Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Regular order.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we come back for a final week before our recess with a number of important items, many of which are the culmination of many months of work. It will be a challenging week in order to accommodate the range of issues. I will mention a number of those that will be addressed. I do hope all of our colleagues will consider the importance of addressing each of these and doing it in a timely way that respects people's schedules and gets us out at the end of this week. It is going to be a real challenge, but it can clearly be accomplished if we all work together in a collegial and civil way as we go. This morning we will resume debate on the Defense authorization bill. Under the order, there will be 20 minutes remaining for debate to be used on the Collins and Lautenberg amendments on contracts. Following that time, we will proceed to a series of votes. We will be voting on the Collins amendment. Following that, we will vote in relation to the Lautenberg amendment. Following that, we will vote in relation to a Boy Scouts amendment. That will be followed by a cloture vote on the pending Defense authorization. If cloture is invoked, we will stay on the Defense bill until that is completed, something I am very hopeful we will be able to do shortly. If cloture is not invoked, we would proceed to a cloture vote with respect to the motion to proceed to the gun manufacturers liability bill which we also will address this week. These cloture votes will allow the Senate to complete these two important measures. In addition to that, we have a number of additional items, including the conference report on energy, the conference report on highways, and then there are a number of appropriations conference reports that may become available in addition to these measures. We are looking at the issue on Native Hawaiians and a death tax issue. We have a lot of work to do in a very short period of time. We clearly will be working through Friday of this week and, if it means going into the weekend to complete the work, we are prepared to do that. The Boy Scout Jamboree

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, very briefly, I want to mention--I know the Senator from Alaska has a comment--our sympathy for the tragic events that have occurred at the Boy Scouts Jamboree. Our thoughts and prayers are with the many families who have been affected so directly. We will continue to reach out over the course of the day for the tragic event that occurred there. Recognition of the Minority Leader

Mr. FRIST. Through the Chair in response to the Democratic leader, we laid out a plan at the end of last week where we can stay on the Department of Defense authorization bill. We have filed cloture to bring some order to that process. We will have the opportunity to vote on cloture this morning. I expect cloture to be invoked. We should finish the Defense authorization bill. I have also made it clear from this desk and on the floor that we are going to finish the gun manufacturers liability bill before we leave. That makes it challenging because we have the very important Department of Defense authorization bill, but we have a plan and a way to finish that by invoking cloture this morning, finishing with that issue, and then moving directly to the gun manufacturers liability bill. Therefore, I do not believe we need--in fact, I know we don't need a unanimous consent agreement in order to accomplish that. So at this juncture we will stay on the plan, the Department of Defense cloture vote this morning--and I expect it would be invoked--finish that bill and then proceed to the gun liability bill.

Mr. FRIST. I do not have a statement this morning. Following the Democratic leader's statement, I believe the Senator from Alaska has a brief statement to make as well.

Mr. FRIST. Yes.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, yesterday, tens of thousands of Scouts began arriving at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia to attend the National Scout Jamboree. Held every 4 years at the Army base, the jamboree draws Scouts, leaders, and volunteers from around the world. The Scouts will spend the next 10 days participating in outdoor activities like archery; fishing; and geocoaching, a GPS-based scavenger hunt. One Scout told the Washington Post: It's just a lot fun. There's so much to do here. You get to see so many people from all around and they have all sorts of activities. For the local community, the jamboree has been a great financial boost. Just this year alone, the event has pumped $26 million into the community. The Scouts have spent $20 million on base improvements, including road paving and plumbing upgrades. Unfortunately, this great summer Scouting tradition may come to an end. The reason? Because the Scouting oath includes an oath of duty to a higher power. Despite decades of public support for Scouting, one Federal judge has ruled that the Pentagon can no longer provide its facilities as a matter of church and state. Because of this lawsuit by the ACLU, 40,000 Scouts are in danger of being denied permission to hold their jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, or any other publicly supported venue. That is why I am offering the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. These young people need our help and our voices to protect a great tradition. Since 1910, Scouting has taught and enriched millions of boys and girls, and drawn generations of Americans together. Boy Scout membership has totaled more than 110 million young Americans--including myself, my three boys, and over 40 current Members of the Senate. Today, more than 3.2 million youths and 1.2 million adults are members of the Boy Scouts and Scout organizations such as the Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts. These Americans are all dedicated to fulfilling the Boy Scouts' mission of instilling in our young people solid values such as honesty, integrity, patriotism, and character. The Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 will help ensure that the Defense Department continues to support the Scouts, as it has lawfully done for years, including the summer National Scout Jamboree. This amendment also ensures the Boy Scouts have equal access to public facilities, forums, and programs that are open to a variety of other youth or community organizations. Boy Scouts, like other nonprofit youth organizations, depend on the ability to use public facilities and participate in these programs and forums. My amendment ensures the Scouts have fair and equal access to these facilities. My amendment also makes clear that the Congress regards the Boy Scouts to be a youth organization and that the Boy Scouts--and the Girl Scouts--should be treated the same as other national youth organizations. I hope that all of my colleagues will join the 50-plus cosponsors of this legislation and vote with me and other supporters of Scouting. I want to thank Senator Durbin for helping to refine the amendment's language. The Durbin modification will allow agencies to waive the ``mandatory floor of support'' included in my proposal--but not necessarily the support itself--if some senior officer of a youth organization or the organization itself is convicted of a serious criminal offense. We would expect agency heads to use this waiver sparingly and judiciously, and only for the most serious of offenses that are connected to their official duties. And once an organization has remedied the problem, we expect the baseline of support to be fully restored by the federal agency to its previous level. The Scouts are committed to developing the best qualities in our Nation's young people--qualities such as patriotism, integrity, honesty, and compassion. This long-honored organization helps prepare our young people to be leaders in the communities, and leaders of the future. A vote for the Support Our Scouts Act will let them know that Congress continues to support this worthy endeavor. Mr. President, I urge all of my Senate colleagues to vote for the young boys and girls who are following in the great Scouting tradition. A vote for this amendment is a vote for them.