the amendment in the nature of a substitute to S. 1505, the Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996, is an important piece of legislation. We worked this out in the Commerce Committee. We have worked out some word and language concerns with other Members of the Senate, and I think the measure is ready to pass. Pipeline safety is an extremely important issue for me. I have tried during my years in the Senate to give the issue of pipeline safety the visibility that it deserves, which it did not receive previously. I am very proud of what the Senate has been able to accomplish in this important area. Just to name one such recent effort, we can point to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 1991. With favorable Senate action on the Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act today, we will continue our efforts to make gas and hazardous liquid pipelines safer and to do it while allowing the pipeline industry to continue to provide effective and efficient service to the Nation's consumers, as they obviously do today. The bill is aptly named. After long negotiations between the regulators, the Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety, and the pipeline industry, the parties agree that this bill can create a working partnership to improve pipeline safety while allowing the safe pipelines to operate with a reduced regulatory burden and allowing the OPS to put its resources where and when the problems exist. In other words, putting cops on the beat in the neighborhoods that need them. The cornerstone of this bill is the risk management program. The program would allow the Secretary of Transportation to establish criteria under which the pipeline owners and operators can present pipeline safety plans that provide at least an equivalent level of safety with the level of safety already provided by the existing OPS regulations. In return for participation in the program, the eligible pipeline owner will be allowed to operate free of regulations that the Secretary determines are no longer necessary in light of the facility's safety plan. In return, the OPS can concentrate its resources on those pipeline facilities, the safety record of which can and should be improved. I believe that the parties have agreed to a workable plan for increasing the safety of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines while reducing the regulatory burden on the affected industries. I ask my Senate colleagues to join in supporting this legislation. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.