Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I want to know if this amendment is similar to 525 and 526 that you had as health care for children and a tax bill that is now combined? They are basically the same?

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. FORD. I don't have any time.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, let me just make a couple of points if I may. Under the previous bills, not in this bill but I understand are included in this, they sunset the program at the end of 5 years. Now, in the budget program 5 years is fine which when you get in reconciliation is 10, and under the 5-year program the reason they sunset it is because they run out of money. The cost is greater than the income. So this is a budget buster in more ways than one. The cost goes well beyond the income. So it is a budget buster. You talk about whether this is an entitlement or not. All you have to do is read what the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire was trying to explain here this morning. It is section 2802. If the State accepts, they shall, they shall, they shall, they shall. And every child in the State shall have. You shall contract with an insurer that says certain things. So I hope States understand it is in the cover of children. I hope my record is as good as the next one. I hope we can work this out--I understand what is coming next--but, after today, at least we can keep a budget together that we agreed on. I yield the floor.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, it is interesting to listen to those who are now so interested in tobacco and kids. They say, ``Will you support Joe Camel or Joey?'' For months and months and months we have had a bill here that would embrace all of FDA regulations, that would do everything to prevent kids from smoking. Nobody wants to get on it. Nobody wants to help. We get rid of Joe Camel. We get rid of the Marlboro Man. All you want is an issue. You do not want to solve the problem. So, yes, we can get emotional about kids. I have voted for 22 long years for kids. I am a grandfather with five grandchildren, and I am not going to do anything to harm them. They do not smoke. I do. That is my business. I am an adult. They are underage. So why can't adults make a decision and let us go ahead and try to accomplish those things that will stop youth from smoking? Do you think a 43-cent-a-pack increase is going to stop kids from smoking? They will just find cheap tobacco and bring it in here and reduce the price of cigarettes. You want to do away with the program? Let them grow tobacco from fence row to fence row. Tobacco gets so cheap you cannot raise it, and cigarettes go to a quarter a pack. They are using kids here and not trying to solve a problem. That is what irritates me. I am from a tobacco-growing State. It is $3 billion every year to my farmers. And 69 percent of those farmers have other jobs. It is a husband, wife, and family income. But you do not want to do that. You want to try to eliminate all that. You do not want to try to stop kids from smoking. You want to stomp up here-- ``Every day 1,000 more will die.'' Those are your words.

Mr. FORD. I just need 2 minutes.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. FORD. Where in the world have you been to try to stop it? Nowhere. You just want to increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes, on a pack of cigarettes to stop kids from smoking. That is it. That is what you are saying. But there is a bill here to get rid of it. No one wants to join in that effort. So it is kind of tough for me, coming from a tobacco State, trying to do what everybody here is talking about, except let the adults have a choice. I think that is what it ought to be. But, no, we want to add the tax on. We want to reduce by 35 percent--I heard the Senator from Massachusetts say it is only one-third of 1 percent of the budget. It reduces 35 percent of the tax cut. That is a pretty healthy hunk. One State gets $29 million under this bill of the so-called Kennedy- Hatch. And it is $1.4 billion additional taxes to that State. So they do not come out ahead. How do they come out ahead? They have to match if they voluntarily accept it. Under this bill, they have to match. And they are mandated--mandated--on what they do once they accept it. I do not understand. People talk about trying to save kids. You have an opportunity to do it. But, no, they want the issue. They want the issue. Bigger Government, less tax cuts, but they do not want to get at the real root of the thing and try to begin to work. For months now--month after month after month--you refuse to join with some of us, even from tobacco States, that want to stop kids from smoking. All you want to do is make an issue out of it and say, I want to choose between Joe Camel and Joey. That is not true, because I have given every Senator here an opportunity to put Mr. Joe Camel where he belongs, and the Marlboro Man. I have made my choice. I want the adults to have a choice and kids not to smoke. But all you want to do is have another issue and pound and pound and pound here to try to unravel a balanced budget amendment on the backs of the children on the basis you want to make a choice between Joe Camel and Joey. I have made my choice. I am for Joey. I have been for him for 22 years. But you act like I cannot join in trying to help reduce the ability of children to smoke. It is there. So I just want everyone to know that if you want--want--to help Joey, help me get rid of Joe Camel. This does not get rid of Joe Camel. This does not get rid of the Marlboro Man. It just increases the cost of smoking to the lower income, just increases the cost to the lower income and unravels a balanced budget. One-third of 1 percent--you reduce 35 percent of the tax cuts in this bill. I hope my 5 minutes are up. I am beginning to sweat.