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, wherever I travel, Americans tell me the same things about our health care system: it costs too much, leaves too many without insurance, and does too little to help those in need. America has the world's best hospitals, doctors, nurses, and medical research labs. But we do not always provide the best care. And we certainly do not provide it at an affordable price. We face real problems. And we need to act. Two years ago, I appointed a task force to investigate what Congress could do. Under the leadership of Senator Judd Gregg, the task force reported back with a series of comprehensive recommendations. The President has also proposed some very constructive policy initiatives. We took all of these proposals into account when we wrote this bill. The legislation we propose today will build upon our record of accomplishment on health care. The Republican Congress has created a Medicare drug benefit for seniors, made tax-free, portable Health Savings Accounts available to all Americans, and has begun the process of moving our medical system into the information age. This week, we will pass and send to the President a long-overdue measure to encourage doctors and hospitals to report medical errors voluntarily. The measure will save lives, and it will improve health care quality. But we still have more to do. The legislation we are proposing today focuses on three broad areas: reducing costs, expanding health coverage, and improving the quality of care. In this bill--``The Healthy America Act of 2005''--we provide comprehensive solutions that will improve health care for every American. Let me begin by speaking about cost. Every year, Americans see their health care costs soar. Just 15 years ago, less than 1 out of every 10 dollars Americans spent went for health care. In 10 years, almost one out of every five dollars you spend will go towards health care. Rising life expectancies and the cost of new technologies, treatments, and medical procedures all drive up costs. But we can do more to hold them in check. And we must. Rapidly rising health costs threaten our Nation's small business owners, and our largest corporations. They can harm our economy; cost jobs, and hurt Americans from all walks of life. During the past few years, for example, health care costs have grown three to four times more quickly than wages. First, we need to reform our broken medical liability system. Under our current medical system, doctors face enormous incentives to order unnecessary tests and procedures simply to avoid the risk of lawsuits. It's expensive, it's wasteful, and unnecessary, and, most of all, it's dangerous. It needs to change and, under this bill, it will. Hospitals, doctors, patients, and insurers all shoulder some responsibility for rising costs. To keep costs down, we need to put the patient at the heart of health care. That's why we propose reforms to let patients own and control privacy-protected electronic medical records, cut down on fraud in our Medicare and Medicaid programs, reduce medical errors, and reduce unnecessary regulations and mandates. Lower costs alone will help many Americans get the care they need and deserve. But we also have to look at ways to cover more Americans who would still find themselves left behind. Through changes to tax laws, we can make it easier for lower-income individuals and small businesses to purchase affordable, high quality health insurance. And we can also provide more options for those who take charge of their own health care by making flexible spending accounts more flexible and health savings accounts even more affordable for individuals and small businesses. Finally, the Federal Government can help support State high-risk pools that help provide health coverage to individuals who couldn't otherwise afford care. America is a caring Nation and we must recognize that not everyone has equal ability to take care of his or her own health. That's why we need to expand our safety net for the truly needy. Many of those without health insurance--particularly children-- qualify for benefits under existing programs but do not receive them. By providing grants to faith-based and community organizations, we can help more families sign up their children for available health coverage. We also need to expand the availability of health care services to individuals in need by expanding Community Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to more rural areas and poor counties. We should also act to make prescription drugs more affordable for low-income Americans and provide legal protections and loan forbearance that will make it easier for health care practitioners who volunteer their time and services to provide needed care in community health centers and free clinics. Every American should have health care that's available, affordable, and always there. And we must hold fast to this principle: patients should sit at the center of the health care system, not the government, not insurance companies, and certainly not predatory trial lawyers. The system should free providers to focus on caring for their patients: not dealing with regulations, bureaucrats, or lawyers. Today, we've put forward a plan that will take a major step towards centering America's health care system on the patient. We have the vision for what American health care should look like. Now we only need the courage to make it happen. I want to thank Senator Gregg, and all of the members of the Task Force who worked so diligently on this legislation. I also want to recognize the contributions of the other cosponsors of this legislation: Senators Mitch McConnell, Mike Enzi, Lisa Murkowski, and Jim DeMint, I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, wherever I travel, Americans tell me the same things about our health care system: it costs too much, leaves too many without insurance, and does too little to help those in need. America has the world's best hospitals, doctors, nurses, and medical research labs. But we do not always provide the best care. And we certainly do not provide it at an affordable price. We face real problems. And we need to act. Two years ago, I appointed a task force to investigate what Congress could do. Under the leadership of Senator Judd Gregg, the task force reported back with a series of comprehensive recommendations. The President has also proposed some very constructive policy initiatives. We took all of these proposals into account when we wrote this bill. The legislation we propose today will build upon our record of accomplishment on health care. The Republican Congress has created a Medicare drug benefit for seniors, made tax-free, portable Health Savings Accounts available to all Americans, and has begun the process of moving our medical system into the information age. This week, we will pass and send to the President a long-overdue measure to encourage doctors and hospitals to report medical errors voluntarily. The measure will save lives, and it will improve health care quality. But we still have more to do. The legislation we are proposing today focuses on three broad areas: reducing costs, expanding health coverage, and improving the quality of care. In this bill--``The Healthy America Act of 2005''--we provide comprehensive solutions that will improve health care for every American. Let me begin by speaking about cost. Every year, Americans see their health care costs soar. Just 15 years ago, less than 1 out of every 10 dollars Americans spent went for health care. In 10 years, almost one out of every five dollars you spend will go towards health care. Rising life expectancies and the cost of new technologies, treatments, and medical procedures all drive up costs. But we can do more to hold them in check. And we must. Rapidly rising health costs threaten our Nation's small business owners, and our largest corporations. They can harm our economy; cost jobs, and hurt Americans from all walks of life. During the past few years, for example, health care costs have grown three to four times more quickly than wages. First, we need to reform our broken medical liability system. Under our current medical system, doctors face enormous incentives to order unnecessary tests and procedures simply to avoid the risk of lawsuits. It's expensive, it's wasteful, and unnecessary, and, most of all, it's dangerous. It needs to change and, under this bill, it will. Hospitals, doctors, patients, and insurers all shoulder some responsibility for rising costs. To keep costs down, we need to put the patient at the heart of health care. That's why we propose reforms to let patients own and control privacy-protected electronic medical records, cut down on fraud in our Medicare and Medicaid programs, reduce medical errors, and reduce unnecessary regulations and mandates. Lower costs alone will help many Americans get the care they need and deserve. But we also have to look at ways to cover more Americans who would still find themselves left behind. Through changes to tax laws, we can make it easier for lower-income individuals and small businesses to purchase affordable, high quality health insurance. And we can also provide more