Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. In order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceeding en bloc.

Mr. FRIST

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 President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20; I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate proceed to a period of morning business for up to 60 minutes with the first 30 minutes under the control of the Democratic leader or his designee and the final 30 minutes under the control of the majority leader or his designee; provided that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 2744, the Agriculture appropriations bill. I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess from 12:30 to 2:15 to accommodate the weekly party luncheons.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I understand there is a bill at the desk. I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST. Now I ask for its second reading and in order to place the bill on the calendar under rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. FRIST. This was the Enzi Workforce Investment Act for victims of Katrina, S. 1718. I mention that only because there were a couple of bills this morning, and then this bill, all of which reflect a lot of activity that is going on behind the scenes. By ``behind the scenes,'' I mean off the floor, in committees with members and chairmen working with their ranking members. There is a lot of work focused on the response and the appropriate support for recovery after Katrina. As several people have mentioned on the floor over the course of today, there were seven Republicans and seven Democrats who represented this body last Friday in New Orleans and along the gulf coast, Mississippi, and on to Mobile, AL. We all learned a lot. We saw a lot. It contributed to our own education. Then, later tonight, a number of us will continue that work as we figure out how best to respond to this catastrophe, this disaster which is ongoing, to respond in a way that will rebuild and reconstruct in very positive ways to help those affected. Our hearts and our prayers and our thoughts and our efforts on the floor all go out to the victims, both those in Mississippi and Alabama and Louisiana and the half-a-million people, predominantly people from New Orleans but also from the gulf coast, Mississippi and Alabama, who are in other States beyond those three.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, tomorrow we will return to the Agriculture appropriations bill. This bill was laid down last Thursday and we resumed that bill today. Unfortunately, Members did not take advantage of their opportunity to offer amendments during those 2 days. I very much appreciate the Democratic leader, on behalf of one of his colleagues, offering an amendment a few minutes ago. I am prepared to tell the managers that if no one comes to offer amendments, we should go to third reading and passage of the bill. We give Senators the opportunity to offer amendments, they say they are going to offer amendments in the future, and they do not come to the floor. That leaves us with the only alternative, which is going to third reading and passage of the bill. We will talk to the committee and see if we can vote on the amendment that the Democratic leader just introduced prior to the policy recess. But having said that, I do need to forewarn all of our colleagues that the managers on these appropriations bills, both the ones over the last 2 weeks as well as the Agriculture appropriations bill we are dealing with, are very patient. They have been very patient. They stay on the floor throughout the day, and they are here many nights and Mondays and Fridays, waiting for our colleagues to offer the amendments that they say they want to offer. It is now time for people to get very serious and come over and, if they have amendments, to offer those amendments. There is no reason to wait for a Wednesday night or a Thursday night to offer amendments. I do ask our colleagues to contact Senators Bennett and Kohl now, to work through their amendments. We are going to have a busy week. Real progress has been made on the judicial nomination to the Supreme Court--last week with the hearings and this week at the committee level. Next week that nomination will be brought to the floor of the Senate, and ultimately we will all have the opportunity to speak and vote.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask to speak as in morning business.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as I mentioned a few moments ago, we will begin voting sometime around 10:45 or 11. The plans are being finalized, and we will be back with a more specific announcement as to when that time will be as we address the amendments.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Again, Mr. President, this is one of several bills we are addressing tonight that reflect the Senate's response to those who have been adversely affected by this disaster. The bill we passed was specifically related to Pell grants, giving the Secretary of Education the waiver authority for students who are eligible for Pell grants, those students who have been adversely affected.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 240, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 204 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. FRIST. I further ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 241, which was introduced earlier today by Senator Jeffords.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, September 19. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with the time equally divided until 3 p.m. I further ask consent that at 3 p.m. the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 2744, the Agriculture appropriations bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, as I mentioned earlier, the Senate did complete action on and overwhelmingly pass the Commerce-Justice- Science appropriations bill. Upon completion of the Commerce-Science- Justice appropriations bill, we began consideration of the Agriculture appropriations bill. On Monday, we will resume consideration of this bill and, as always, I ask Senators to come forward and let us know if they intend to offer amendments. Our next votes will occur Tuesday morning, and we will probably begin voting very early Tuesday morning. We will be debating amendments on Monday; however, any votes that are ordered on Monday will be stacked to occur early on Tuesday morning.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in a few moments, we will return to the consideration of the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill. We are very close to an agreement which will allow us to finish that bill at an early hour today. The two managers have worked diligently over the course of the last week and this week--it has been now 2 weeks on the bill--and we are now ready to proceed to final passage after we dispose of a few remaining issues. I expect that we will line up a series of stacked votes beginning sometime around 10:45 or 11 this morning, and we will alert Senators once we lock in that time. Once we complete the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, we will start consideration of the Agriculture appropriations bill. Senators should begin preparing for that bill and I encourage Senators to notify their respective chairman and ranking member if they intend to offer amendments. It is helpful for the two leaders and the bill managers to know in advance what amendments will be offered so that we can proceed in an orderly way.