Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I thank the Chair and thank my friend from Vermont.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Through Sunday. I thank the Chair.

Mr. FORD. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I understand that this is the adjournment resolution; that the House is anxious to get out, and that is fine. But this resolution allows us to get out Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night or Sunday night and then come back on July 8 sometime after noon, based on the time set out by the majority leader later in the day?

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. FORD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that it be added to the request that Senators have until 10 o'clock tomorrow to file second-degrees with respect to the cloture motion tomorrow at 9:30.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers], the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], the Senator from California [Mrs. Feinstein], and the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Pryor] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. The Senate from Missouri and I want the Secretary of Defense be aware of the National Guard Caucus' grave concerns and urge you to ensure that this independent review team be truly balanced.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, if I may, I remember that incident very clearly and as the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee will remember, in the endgame of that Commission's work, the Secretary did finally appoint a member with National Guard expertise but it was well after the bulk of the work had been completed.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I rise in support of Senator Thurmond's amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to impose a temporary moratorium on college ROTC unit closures. The current guidelines will adversely affect several universities across the country, including Murray State University in Kentucky, where the Army ROTC program is schedule for closure at the end of the 1996-97 school year. Murray State has a long and distinguished ROTC tradition. Since its inception in 1952, over 1,000 ROTC graduates have passed through the program. Many of those graduates went on to serve this country with great distinction and honor both in times of war and peace. Like ROTC programs across the country, the Army ROTC program at Murray State is not only an important component of the western Kentucky community, but of the entire armed services. And so, I urge my colleagues to support Senator Thurmond's amendment. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter from the president of Murray State University, Kern Alexander, be printed in the Record.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I have an amendment that will provide $6.6 million for phase two construction of the Consolidated Education Center at Fort Campbell, KY and provide $10.8 million for phase three construction of the Western Kentucky Training Site. Not only are the costs of my amendments fully offset, but I know my colleagues will agree that because these two projects are already underway and because they represent an integral part of the training of our troops, continued funding is both appropriate and necessary. This Congress has already invested $14.5 million into phase one of Fort Campbell's Education Center. Funding for the final phase, phase two, will provide additional needed classrooms, office space, and additional parking. As many of you may know, Fort Campbell has the largest educational program of any division-level installation in Forces Command. Funding for this last phase will assure we can take a state-of-the-art education program out of World War II-era buildings. In addition, this Congress has dedicated funds to the first two phases of the Western Kentucky Training Site for a total of $11.1 million. Because this is a five-phase project, providing funding for phase three is critical to keeping this project on time and on track for completion. The Western Kentucky training facility, in conjunction with the high- technology training available at Fort Knox, puts Kentucky at the forefront of this country's military training. Last year, 16,000 soldiers trained there. But those numbers represent just the beginning in a long line of soldiers who will receive the best state-of-the-art training this country has to offer. I believe this is an amendment my colleagues will have no trouble supporting. Amendment No. 4355 to Amendment No. 4354 (Purpose: To provide that funds may not be obligated or expended for the project if the project is not included in the current future-years defense program of the Department of Defense)

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers] and the Senator from New Mexico [Mr. Bingaman] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers] and the Senator from Alabama [Mr. Heflin] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. FORD. Regarding the time allotted to Senator Dorgan from 8:45 to 9:00, would you kindly change that to be Senator Bradley?

Mr. FORD. Yes.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Bumpers] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I want to draw special attention today to six young woman from northern Kentucky. These six 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 2.5 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 importantly, these six Gold Award recipients have made a commitment to community that should not go unrecognized. Jacqui Meier, Julie Ann Greis, Angela Schierberg, Christina Teeters, Christie DeMoss, and Mindy Hiles 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. 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 six Girl Scouts.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. No more votes tonight.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I object.

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

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

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I am happy to join my cochairman of the Senate National Guard Caucus in cosponsoring the amendment by Senators Lieberman, Coats, Robb, and McCain to review the Armed Forces force structure. Just a few years ago, Congress approved the establishment of the Roles and Missions Commission. However, many of us were very disappointed with the Commission's findings, because those findings were clearly written with a bias against the National Guard. Mr. President, the authors of this amendment have worked with Senator Bond and myself to make sure that the National Defense panel established by this legislation considers the Guard and Reserve without prejudice. To accomplish this, the amendment directs the ``review is to involve a comprehensive examination of defense strategy to include Active, Guard, and Reserve components.'' Just a few months ago, the chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, Senator McCain, along with the ranking member Senator Glenn, held a hearing on the readiness requirements of the National Guard and Reserve forces. At that time, the General Accounting Office presented information that Senator Bond and I found to be either out of date or simply inaccurate. I ask unanimous consent that the letter Senator Bond and I sent to Senator McCain be printed in the Record at the end of my statement.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, the National Guard Caucus is very concerned by the determination of individuals within the Defense establishment to keep putting out negative information on the National Guard. The inaccurate and out-of-date information from GAO is just another example in a long string of misinformation. It is my hope this report will be different--that it will be accurate. Because the sponsors of this amendment have assured me that it will, I join with my cochairman, Senator Bond, in cosponsoring this amendment. Exhibit 1 U.S. Senate, Washington, DC, April 29, 1996. Hon. John McCain, Chairman, Readiness Subcommittee, U.S. Senate, Washington,