options for those who take charge of their own health care by making flexible spending accounts more flexible and health savings accounts even more affordable for individuals and small businesses. Finally, the Federal Government can help support State high-risk pools that help provide health coverage to individuals who couldn't otherwise afford care. America is a caring Nation and we must recognize that not everyone has equal ability to take care of his or her own health. That's why we need to expand our safety net for the truly needy. Many of those without health insurance--particularly children-- qualify for benefits under existing programs but do not receive them. By providing grants to faith-based and community organizations, we can help more families sign up their children for available health coverage. We also need to expand the availability of health care services to individuals in need by expanding Community Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to more rural areas and poor counties. We should also act to make prescription drugs more affordable for low-income Americans and provide legal protections and loan forbearance that will make it easier for health care practitioners who volunteer their time and services to provide needed care in community health centers and free clinics. Every American should have health care that's available, affordable, and always there. And we must hold fast to this principle: patients should sit at the center of the health care system, not the government, not insurance companies, and certainly not predatory trial lawyers. The system should free providers to focus on caring for their patients: not dealing with regulations, bureaucrats, or lawyers. Today, we've put forward a plan that will take a major step towards centering America's health care system on the patient. We have the vision for what American health care should look like. Now we only need the courage to make it happen. I want to thank Senator Gregg, and all of the members of the Task Force who worked so diligently on this legislation. I also want to recognize the contributions of the other cosponsors of this legislation: Senators Mitch McConnell, Mike Enzi, Lisa Murkowski, and Jim DeMint, I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a pro se civil action filed against Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl. Plaintiff complains that the Senator defendants violated their duties under the common law and the Federal Criminal Code by failing to investigate or prosecute the alleged commission of 1.6 million unspecified crimes. Plaintiff seeks $10 million in damages and an order compelling the Senator defendants to investigate or prosecute the alleged crimes. This suit is subject to dismissal on numerous grounds, including lack of constitutional standing, legislative and qualified immunity, the political question doctrine, as well as on the merits. This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent the Senator defendants in this suit and to move for its dismissal. s. res. 214 Mr. President, this resolution concerns a pro se civil action filed against Senators John McCain, Jon Kyl, and ``51 percent of the unnamed'' Members of the United States Senate. Plaintiff complains that the Senator defendants violated their oath of office and various provisions of the Constitution by enacting laws contained in Title 25 of the United States Code that allegedly resulted in the denial of plaintiffs rights while employed by a community of Native American tribes. Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief and damages. This suit is subject to dismissal on numerous grounds, including lack of constitutional standing, legislative and qualified immunity, and failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent the Senator defendants in this suit and to move for its dismissal.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be laid aside.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk. Also, I send to the desk a list of cosponsors of the amendment, and I ask unanimous consent they be added as such.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this amendment deals with an issue I have been working on with a number of Senators for a long period of time, many months. It deals with an organization I have been involved with for my entire life--myself and my three boys. The organization is the Boy Scouts of America. I am proud to offer the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 as an amendment to the Defense authorization bill. This legislation will ensure that the Defense Department will continue to provide the Scouts the type of support it has provided in the past, including jamborees on bases. Pentagon support for Scouts is currently authorized in U.S. law. This bill also ensures Scouts have equal access to public facilities, forums, and programs that are open to a variety of other youth organizations and community organizations. Boy Scouts, like other nonprofit youth organizations, depend on the ability to use public facilities and to participate in these programs and forums. Why am I offering this legislation? Since the Supreme Court decided Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, Boy Scouts of America's relationships with government at all levels have been the target of multiple lawsuits. The Federal Government has been defending a lawsuit brought by the ACLU aimed at severing the ties between Boy Scouts and the Departments of Defense and HUD. The ACLU of Illinois claims that Defense Department sponsorship violates the first amendment because the Scouts are a religious organization. This is a red herring. The Scouts are a youth organization that is committed to developing qualities, such as patriotism, integrity, loyalty, honesty, and other values, in our Nation's boys and young men. Part of that development is asking them to acknowledge a higher authority regardless of denomination. We do this every day in the Senate when we open the Senate floor each morning, when we take our oaths of office, when our young men and women enlist in the Armed Forces--and the list goes on. Such acknowledgement and respect is an integral part of our culture, our values, and our traditions. A decision was recently reached in this case. A U.S. district court in Chicago ruled that Pentagon support of the Scouts violates the establishment clause and, therefore, the Defense Department is prohibited from providing support to the Scouts at future jamborees. The timing of this ruling simply could not be worse. On Monday, July 25, thousands of Scouts from around the country will be arriving at Fort AP Hill, close by, in Virginia. The event will draw 40,000 Scouts and their leaders and many more proud families, moms and dads. This latest ruling is part of a series of attempts to undermine Scouting's interaction with government in America at all levels. The effect of these attempts of exclusion at the Federal, State, and local levels could be far-reaching. Already, it has had a chilling effect on government relationships with Scouts, and it is the greatest legal challenge facing Boy Scouts today. The Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 addresses these issues. To begin with, my amendment makes clear that the Congress regards the Boy Scouts to be a youth organization that should be treated the same as other national youth organizations. Second, this bill asserts the view of the Congress that Pentagon support to the Scouts at their jamborees, as well as similar support to other youth organizations, is important to the training of our Armed Forces. It contributes to--it does not detract from--their readiness. Third, my amendment removes any doubt that Federal agencies may welcome Scouts to hold meetings, go camping on Federal property, or hold Scouting events in public forums at any level. The Scout bill has been discussed with the Defense Department. While it includes language that establishes baseline Pentagon support for Scouting activities, it also offers the Secretary of Defense some flexibility in its application. Since 1910, Boy Scout membership has totaled more than 110 million young Americans. Today, more than 3.2 million young people and 1.2 million adults are members of the Boy Scouts and are dedicated to fulfilling the Boy Scouts' mission. This unique American institution is committed to preparing our youth for the future by instilling in them such values as honesty, integrity, and character. Through exposure to the outdoors, hard work, and the virtues of civic duty, the Boy Scouts has developed millions of Americans into superb citizens and future leaders. Today, there are more than 40 Members of the Senate and more than 150 Members of the House of Representatives who have been directly involved in Scouting. I was a Boy Scout. As I mentioned, my three boys, Harrison, Jonathan, and Bryan, all were Scouts as well. Scouting is a great American tradition that has been shared by countless families over many decades. I believe this amendment will receive broad, bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House. I believe we will pass it this year. It currently has over 50 cosponsors in this body. I encourage others to come and cosponsor this bill and to come to the floor and speak on behalf of our Scouts. I encourage Scout supporters--indeed, all Americans--to contact their Senators and Representatives and ask them to support the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. I do urge all my Senate colleagues to vote for the young boys and girls who are following in the worthy Scouting tradition. A vote for this amendment will be a vote for them.