Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, the Senate is not in order.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, when you've been in public life as long as I have, you see a lot of hard working, dedicated people in public service. But, every once in a while you come into contact with someone whose leadership qualities make them stand out from the rest. The head of Kentucky's National Guard, Adj. Gen. Robert L. DeZarn is that kind of leader. Over the years, he's been able to instill a sense of common purpose, and in doing so, bring out the best possible performance in everyone around him. And while we know that he will continue to contribute his talents in other ways, General DeZarn's retirement today will be a tremendous loss to those under his command and to the State as a whole. It's been said that ``a general is as good or as bad as the troops under his command make him.'' There is no doubt that Kentucky's National Guard will continue to make Kentucky and the Nation proud long after General DeZarn steps down. But, anyone who knows the Adjutant General also knows that he brought to his command an uncommon blend of courage, intelligence and compassion that will be sorely missed. Over the past 4 years, as the Kentucky Guard was called upon to respond to natural disasters or as our Nation sought them out to help ease discord around the world, I always knew that General DeZarn was working behind the scenes to assure order, to assure total commitment, and in the end, to assure victory over adversity. He was equally hard at work when the media's eye was not on the Guard, building upon Kentucky's resources to assure we would play an integral role in national security well into the next century. I owe him much for his assistance in making sure the C-130H's, what I often call the thoroughbreds of military aviation, stayed in Kentucky. Our Air Guard's performance at the controls of those C-130H's in Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda have brought them national recognition, and saved countless lives. In addition, his development of the western Kentucky training site will make it a model of high-tech and all-terrain training for both Guard and active duty soldiers for years to come. Last year, 16,000 soldiers trained here. But, those numbers represent just the beginning in a long line of soldiers who will receive the best training this country has to offer. The skills they learn right in Kentucky will enable them to join the ranks of the best-trained military force in the world. General DeZarn has also had a tremendous impact on the national level. The Department of Defense has been working to restructure the Nation's entire defense forces to better respond to the needs of the post-cold war era. General DeZarn has worked closely with his colleagues from other States to assure that the National Guard continues to play an integral and undiminished role in that new structure. Mr. President, let me close by reiterating my thanks to General DeZarn for a job well done, and my appreciation for having had the honor to serve with him.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, yesterday we marked the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many of us can still remember the gripping of our hearts 54 years ago today, as the realization spread over us that nothing would ever again be quite the same. Yet, I think it is fair to say that there is already a whole generation of Americans who have no grasp of the meaning World War II has for so many of us. Young people who might never hear a parent or a grandparent tell of the time they felt their commitment to a way of life being tested, of a time they could finally close their eyes and rest, knowing an important fight had been won on the world stage. But when those same young people turn their eyes toward this country's flag, I know they understand that in its fabric was woven the dramas of thousands of battles fought on the shores of foreign lands and over the lunch counters or Main Streets of our own home towns. There are many good reasons for protecting the unique symbol of the American flag, from the basic liberties it represents to the promise of a better future it holds out. But some of the greatest reasons for protecting the flag lie in its ability to bind one generation to the next in their love and respect for this country, so that even as the memories of yesterday's battles begin to fade, the importance of what they secured continues to hold fast in our hearts. A flag that flies proudly in this country serves as a reminder of how war can change the course of a life, of a nation, of a world, so that even individuals who were never there, who might never have heard the stories, recognize that those hours of destruction and suffering have altered the future irrevocably, and that their own liberty was a hard won prize. It follows then that a desecrated flag mocks the millions who have reached out or fought for all that our flag symbolizes, from the basic liberties written into our Constitution to the dreams of a better future for their families. That's why I believe so strongly that the physical integrity of the American flag must be protected. Back in 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a Texas flag desecration statute, ruling that flag desecration was free speech protected under the first amendment. In response to that decision, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Flag Protection Act, which was also declared unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's action made it clear that a constitutional amendment is necessary for enactment of any binding protection of the flag. Up to this point, neither House of Congress has been able to garner the two-thirds super majority necessary for passage of a constitutional amendment. But because grassroots support for this amendment continues to grow, I've joined with Members on both sides of the aisle to again try passing this amendment. I'm hopeful that this time we'll get the necessary votes. Clearly no legitimate act of political protest should be suppressed. Nor should we ever discourage debate and discussion about the federal government. The narrowly written amendment gives Congress and the States the ``power to prohibit the physical desecration of the Flag of the United States,'' without jeopardizing those rights of free speech. On July 14, 1861 a Union soldier wrote his last letter to his wife. He said: My courage does not halt or falter. I know how American civilization now bears upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution, and I am willing, perfectly willing, to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government and pay that debt. Today, our task here in the Senate seems trivial in comparison. But if we want the flag that hangs in school rooms, over courthouses, in sports stadiums and off front porches all across America, to continue symbolizing that same commitment to country, then it is a challenge we cannot fail to meet. [[Page S 18276]] Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this important legislation. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] is necessarily absent.