Mr. FORD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Pat Sellers, a congressional fellow assigned to Senator Daschle, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the debate on Senate Concurrent Resolution 27.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Iowa [Mr. Harkin] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Iowa [Mr. Harkin] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from West Virgina [Mr. Rockefeller] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from West Virginia [Mr. Rockefeller] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from West Virginia [Mr. Rockefeller] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I would like to speak on the bill itself rather than the amendment. I believe that is appropriate.

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

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, what is the order of business?

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, as it is commonly referred to. This legislation has had a long and difficult journey. The coalitions supporting this bill do not all agree on all of its points. In fact, there are a few things in this legislation that I would have preferred to have seen strengthened. However, as the great Kentucky statesman Henry Clay once said, ``compromise is mutual sacrifice.'' It is my understanding that modifications to this legislation will doom the bill to failure. While I have a few reservations, I am certain that this reauthorization is better than not reauthorizing the current statute. Therefore, this Senator will not vote for any amendment that will prevent this legislation from being signed into law. Let me repeat that. This Senator will not vote for any amendment that will prevent this legislation from being signed into law, and I hope others will follow that lead. We simply cannot fail to reauthorize this important statute. Our disabled children and our educators have waited long enough. A few years back, I read a journalist's observation that ``We are defined by who we have lost.'' It wasn't until this time last year, Mr. President, when I got word of the death of a young woman from Berea, KY, that I really understood the journalist's words. Twenty-three years ago, when I was Governor of Kentucky, Susy Riffe was just a child with Down's syndrome. But she became a symbol of great potential and great promise as she sat on my lap and helped me sign a bill guaranteeing public education for disabled children in Kentucky. Susy went on to lead a full and productive life, completing her education and giving back a great deal to the community as a volunteer, an employee, and a dear friend. Her life came to define the potential that exists for all Americans when the greater community provides them with the tools they need to succeed. They say that 250 people came to Susy Riffe's memorial service. But that number represents only a small fraction of the children and families she touched and the world of possibilities she helped define. Just 1 year after I signed that law onto the books in Kentucky, the Individuals With Disabilities Act was passed into law here in Washington, helping millions of children across this great land of ours. We must always remember that the mission of this law is that the right to a free and appropriate public education is the right of all American children. While IDEA provides critical education assistance from the Federal Government to the State and local education agencies, it is the guarantee of disabled children's rights to an education that makes this statute great. I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, the floor managers, members of the Labor Committee, the majority leader, and their staffs for their efforts in bringing this reauthorization to the Senate floor today. It is a herculean task that has not gone unnoticed by this Senator. Finally, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my name be added as a cosponsor to this legislation.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I want to draw special attention today to five young women from northern Kentucky. These five young women from the Licking Valley Girl Scout Council are recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award--the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. Each one has demonstrated outstanding achievements in the area of leadership, community service, career planning, and personal development. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. serves over 3.5 million girls and has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Gold Awards to Senior Girl Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. Recipients of the award have not only earned patches for the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, the Senior Girl Scout Challenge, and the Career Exploration Pin, but also designed and implemented a Girl Scout Gold Award project. But perhaps most important, these five Gold Award recipients have made a commitment to community that should not go unrecognized. Kelly Buten, Mary Jane Hendrickson, Alyssa Hensley, Mandy Radle, and Becky Thomas have put an extraordinary amount of work into earning these awards, and in the process have received the community's and the Commonwealth's respect and admiration for their dedication and commitment. Their projects included teaching beginning violin classes to local elementary school children, organizing a fundraising breakfast for local elementary schools and holding a children's Christmas party. For 85 years, the Girl Scouts have provided an informal educational program to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service so they will become resourceful, responsible citizens. The Licking Valley Girl Scouts alone serve over 5,000 girl and adult members. Mr. President, I know my colleagues share my enthusiasm and admiration for the Girl Scouts' commitment to excellence. And, I know you will agree with my belief that this award is just the beginning of a long list of accomplishments and successes from these five Girl Scouts.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New Mexico [Mr. Bingaman], is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Hawaii [Mr. Inouye] is necessarily absent.

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

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Hawaii [Mr. Inouye] and the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] would vote ``aye''.