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I say to the Senator, indeed it is, Mr. Chairman. The Cub Scouts badges and uniform is one I wore and, indeed, my three boys wore, Harrison, Jonathan, and Bryan. It is that introduction to Scouts that most of us first experience. Indeed, it is.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, another way to honor our veterans is to honor the men and women currently serving in our military. Yesterday, we did begin the Defense authorization bill. I do urge my colleagues to come to the Senate floor now, this morning, with their amendments. We must do so now in order to complete this bill. We will consider the legislation amendment by amendment, in an orderly way. It is my intention, in consultation with the bill manager, to file cloture on this bill in short order. That should send a strong signal that now is the time for people to come to the Chamber with their amendments. I also plan to offer an amendment to the Defense authorization bill to preserve our longstanding relationship between the Department of Defense and the Boy Scouts of America. This legislation is necessary-- it is unfortunate it is necessary, but it is necessary--to press back on the lawsuits that seek to sever the ties between our military, which has hosted the Boy Scout Jamboree on its bases, and the Boy Scouts of America. America's youth can learn so much from the men and women in uniform today: love of country, commitment to values, sacrifice for others. It is simply wrongheaded to conclude that Pentagon support of the Boy Scouts of America violates the establishment clause. It is time to return some common sense to the courts. On Monday, July 25, thousands of Scouts from all around the country will begin arriving at Fort AP Hill. Let's protect that relationship. We have an opportunity to do so. It is time for us to act. We will also be considering gun liability legislation before we leave. Given the profusion of litigation, the Department of Defense faces the very real prospect of outsourcing sidearms for our soldiers to foreign manufacturers. Let me repeat, given the amount, the profusion of litigation, the Department of Defense faces the real prospect of having to outsource sidearms for our soldiers to foreign manufacturers. The Baretta Corporation, for instance, makes the standard sidearm for the U.S. Armed Forces. They have the long-term contracts to supply these pistols to our forces in Iraq. Recently, the company had this to say: The decision of the D.C. Court of Appeals . . . has the likelihood of bankrupting, not only Baretta U.S.A., but every maker of semiautomatic pistols and rifles since 1991. Without this legislation, it is possible the American manufacturers of legal firearms will be faced with the real prospect of going out of business, ending a critical source of supply for our Armed Forces, our police, and our citizens. The legislation prohibits one narrow category of lawsuits: suits against the firearms industry for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm or ammunition by a third party. Over two dozen lawsuits have been filed on a variety of theories, all seeking the same politically motivated goal: putting our industry out of business. This is wrong. These frivolous suits threaten a domestic industry that is critical to our national defense, jeopardize hundreds of thousands of jobs, and put at risk law-abiding citizens who have guns for recreational use. Many support this legislation, including the Fraternal Order of Police. I am hopeful, with the cooperation of Members, we can complete all action on this legislation before the recess. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning, we will have 60 minutes of debate prior to the cloture vote on the nomination of Thomas Dorr to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. This is a nomination we have tried to clear for quite some time but were unable to do so because of an objection on the other side of the aisle. On Tuesday, I filed a cloture motion so we could bring this nomination to a vote. I do hope we can invoke cloture and subsequently vote affirmatively, with an up-or-down vote, on the President's nomination. Once cloture is invoked and we are able to vote on the Dorr nomination--once we complete that--we will resume debate on the Defense authorization bill. Chairman Warner and Senator Levin were on the Senate floor yesterday to consider amendments. There is one amendment pending at this point in time. I understand the other side is looking at that amendment. It is an amendment relating to armored personnel carriers. We will schedule that for a vote sometime early today, I hope. We will be considering additional amendments over the course of today. We, of course, will be voting over the course of the afternoon on the Department of Defense authorization bill. We do need to make substantial progress on the bill this week. Therefore, we do ask Senators to come forward with their amendments.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today marks the 75th anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. On July 21, 1930, by Executive order, President Herbert Hoover consolidated our veterans programs into a new Federal agency. In the decades since, the Department has grown to become the second largest Federal agency. In 1989, its director was elevated to a Cabinet-level position. Today, the agency serves more than 25 million American military veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers the most comprehensive veterans assistance programs of any country in the world. Since the very first settlers, America has provided for our veterans. Way back in 1636, the Pilgrims of Plymouth County agreed that members of the colony would support soldiers disabled in the battles with the Pequot Indians. One hundred forty years later, the Continental Congress moved to provide pensions for soldiers disabled by the War for Independence. In the following decades, Congress enacted many more measures to support our retired service men and women. On June 22, 1944, Congress passed the GI bill, one of the most significant pieces of legislation in our country's history. Initially, the proposal to provide educational assistance to our vets was met with controversy. But after successful lobbying by the American Legion, the GI bill was passed unanimously in both Houses. It is now considered one of the most influential pieces of legislation enacted since the Homestead Act. The GI bill has not only opened the door to higher education for millions of Americans, it has transformed America from a society of renters to a society of homeowners. It is the Veterans Affairs Department that has so successfully overseen this tremendous achievement. An area of special interest to me is veterans health. Before coming to the Senate, I spent at least a portion of every week serving our veterans, through surgery, in the operating rooms in veterans hospitals, whether it was the veterans hospital in Nashville, TN, or when I was on the west coast. But literally every week, over the period of my entire professional career in medicine, I was serving veterans in a hospital, performing heart surgery and lung surgery and removing cancers from their chests. The VA hospitals in particular have been successful in streamlining their health information technologies. As we reach out today, focusing on our overall health care system--our health care sector, I should say; we don't have a real health care system in this country--we are looking to the Veterans' Administration and their now over 20 years of experience of health information sharing throughout a system, hospital to hospital and hospital to physician's office. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that for a discrete set of measures, VA patients were in better health and received more recommended treatments as compared to Medicare patients treated on a fee-for-service basis. According to the VA's own medical professionals, a computer system called VISTA is the key to their success. Sanford Garfunkel, the director of the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC, says: I'm proud of what we do here but it isn't that we have more resources. The difference is information. I applaud the VA hospitals for their innovation and for their commitment. I had the opportunity, before coming to the Senate, to see it firsthand in the patients I took care of in our VA hospitals. Each day, the physicians and nurses in these hospitals are advancing that mission of the Veterans Affairs agency to--in the words of Abraham Lincoln--``care for him who has borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.'' It is in that spirit that I pledge to our Nation's veterans to pass legislation prior to the August recess to ensure that the veterans health care system has the resources necessary to care for those who have stood in harm's way for us. Tonight, the VA Diamond Jubilee celebrations will be kicked off with an event at the DAR Constitution Hall here in Washington, DC. In the following weeks and months, our Nation's veterans, their families, and grateful communities will come together in celebrations all over the country to honor the deep contributions of our service men and women. Thank you to the VA and to our women and men of the Armed Forces, including the new generation of veterans coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq. America owes you a great debt of gratitude, and we intend to--and will--continue that long and proud tradition of providing for our soldiers even after they have left the battlefield.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on leader time--the managers will be coming to the floor--one final thought. I am pleased to report that we are making progress on an issue which I mentioned in my previous remarks on information technology. We are working together in a strongly bipartisan way to improve our health care system, to get rid of waste and abuse and ultimately save lives and improve quality by promoting and making it easy to use the protected electronic health record. Yesterday, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported out the Wired for Health Care Quality Act that was introduced by myself, and Senators Enzi, Kennedy, and Clinton. The four of us have been working together aggressively with the HELP Committee. Soon, at the urging of Congress, the administration will make the Veterans' Administration's Electronic Health Record System, called VISTA, available to health care providers free of charge. Making that system available will be hugely beneficial, with tens of thousands of physicians who treat seniors being able to harness the power of having this electronic health record. It will improve the quality of care, the efficiency of care that they provide. It will ultimately pull down cost, and it will get rid of waste within the system. There is much more to be done. That is why I look to rapidly move the HELP-reported bill that will hopefully be before us soon, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act. It also will protect patient privacy and promote secure exchange of lifesaving health information. It will allow for the rapid adoption of standards that will allow health information technology systems to communicate, one with the other. It will allow us to seamlessly integrate the health information technology standards. It will reduce waste and inefficiency and put patients back at the heart of the health care system. Mr. President, the managers are in the Chamber. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, we will be voting on final passage on the Foreign Operations appropriations bill. I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their tremendous work and, in particular, Senator McConnell for his stewardship of this bill. Diplomacy and foreign policy are the essential pillars of our national security. They reflect the values, principles, views, and interests of the people we represent, the American people. They are central to advancing the U.S. role and our place, our stature, in the world. America's national security depends on our ability to integrate and coordinate all of the elements of our national power. It includes diplomacy, intelligence, economic strength, and military might. The Foreign Operations bill advances those efforts and demonstrates our generosity and our priorities. The legislation provides $9.7 billion to ensure that the Department of State and other related agencies and our personnel serving overseas have the tools, the equipment they need to advance America's security. In the past year, freedom movements have swept the globe--in Ukraine, in Georgia, the elections in Afghanistan and Iraq, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories--and have inspired literally millions around the world. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt have also taken demonstrable steps toward democracy. Having visited most of those countries, and having had the opportunity to speak directly to senior officials in each, I have seen real changes, impressive changes. The spread of democracy unifies our values, unifies our national interests. As Americans, we believe every person has the right to live in a free society where they can choose their own leaders, have a hand in their own destiny, and secure a bright future for their children. And democracy, along with all the hope and progress it brings, creates peace and stability between the United States and our friends and allies. The Foreign Operations bill provides $120 million for the Middle East Partnership Initiative to help spread democracy among the Arab people. By promoting economic, educational, and political reform in the Middle East, we marginalize our terrorist enemies. They lose their state- sponsored safe havens, they lose potential recruits, and they lose the ability to exploit political grievances for terrorist gain. Democracy provides an engine for the people, not the terrorists, to win, to take responsible and peaceful action to better their lives, their countries, and hold their leaders accountable. The United States must continue to provide support to the activists and reformers in the Middle East. These heroes make great sacrifices for the cause of freedom, and they are critical allies in our fight against terrorism. We must also continue to support our work providing aid and humanitarian relief. America leads the world in providing international aid. But too often international aid money never reaches the very people it is intended to help. It is stolen or wasted by corrupt or inefficient governments. That is why this bill strengthens accountability requirements. The Millennium Challenge Corporation requires recipient governments to take clear steps, verifiable steps, to govern justly in an open, transparent democratic way, to invest in people by improving education and health care, to promote economic freedom so their economies can grow and provide jobs. Against this backdrop, aid money can do the most good. Today, many throughout the developing world--particularly in Africa, where I was 2 weeks ago--suffer from devastating diseases. We know them: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria. These deadly diseases have the potential to decimate entire populations and to prevent those nations from ever becoming modern, prosperous countries. The legislation before us allocates $2.9 billion for the President's initiative against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Two billion of that total is directed to the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, $400 million covers our contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. In total, the bill allocates $203 million above the budget request for this coming fiscal year. These funds are targeted to help where it is needed most. They zero in on the 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. I again thank my colleagues and the President of the United States and the American people for their generosity and for their leadership in this great humanitarian effort. A number of other health-related programs are also incorporated into the foreign operations bill--$1.6 billion has been allocated for the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund. This includes $375 million for child survival and maternal health, which is an increase of $49 million above last year's level. In addition, this funding includes $30 million for vulnerable children and an additional $285 million for infectious diseases. Today, around the world, there are more than 600,000 pregnancy- related deaths and more than 4 million deaths among newborn babies per year. Most of these tragedies are preventable. The Foreign Operations bill provides $375 million to prevent these deaths. Many of these problems we see around the world stem from the lack of available clean drinking water and proper sanitation in many regions of the world. Water-related illnesses pose fatal threats to vulnerable populations, especially children. Every 15 seconds a child dies from a disease contracted from unclean water. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.1 billion around the world lack access to clean, safe water sources; 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. As a result, approximately 1.8 million people die very year from diarrheal disease. Ninety percent of those deaths occur in children under the age of 5. And if we do nothing, with an increasing world population and further constraints on our world's water resources, the problem is only expected to get worse. I commend the assistant majority leader, Senator McConnell, the chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, for providing $200 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development for safe water programs in his bill. Fifty million dollars of that amount is targeted to programs in Africa where the need is great. Private, nonprofit sector programs are also working hard, including the Millennium Water Alliance, Water for People, Water Leaders Foundation, and Living Water International. These groups are dedicated to delivering comprehensive, safe water technologies throughout the globe. Some are building major infrastructures. Some are digging wells and providing hand pumps to villages. Others are developing lightweight, low-cost, low-energy water purification systems that could be available to distribute to communities, schools, and orphanages for combating water-related diseases in Africa. I commend all of these organizations for their dedication and compassion. Together we are working to make this an International Decade for Action known. In 10 years, we intend to cut in half the number of people around the globe who lack access to safe, clean water. Another demonstration of America's compassion is our work with the effects of civil strife, especially war and violence. This appropriations bill will provide $74 million for the Conflict Response Fund to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing countries impacted by conflict or civil strife. In addition, $900 million is allocated for Migration and Refugee Assistance and $40 million for the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund. Unlike many donor countries, the United States strives to ensure that foreign assistance is effective, that it is distributed to those who need it the most, and that it gets measurable results. In addition to foreign aid, the foreign operations bill also addresses the most dangerous threats we face today--the spread of weapons of mass destruction and the global war on terrorism. This bill provides $440 million for nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and other related programs. We are working closely with our friends and allies to secure stockpiles of WMD-related materials and technology, and make sure that they have the capability to protect these sensitive materials. The bill also provides funding and assistance for our coalition partners in the global war terrorism. The legislation includes $4.6 billion for foreign military financing. This funding, along with other national resources committed by our coalition partners, is essential for improving the capabilities of our coalition allies so that they can continue to make their vital contributions to this global effort. The $86 million allotted for the international military education and training programs will ensure that our allies maintain the ability to work closely with American forces on the battlefield and take independent initiative to the fight against terrorism. The United Nations also has an important role to play in the advance of democracy and the fight against terror. The world organization provides a medium for nations to discuss and resolve differences peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy. It also monitors particular international agreements to ensure that nations are fulfilling their obligations and commitments. The U.N. is also critical to organizing and providing humanitarian and other assistance to the world's most desperate regions. In order to carry out these functions effectively, however, the U.N. must undergo serious reform. The United Nations needs to take action against its officials who are guilty of waste, fraud, and abuse. And it must also take steps to make the organization as a whole ore accountable, transparent, and efficient. The United Nations has many positive contributions yet to make. But, in order to fulfill its mission, it must do more to clean house. America's foreign policy reflects the values, beliefs and culture of the American people and the history of our great Nation. By advancing our values abroad, the United States not only makes the world a better place, it makes it a safer place, too. As a free people, we are duty bound to share the blessings of liberty with citizens around the globe. Our generation, no less than the one before, is compelled to confront the challenges of our times--and to fulfill America's destiny, in the words of the Great Emancipator, as mankind's last, best hope. sudan Last night, the Senate passed a resolution to support the fragile peace process between the government in Khartoum and the southern Sudanese. I applaud my colleagues for their compassion and concern for this troubled region of the world. The resolution calls upon the U.S. Government to closely monitor the peace process now underway. It also focuses our attention to the continuing crisis in Darfur, and calls for continued pressure on Khartoum to end its genocidal campaign and bring justice to the criminals who have ravaged the people and the land of Darfur. Eleven days ago, the leaders of Sudan took an historic step. John Garang, leader of the Sudanese Liberation Army, returned to the capitol of Khartoum for the first time in 21 years to be sworn in as Sudan's vice president. Dr. Garang told the cheering crowd over a million strong, ``My presence here today in Khartoum is a true signal that the war is over.'' Together, he and President Bashir signed a new interim constitution officially forming the National Unity Government of Sudan. Under this agreement, Sudan will enter a 6-year interim period. At the 4-year mark, nationwide elections will be held at the provincial level, as well as for the national legislature. The interim period will culminate with a vote by the people of southern Sudan deciding their political future. After two decades of brutal civil war that has killed 2 million people and displaced over 4 million more, north and south are finally on the verge of genuine peace. It is a fragile moment, but one for celebration. Last month, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Garang in my office here in Washington. During our meeting, he emphasized to me that for the peace to hold, both parties must fulfill their obligations under the peace agreement signed last January. He also stressed that pressure from the United States is critical. The civil war and its aftermath have created a staggering humanitarian crisis. And he is not confident the government in Khartoum will fulfill all of its obligations under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Dr. Garang firmly believes that U.S. and international sanctions are necessary to keep the process moving forward. During our meeting, he also told me that we can help him sell the peace to the Sudanese people. Our assistance in education, health care, and roads, for example, can help show a traumatized Nation the benefits of peace over continued violence. The road forward will not be easy. Millions have lost their lives in 20 years of struggle. But the days, weeks and months ahead hold great promise not only for the north and south, but for the entire country. Nowhere is that hope more needed than in the western region of Darfur For 2 years, the Sudanese Government has waged a brutal genocide against the Darfur people. Despite United Nations Security Council resolutions, and pressure from the international community and neighboring countries, the Government of Khartoum continues to kill and maim. Up to 180,000 innocent victims have died as a result of the government-sponsored violence. Two million more have been displaced. Entire villages have been