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

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, when the Commerce/Justice/State appropriations bill was before the Senate I noted that it included an amendment of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. That amendment is in this conference report. Since a veto of this measure is likely, this is not the right time to pursue my objection to this amendment. But, it is my purpose now to give notice that I will continue--at the appropriate time--to oppose this and any other attempt to weaken the Motor-Voter Act. The provision that I object to would change the exemption provision of the Motor-Voter Act. That exemption was drafted--at the specific insistence of Republicans--so as to exempt only those States that had already, as of March 11, 1993, enacted election day registration or had no registration requirement. The amendment in this conference report would change the date to extend the exemption to include two more States, New Hampshire and Idaho. The Motor-Voter amendment included in this report violates the purpose of the exemption provision. That purpose was clearly stated by the Republican floor manager of the Motor-Voter bill. His statement regarding the exemption is clear and unambiguous, so I will repeat it here. Republicans slammed the escape-hatch shut. No longer is this bill a backdoor means of forcing states into adopting election day [[Page S 18176]] registration or no registration whatsoever. * * * Republicans succeeded in grand fathering in the five States that would have qualified for the exemption prior to March 11, 1993. With regard to requests from other states--Michigan, Illinois, and South Dakota--urging that the exemption not include such a deadline, the Republican floor manager said ``their constituents are better served by the closing of the escape hatch than if it had been left open.'' It should be clear from the foregoing that this is not merely an insignificant or technical amendment. Its purpose is contrary to the intent of the exemption provision of the Motor-Voter law. Its underlying intent is obvious and should be addressed directly. This is another attack on the implementation of the Motor-Voter law. It is also a thinly veiled attempt to curry favor of New Hampshire election officials shortly before that all-important first Presidential primary. I made a more detailed statement of my reasons for opposing this amendment when this measure was first under consideration. Rather than repeat them now, I will conclude by reiterating that I will continue to oppose--at the appropriate time--this and any other attempt to weaken the National Voter Registration Act.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Bradley] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Bradley] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, William F. Raines, Jr., the administrative assistant to the Architect of the Capitol, is retiring on November 30, 1995, after 43 years of Federal service. Bill began his career with the Office of the Architect of the Capitol as a personnel clerk in February 1956. He steadily advanced in various jobs and in October, 1973, was appointed to the position of administrative assistant to George M. White, the Architect of the Capitol. As the Architect's administrative assistant, Bill was the management official responsible for that office's human resources, accounting, and procurement divisions and the flag office, and for oversight of the operations of the Senate Restaurants. He also served as the coordinator of the superintendents and supervising engineers of the various buildings under the Architect's jurisdiction, as well as the Capitol grounds. In addition to these duties, Bill acted as adviser and counselor to the Architect and, in effect, served as Mr. White's chief of staff. Bill was born in Henderson, NC, and attended Henderson High School. He completed his studies at Henderson Business College in July 1955. Prior to his employment with the Architect's Office, Bill worked for Southeastern Construction Co. and Harriet Cotton Mills. He served with the U.S. Coast Guard from February 1952, to August 1954. Throughout his 43 years of Federal service and especially during the 40 years he served in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, Bill Raines has distinguished himself as an excellent employee. He has received numerous letters of appreciation and recognition which attest to this fact. His dedication to fulfilling his duties and responsibilities and the exemplary professional manner in which he served will stand as a lasting memory for those who worked with him. [[Page S 17823]] On behalf of Chairman Warner and the members of the Rules Committee, I wish to extend to Bill Raines our gratitude for his years of service. To Bill and his wife, Myrtle, we extend our best wishes and good health in their retirement years.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Delaware [Mr. Biden] is necessarily absent.

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

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, we have on this side not seen the amendment before it was proposed tonight. As I understand it, there may be some on our side, particularly on the Commerce [[Page S 17601]] Committee, that would object to the Senator's amendment. I am put in the position of trying to secure some advice and counsel now from at least the ranking member of the Commerce Committee. So, we will be delayed for some time because he is in a conference, and we will have to try to reach him and see what we can do. So, Mr. President, I have no alternative but to suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Delaware [Mr. Biden] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Vote on Amendment No. 3066

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Georgia [Mr. Nunn] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, may we have order, please?

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

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] and the Senator from Georgia [Mr. Nunn] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] and the Senator from Georgia [Mr. Nunn] are necessarily absent.