Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in 15 minutes or so, we will vote on the nomination of Under Secretary of State John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations. I applaud President Bush for his selection. The President describes the Under Secretary as ``a blunt guy'' who ``can get the job done'' and ``isn't afraid to speak his mind''--not even to the President himself. We need a smart, principled, and straightforward representative to articulate the President's policies on the world's stage. We need a person with Under Secretary Bolton's proven track record of determination and success to cut through the thick and tangled bureaucracy that has mired the U.N. in scandal and inefficiency. A vote for John Bolton is a vote for U.N. reform. A vote for John Bolton is a vote for progress on the international challenges of our day. A vote for John Bolton is a vote for the United States. It is no accident that polling shows most Americans have a poor view of the United Nations. In recent months, we have seen a deluge of negative reports. We now know that Saddam Hussein stole an estimated $10 billion through the Oil-for-Food Program. The U.N. official who ran the operation stands accused of taking kickbacks, along with many other officials. Just this week, the head of the Iraq Survey Group told the Council on Foreign Relations that as a result of the oil-for-food corruption, Saddam came to believe he could divide the U.N. Security Council and bring an end to sanctions. I commend Senator Coleman for his determined efforts to get to the bottom of this global scandal. We know the U.N. failed to stop the genocide in Rwanda in the 1990s. The U.N. is on the brink of repeating that mistake in Darfur. In the Congo, it is alleged that U.N. peacekeepers have committed sexual abuse against the innocent female civil war victims they were sent to protect. Meanwhile, the U.N.'s Human Rights Commission, which is charged with protecting our human rights, includes such human rights abusers as Libya, Cuba, Zimbabwe, and Sudan. These failures are very real and very discouraging. They can be measured in lives lost and billions of dollars stolen. And they can be measured in the sinking regard for an organization that should be held in high esteem. America sends the U.N. $2 billion per year. Our contribution makes up 22 percent of that budget. We provide an even larger percentage for peacekeeping and other U.N. activities. It is no surprise that Americans are calling out for reform. John Bolton is the President's choice to lead that effort. He possesses deep and extensive knowledge of the U.N. and has, for many years, been committed to its reform. Back in 1991, Under Secretary Bolton successfully lobbied to repeal the U.N.'s shameful resolution 3379, which equated Zionism with racism. Many in the diplomatic community told him it could not be done. But after waging an aggressive campaign, he moved the U.N. General Assembly to repeal the resolution by a vote of 111 to 25. As Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, John Bolton helped build a coalition of 60 countries to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction through the President's Proliferation Security Initiative. He was pivotal in our successful efforts to persuade Libya to give up its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. He was also the chief negotiator of the Treaty of Moscow, which calls upon the U.S. and Russia to reduce their nuclear warheads by nearly two-thirds. Under Secretary Bolton has the confidence of the President and the Secretary of State, and it is to them he will report directly. He has been confirmed by this body four times, and I believe if we are given the chance, he will be confirmed for a fifth time today. The vetting of his current nomination has been exhaustive. The Foreign Relations Committee interviewed 29 witnesses and reviewed more than 830 pages of documents from the State Department, from USAID, and the CIA. Under Secretary Bolton fielded nearly 100 questions for the record and underwent multiple hearings. As Senator Lugar has pointed out, Under Secretary Bolton has served 4 years in a key position that technically outranks the post for which he is now being considered. This is a critical time for the United States and for the world. Because of the President's vision and commitment, democracy is on the march around the globe. In January, Iraq held its first truly free elections. Revolution has swept the Ukraine, Georgia, and Lebanon. We are seeing political reforms in Egypt. Kuwait now allows a woman the right to vote. Saudi Arabia is slowly opening the door to democracy. The Middle East peace process is at its most hopeful moment ever. The U.N. can and should be vital in advancing these developments. The U.N. charter states that the purpose of that organization is ``to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.'' I believe in the U.N.'s potential, if it is reformed and more rightly focused. It has been an important instrument of peace and dialog. I believe, as does the President, that an effective U.N. is in America's interest. Ambassador Rudy Boschwitz, who has just returned from the 61st session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, puts it well when he says that: Not only the United States, but the United Nations itself, needs and will profit from a no-nonsense representative like Mr. Bolton. U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan, too, supports the Under Secretary's selection. I thank my colleague Senator Lugar for his strong leadership. And I also thank my colleagues Senators Allen, Coleman, Sununu, and Alexander for their clear-eyed and unwavering support for this capable and fine nominee. I will close with a story about John Bolton. When he was an intern in the Nixon White House, John Ehrlichman had gathered the interns together to tell them they had to work for Nixon's reelection. A young John Bolton piped up, ``Work for him? I don't even know if I'm going to vote for him.'' He has always been a straight-shooter and a man of integrity--exactly what we need at the United Nations, and exactly what the United Nations needs from us. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I enter a motion to reconsider the vote.