burned to the ground. Last November, the Khartoum Government agreed to halt the attacks. But within hours of the agreement, Sudanese police raided a camp in southern Darfur, destroying homes and driving out civilians. I have visited the region and have heard the stories first hand. Last August, I visited a refugee camp called Touloum in Chad. Thousands of refugees are housed in dust-covered tents. Many more live in make-shift shelters of gathered wood and plastic sheeting. I met with refugees and community leaders. Their testimonials were searing. I heard the story of a mentally disabled 15-year-old boy being thrown into a burning house, and of an old, paralyzed man burned alive in his hut. I heard stories of women raped in front of their own children, and male villagers being summarily executed. I asked one refugee in Touloum what it would take for him to go home. He said, ``I'll go if you come with me and stay with me.'' Last week, the Government of Sudan and the rebels in Darfur signed a Declaration of Principles for the Resolution of the Sudanese Conflict in Darfur. This agreement provides a framework for negotiations. In order for it to work, however, all parties must stop the violence now. The conflict will only be resolved through peaceful negotiations and dialogue. The United Nations has taken limited steps to punish those responsible for the atrocities. In March, the U.N. Security Council voted to freeze the assets of individuals deemed guilty of committing war crimes or breaking cease-fire agreements. It also voted to ban these individuals from traveling. In addition, the Security Council voted to forbid the Sudanese Government from carrying out offensive military flights over Darfur, and from sending military equipment into the region without first notifying the Council. The introduction of troops into Darfur from the African Union is a positive development. There are currently 2,400 African Union troops in Darfur. By August, that number should go up to 7,700 and by next spring 12,300. NATO has also agreed to provide logistical support to the African Union peacekeepers in Darfur. These are hopeful and helpful measures. But more must be done. The violence will continue to escalate and the death toll will rise unless, and until, the international community takes stronger action against Khartoum. The world's leaders need to impose more comprehensive sanctions on the Sudanese Government, including on its oil industry. Tough and intense pressure must be brought to bear. The progress between the south of Sudan and Khartoum is promising and should guide the way forward in Darfur. But time is running out. We cannot ``wait and see.'' The Darfur people need our help. They are crying out for support. We must act, now, before it is too late and their voices fade to silence. cuba Today, we have an opportunity to assist the Cuban people in their struggle for liberty. The Foreign Operations bill under consideration provides funding for an airplane to transmit Radio Marti, around the clock, providing constant support to those on the island fighting for freedom. I urge my colleagues to support this effort. Radio Marti has been critical in promoting the cause of Cuban liberty. Since its inception 20 years ago, Radio Marti has brought news to and from the isolated country in defiance of Castro's censors. On May 20, 1985, at 5:30 in the morning, Radio Marti launched its first broadcast to the Cuban people. Fourteen and a half hours of uncensored news reached Cuba from a studio here in Washington, DC, via transmitters in Marathon Key. Named after the Cuban intellectual and patriot, Jose Marti, the station broke through Castro's propaganda machine and offered the Cuban people news, entertainment and discussion with Cuban journalists, thinkers, writers and entertainers. In just a few short years, Radio Marti became the most listened to station in Cuba. Many Cuban reporters now send their stories to the U.S.-based station to bypass the government and beam directly into Cuban homes. Over the years, dissidents and human rights advocates have come to rely on these transmissions for strength and hope. As President Reagan told an audience back in 1983 while Congress was debating the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act, ``there is no more important foreign policy initiative in this administration, and none that frightens our adversaries more, than our attempts through our international radios to build constituencies for peace in nations dominated by totalitarian, militaristic regimes.'' In 1990, TV Marti was launched, bringing in a new wave of free media. Within 23 minutes of its first broadcast, Castro jammed the airwaves, but his success was only temporary. Like its radio companion, TV Marti offers political news and debate. It also airs soap operas and sports. Whether as news or entertainment, these broadcasts help to spark the imaginations and aspirations of the Cuban people. They pierce the regime's imposed isolation and bring the Cuban people into the world community, and the world community to the Cuban people. To this day, the Communist party controls all formal means of mass communication on the island. It has constructed a complicated apparatus of censors and technology to air its propaganda and smother divergent views. All print and electronic media are considered state property under the control of the party. Foreign magazines and newspapers are outlawed as subversive material. That is why Radio and TV Marti are so critical. And that is why I urge my colleagues to amplify our efforts now. Jose Marti once said that, ``Others looked at radio and saw a gadget; his genius lay in his capacity to look at the same thing, but to see far more.'' I urge my colleagues to share the vision held by our former president Ronald Reagan when he first proposed Radio Marti. The Wall had not yet fallen, and millions of people still lived under the boot of the brutal Communist empire. But he knew that Radio Free Europe was reaching and inspiring millions of men and women trapped behind the Iron Curtain, in bleak Communist towns and in dark Communist prisons. And like Radio Free Europe, he knew that Radio Marti would reach and lift up those living in the Communist island just 90 miles from our southern shores. So, today, I urge my colleagues to continue our support for the aspirations of the Cuban people. With just one plane and one radio station, we can broadcast the call of freedom to millions. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that upon disposition of H.R. 3057, the Foreign Operations appropriations bill, the Senate turn to the immediate consideration of S. 1042, the Defense authorization bill.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, safe drinking water is one of the biggest health challenges facing the developing world. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.1 billion people around the world lack access to clean water sources and 2.6 billion lack access to basic sanitation. As a result, approximately 1.8 million people die every year from diarrheal disease, and sadly, 90 percent of those deaths occur in children under the age of 5. With an increasing world population and further constraints on our world's water resources, the problem is expected to worsen significantly before it begins to improve. I commend the assistant majority leader, Senator McConnell, the chairman of the foreign operations appropriations subcommittee, for providing $200 million to the U.S. Agency for International Development for safe water programs in his bill. Further, the chairman has allocated not less than $50 million of that amount for programs in Africa, where the need is significant. In addition to Government aid, there is a growing effort in the private, nonprofit sector to address this problem as well. Organizations such as Millennium Water Alliance, Water Missions International, Living Water International, Water for People, The Nature Conservancy, Winrock International, The Aspen Institute, and many others are working to address global water issues. Also, the WaterLeaders Foundation is an organization dedicated to delivering comprehensive, safe water technologies throughout the globe, one village at a time. They are developing lightweight, low-cost, low- energy water purification systems that will soon be available to distribute to communities, schools, and orphanages to help turn back the tide on water-related diseases in Africa. I would like to ask Senator McConnell, the chairman of this subcommittee, if anything in this bill precludes any portion of USAID funds from matching private donations to assist these types of organizations from helping to provide safe drinking water for these types of activities?