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the monthlong celebration honoring the heritage of Hispanic Americans. That monthlong celebration begins today. Nearly 40 years ago, Congress authorized President Lyndon Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. Two decades later, George Herbert Walker Bush expanded the celebration to 4 weeks. National Hispanic Heritage Month was born. Every year we set aside a month to pay special regard to the contributions of Hispanic Americans. Over the centuries, Hispanic Americans have profoundly affected the course of human history. Their influence predates the birth of our Nation, tracing back to the first footsteps of Spanish explorers now more than 400 years ago. DeSoto and his men were the first to discover the mighty Mississippi. Coronado's expedition unearthed the Grand Canyon. DeAnza blazed a trail from Mexico to California's Pacific coast. Since the dawn of early explorers, millions of men and women from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, South America, and Spain have continued the tradition of settling in America. They have come in search of freedom, peace, and prosperity, and they have gotten far more than they sought. Through the ages, Hispanic Americans have left an indelible mark on the history, the culture, and the values of our Nation. It is those values and contributions that we celebrate. Some names stand out. David Barkley was the first Hispanic American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Barkley voluntarily swam the frosty Meuse River in France during World War I to gather information behind enemy lines. He gave his life to our country, drowning on his swim back to land. Luis Alvarez, a Nobel Prize recipient, revolutionized the safety of air travel by inventing the ground control radar system for aircraft landings. Ellen Ochoa was the world's first Hispanic-American astronaut. Sara Martinez Tucker, who I had the opportunity to meet at a dinner I recently hosted, her story intrigued me so much. A native of Laredo, Sara worked her way up from humble beginnings to be the first Hispanic female to hold an executive position at AT&T. Time Magazine recently named her one of the top 25 most influential Hispanic Americans. But most important is what she has done to help other Hispanic Americans realize their own dreams. As CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, she has grown the scholarship fund from $3 million tenfold to $30 million in scholarship money distributed every year, and she is not stopping there. Sara wants to nearly double the percentage of Hispanics with college degrees by 2010, and I believe with her determination, she will accomplish just that. David Barkley, Luis Alvarez, Ellen Ochoa, Sara Martinez Tucker, Alex Rodriguez, Nancy Lopez, Richard Serra, Rita Hayworth, Cesar Chavez, Alberto Gonzales, Jose Gonzalez--I mention Jose because he has a special place in my heart. Jose was the chief surgical resident at Massachusetts General Hospital when I was in my training in Boston. I was an intern at the time. Jose walked me through my very first hernia operation, an operation I have performed many times since that first occasion, an occasion which I remember vividly, an operation I continue to perform in Africa on medical mission work. The list goes on. There are doctors, entrepreneurs, public servants, athletes, artists, philanthropists, scientists, scholars. In all of these professions, in all of these fields, the huge contributions that have been made in the past, all have contributed to that rich fabric of American life. We are a more vibrant nation and we are a more vibrant people because of it. These names stand out, but there are many others, large and small, who move America forward every day. They are the countless heroes who have fought in our wars, who work in our hospitals, who teach in our schools, and who serve in our Government. Many have come to America with a simple hope of a better life and through hard work they have achieved that goal. We honor their character, their determination, and their enduring optimism. It is the spirit of the American character which gives flight to the American dream and has fueled the progress of our great Nation. Today as we begin a monthlong celebration of Hispanic heritage, I join with all Americans in recognizing the invaluable role of Hispanic Americans in shaping and enriching these United States.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on a separate issue, I want to take the opportunity to mention a meeting I am honored to be hosting later today with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who is visiting our country and who will be here with us in the U.S. Capitol. He has served as Colombia's President since his election in 2002 and has done a remarkable job. I have had the privilege of meeting with President Uribe during visits, both here in Washington as well as on a trip that I took to Colombia in January of 2004. Throughout his term, the President has enjoyed high levels of popular support. He has earned it. He deserves it. He ran on the platform of public security and he has delivered. Since his election, Colombia has seen significant decreases in homicides, decreases in crime, decreases in acts of terrorism. Coca and poppy cultivation have decreased by over a third while he served in office. President Uribe has worked hard to promote greater respect for the rule of law, institute judicial reform, and improve Colombia's record on human rights. Colombia is one of our Nation's strongest allies and our close partnership is key to advancing U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. Colombia is the third most populous country in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. Because of its size and strategic location, Colombia is a key player in regional issues. In addition, it has played an active role in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States. The close bilateral relationship that America enjoys with Colombia centers on our efforts to counter terrorism and stop illicit drug traffic. Together, our two countries are working hard to promote stability and promote security, to promote prosperity in Colombia and the region. I look forward to discussing all of these issues with the President this afternoon. At the top of the list, we will address the President's efforts to defeat Colombia's insurgent groups. Three main illegal armed groups operate in Colombia: The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC; the National Liberation Army, or ELN; and the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known as AUC. All three thrive on the illegal narcotics trade. The U.S. Secretary of State has designated all three groups as foreign terrorist organizations. For years, FARC, ELN, and AUC have terrorized the Colombian people with bombings, murders, kidnappings, extortion, hijackings, and the list goes on. They have kidnapped dozens of American citizens, and they have murdered at least 10. Their drug-sponsored terrorist activity has created destabilizing effects on Colombia and the region and threatens the United States. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that more than 80 percent of the worldwide powder cocaine supply and approximately 90 percent of the powder cocaine smuggled into the United States is produced in Colombia. Colombian producers also account for 50 percent of the heroin entering the United States. The United States spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year in Colombia to train the counternarcotics forces, shore up their civilian counterdrug efforts, and help provide crop alternatives for farmers. We are getting results. Aerial eradication alone has cut coca and poppy cultivation by a third since 2001. Human rights is another topic that the President and I and leadership will be discussing. Members of Congress have repeatedly and rightly voiced concerns about continuing human rights violations in Colombia. FARC, ELN, and AUC are notorious culprits. I hope to learn more about how President Uribe plans to demobilize these troops and address allegations of human rights abuses within Colombia's Armed Forces. The United States and Colombia have worked hard to build a solid foundation for a close, cooperative relationship. I look forward to hearing the President's ideas on how we can continue to work together on all of these issues of huge concern. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to continue to support President Uribe in his efforts, his convictions, his determination to fight the illicit drug trade, strengthen the rule of law, expand economic opportunity and foster peace and stability in his country and in the region.When we strengthen the security of our neighbors, we increase our security at home. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.