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

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, needless to say, I am very disappointed with where we sit today. We have had an interesting week, a very challenging week, starting the week on one clear direction and then sidetracked a little bit to what I thought was not an unreasonable feeling in this body that we were going to be working together and that we were going to address the important issues to America. John Bolton, the very first issue to which we turned, we got what to me looks like a filibuster. It certainly sounds like a filibuster, looking at the vote today, it quacks like a filibuster, and I am afraid, shortly after we thought we had things working together in this body again, we have another filibuster, this time on another nomination--not a judicial nomination but another nomination--the nomination of John Bolton. It does disappoint me. We had an opportunity to finish and complete this week with a very good spirit. We are going to come back to this issue. As has been said by Senator Biden, as I have said, we are going to revisit it, but I think what America has just seen is an engagement of another period of obstruction by the other side of the aisle, and it looks like we have, once again, another filibuster. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 159, submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to consideration of H. Con. Res. 167, the adjournment resolution, which is at the desk. I further ask consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to consider the following nominations on today's Executive Calendar: Nos. 104, 105, 106 through 111, 112, with the exception of BG Rita Broadway, 0000, Nos. 113, 114, with the exception of COL Donald M. Bradshaw, 0000, Nos. 115 through 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk. I further ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration of Coast Guard nominations lists, PN 236 and PN 527, and a NOAA list, PN 452; provided further that the Senate proceed to their consideration, the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the nomination of Israel Hernandez, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, received on Thursday, May 26, 2005, be jointly referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of Robert Joseph, PN 301, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security; provided further that the Senate proceed to its consideration, the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the live quorum with respect to both cloture votes be waived.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 100, the nomination of William Pryor, of Alabama, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I move that the Senate insist on its amendment, agree to the request for a conference, and the Chair appoint conferees, with a ratio of 16 to 14, with the names submitted at the desk.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (H.R. 3) to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Represenatives: Resolved, That the House disagree to the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3) entitled ``An Act to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes,'' and ask a conference with the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon.

Mr. FRIST

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

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on June 1 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law and by concurrent action of the two Houses or by order of the Senate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment of the Senate, the majority leader, majority whip, and senior Senator from Virginia be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in a few moments, the Senate will finally vote up or down on the nomination of Justice Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Four years--it has been a long road for Justice Owen, much longer than anyone would have or could have anticipated when she was nominated about 4 years and 2 weeks ago. She has endured 4 years of delay, 9 hours of committee hearings, hundreds of questions, and more than 100 hours of debate on this Senate floor. In fact, it is interesting, the Senate has debated Justice Owen more days than all the sitting Supreme Court Justices combined. Today she will get the fair up-or-down vote she deserves. Justice Owen has withstood an orchestrated partisan attack on her record as a judge and, indeed, at times on her character. Only a few days ago, opponents unfairly labeled her as too extreme to serve on the Federal bench, but those unfair attacks have not succeeded. Justice Owen, as we all know, is a distinguished mainstream jurist. She has exhibited extraordinary patience and courage in the face of continuous and sometimes vicious criticism. But today finally she will get that fair up-or-down vote, and I am confident she will be confirmed. Today does mark a triumph of principle over politics, results over rhetoric. For far too long on judicial nominees, the filibuster was used to facilitate partisanship and to subvert principle. Through this debate, we have exposed the injustice of judicial obstruction in the last Congress and advanced those core constitutional principles that all judicial nominees deserve a fair up-or-down vote. This vote should mark--will mark, I hope--a new beginning in the Senate, a step forward for principle, a step forward for fairness and the Constitution, but we cannot stop at this single step. I look forward to confirming other previously blocked nominees. I look forward to reading about partisan judicial obstruction only in the history books, and I hope the constitutional option does not become necessary. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the confirmation of Justice Owen. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I appreciate the comment of the Democratic leader. We have agreed on the schedule for the week, and it is really to get to the Bolton nomination as soon as we possibly can. He is talking to Senators on his side, and I have to talk to some on our side. We are both eager to get on to the nomination, which we plan to do today. I appreciate the Democratic leader coming to encourage us along. We will work things out here shortly on the plans to proceed to the Bolton nomination after the Owen nomination.