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will begin the Senate's session with a 60-minute period for morning business. Following morning business, we will return to the pending business of the Foreign Operations appropriations bill. We made substantial progress over the course of yesterday and last night, and although we were unable to finish the bill, the chairman was able to reach a consent limiting the number of amendments we will handle today. Many of those amendments may be worked out or perhaps not even offered. Therefore, we expect we can finish the Foreign Operations appropriations bill at an early hour today. We will have rollcall votes throughout the day until final passage of that measure. As a reminder to my colleagues, we filed a cloture motion on the Dorr nomination. That nomination is to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. That cloture vote will occur on Thursday morning. There are a number of other important issues we have mentioned over the course of the last couple days, including last night, that we will continue to work toward agreements on. I will keep all of our colleagues apprised as the schedule changes.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today in the Senate we will undertake one of our most significant and historic constitutional responsibilities. The eyes of all Americans and of history will be focused upon us. The American people, through their votes, have entrusted us with the constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominations. They have entrusted us to govern as their elected representatives. We must ask ourselves: How will the American people view us--how will history judge us--for the deliberations we begin today? It is my goal the American people will say, and history will record, that we were fair and thorough, that we treated our Supreme Court nominee, Judge Roberts, with dignity and respect, and that we worked expeditiously to confirm Judge Roberts before the Supreme Court began its new term in October. Leading up to his announcement last night, the President engaged in a selection and a consultation process that can be characterized with a few words: ``bipartisan,'' ``inclusive,'' and ``unprecedented.'' The President and his White House reached out to both Republicans and Democrats. He listened thoughtfully to our views and he thoughtfully welcomed our suggestions on potential nominees and on the nominations process. In all, the White House contacted more than 70 Senators, including more than two-thirds of the Democratic Caucus and, of course, every single member of the Judiciary Committee. The President was not required by the Constitution to reach out or consult. He was not required to take any time at all. He could have rushed through his choice. He could have nominated someone on the same day Justice O'Connor announced her retirement without consulting anyone, but he did not. The President sought input because he believed it was the right thing to do. I commend him for this inclusive approach, which I believe has strengthened the overall integrity of this process. Now we move to the next stage. Last night the President announced the nomination of Judge John Roberts, Jr., to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Most Americans are getting their very first glimpse of the nominee. What do we know about him? Born in Buffalo, NY, in 1955, Judge Roberts was raised in Indiana with his three sisters. He ventured off to Massachusetts for college at Harvard and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in, as we have heard, only 3 years. During the summers, he worked at a steel mill to help pay for college. But his academic journey did not stop here. He then enrolled in Harvard Law School, where he once again excelled. He earned the coveted position of editor of one of the most well-respected law journals in the country, the Harvard Law Review. After graduating from law school with high honors, Judge Roberts served as a law clerk to Judge Henry Friendly on the Second Circuit, and then to William Rehnquist, who was then an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. In 1981, he continued his legal career at the Department of Justice as the Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, and then as Associate Counsel to President Reagan. In 1986, Judge Roberts entered private practice, joining the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, where he specialized in civil litigation. Three years later, he returned to public service as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States. During his legal career, he has argued an impressive 39 cases before the Supreme Court--39 cases. To put that in perspective, only a few of the 180,000 members of the Supreme Court bar have ever argued a single case before the high Court. In January 2003, President Bush nominated Judge Roberts to serve on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, often referred to as the second highest court in the land. Upon his nomination to the appellate court, more than 150 members of the DC Bar--including both Republicans and Democrats--expressed support for Judge Roberts. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, they wrote that Judge Roberts is ``one of the very best and most highly respected appellate lawyers in the nation, with a deserved reputation as a brilliant writer and oral advocate.'' Judge Roberts' nomination was well received by the Judiciary Committee and was favorably reported out of the committee by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 16 to 3, and on May 8, 2003, he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. I believe Judge Roberts is exactly the kind of Justice America expects on the Supreme Court. He is among the best of the best legal minds in America. He is a mainstream conservative, someone who understands that the role of a judge is to interpret the law and the Constitution and not to legislate from the bench. He is someone who will be fair, openminded, and impartial--not someone who will prejudge cases, predetermine outcomes, or advance a personal political agenda. In short, he is a Supreme Court nominee who will make America proud. Throughout his life, Judge Roberts has worn many hats: a devoted husband and father of two, a skilled litigator, and a superb jurist. I am confident Judge Roberts will be an asset to the Supreme Court and that he will serve with honor and distinction, just as he has on the DC Circuit Court. As we look ahead, I do encourage my colleagues to remain focused on our three goals: first, conducting a fair and thorough confirmation process; second, treating Judge Roberts with dignity and respect; and, third, having an up-or-down vote on Judge Roberts before the Supreme Court starts its new term on October 3. These goals are reasonable. These goals are achievable. There are 75 days from today until October 3. It took an average of 62 days from nomination to confirmation for all the current Supreme Court Justices. It only took an average of 58 days to confirm President Clinton's nominees, Justices Breyer and Ginsburg. And even though some Senators held different philosophical views from these Justices--in many cases vastly different philosophical views--they both received up-or-down votes and were confirmed by wide margins. These nominations serve as useful models for us today. Ultimately, I hope this process is marked by cooperation, and not confrontation, and by steady progress, not delay and obstruction. This morning, less than 12 hours after the President's announcement, some extreme special interest groups already are mobilizing to oppose Judge Roberts. They are not even giving him the courtesy of reserving judgment until the Judiciary Committee hearings. Together, as Senators, we can rise above the partisan rhetoric and obstruction that has gripped the judicial nominations process in the past. A thorough investigation and debate on Judge Roberts does not require delay or personal attacks or obstruction. A fair and dignified process is in the best interests of the Senate, the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the American people. I look forward to welcoming Judge Roberts to the Senate a bit later today. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on his nomination to the Supreme Court. Mr. President, I yield the floor.