Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to consideration of S. Res. 148 submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask if the chairman would try to keep his remarks within the time limit agreed to, about 42 minutes, and we can stay on schedule. I ask the Democratic leader, would that be acceptable? I ask unanimous consent that we, as agreed earlier, have 42 minutes on our side and 41 minutes on the other side.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask the distinguished chairman this. We have 41 minutes on our side and 42 on the other side. If you don't complete your remarks in 41 minutes, then we will agree to yield an equivalent amount of time in the next hour, to deduct that equal amount of time in the next hour from both sides.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in response, the Paez nomination--we will come back and discuss it further. Actually, I would like to come back to the floor and discuss it. It really brings to, I believe, a point what is the issue. The issue is that we have leadership-led partisan filibusters that have obstructed not 1 nominee but 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in a routine way. The issue is not cloture votes per se; it is the partisan leadership-led use of the cloture vote to kill, to defeat, to assassinate these nominees. That is the difference. Cloture has been used in the past on this floor to postpone, to get more information, to ask further questions. But each and every time, the nominee, including Paez, got an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate where all 100 Senators could vote yes or no, confirm or reject. Paez got an up-or-down vote. That is all that we ask on the floor, that Priscilla Owen, that Justice Brown get a simple vote, approved, disapproved, confirmed, rejected. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I do not believe he is on the Executive Calendar. To the best of my knowledge--at least he is not on the Executive Calendar as printed today.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I would be happy to look at the letter and request of the administration, what requests are made in the letter, and see what their response would be. In the meantime, Mr. President, what I would like to do is proceed with Priscilla Owen, who is a qualified nominee, who is a nominee we are going to have a lot of debate on back and forth, to determine whether or not she is out of the mainstream, as people say. We will go through regular order and take these nominees the President has submitted to the Judiciary Committee, who have been fully evaluated in the Judiciary Committee, and who now are on the Executive Calendar ready for business. So we are going to begin that debate shortly.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, through the Chair, we have given careful consideration of which would be the most appropriate person to begin with. It is Priscilla Owen. So we will proceed with Priscilla Owen. There are five people on the Executive Calendar, and our intention would be to debate these nominees, one by one; and hopefully, as other nominees come out of the Judiciary Committee, to take them up as well. So we will be proceeding with Priscilla Owen.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I have no objection.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to executive session to consider calendar No. 71, the nomination of Priscilla Owen to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; provided further that the first hour of debate, from 9:45 to 10:45, be under the control of the majority leader or his designee; further that the next hour, from 10:45 to 11:45, be under the control of the Democratic leader or his designee; and the time for debate rotate in a similar manner every 60 minutes; provided further that the Senate recess from 3:45 to 4:45 to accommodate an all-Senators briefing; provided further that the time from 5:45 to 7:15 be under the control of the Democratic leader and the time from 7:15 to 7:45 be under the control of the majority leader or his designee.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, we will begin debate on one of the judicial nominations pending on the Executive Calendar. In a moment, we will enter into a consent agreement to begin the consideration of Priscilla Owen to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. I have consulted with the Democratic leader, and we hope to have an orderly debate for Members to come to the floor to make their statements. To facilitate that process, we will rotate back and forth between the aisle every 60 minutes. I will have a short statement, the Democratic leader will have a statement following mine, and then we will begin the rotation back and forth. I look forward to this debate, and I hope all Members will take the opportunity to participate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, Senator Bingaman and I introduced the ``Covering Kids Act of 2005.'' This legislation provides $100 million in funding to a host of entities including the States, local communities, schools, faith-based organizations, Indian tribes, safety net providers. The goal is to increase enrollment of eligible children in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I believe that all Americans should have the security of lifelong, affordable access to health care, especially America's children. Programs like SCHIP help provide a critical safety net. But, unfortunately, there are still too many families who are not aware of the coverage available to them, or face barriers to enrollment. In fact, over 5.6 million kids are eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP, but are not enrolled. The Covering Kids Act will help close that gap. The legislation will fund innovative outreach and enrollment efforts to expand coverage among minority and underserved children, and to those living in rural areas. It will also give states additional flexibility to streamline enrollment in these programs, reducing administrative costs for the government and eliminating paperwork and hassles for families. Covering children is the right thing to do. And by ensuring that children have access to preventive care, it is also one of the best ways of reducing long-term strain on America's health care system. Since arriving in the Senate in 1995, I have advanced worked hard to expand coverage to uninsured Americans and improve health care for those in need. I have sponsored numerous pieces of bipartisan legislation including: the ``Closing the Health Care Gap Act of 2004,'' the ``Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003,'' the ``Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Prevention Act of 2003,'' and the ``Children's Health Act of 2000.'' Last Congress, we took a critical step forward in expanding affordable health coverage to millions more Americans by authorizing tax-free, portable Health Savings Accounts as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Today, we build on that record of progress. I first proposed expanding outreach efforts to help lower income children in July of last year. Today, I join with Senator Jeff Bingaman and other cosponsors in taking a critical step toward fulfilling that goal. I also want to applaud the President for his leadership on this issue. President Bush has made the expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP coverage a cornerstone of his agenda. I am confident that with his leadership, and the efforts of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we can help millions of kids who need coverage by passing this common sense legislation. All of our children should have access to the affordable quality health care. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senators Bingaman, Lugar, Cantwell, Santorum, Collins, Cochran, and Murray. I look forward to working with them, and with all of my colleagues, to strengthen our Nation's health care system and expand affordable health coverage. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, Senator Bingaman and I introduced the ``Covering Kids Act of 2005.'' This legislation provides $100 million in funding to a host of entities including the States, local communities, schools, faith-based organizations, Indian tribes, safety net providers. The goal is to increase enrollment of eligible children in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I believe that all Americans should have the security of lifelong, affordable access to health care, especially America's children. Programs like SCHIP help provide a critical safety net. But, unfortunately, there are still too many families who are not aware of the coverage available to them, or face barriers to enrollment. In fact, over 5.6 million kids are eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP, but are not enrolled. The Covering Kids Act will help close that gap. The legislation will fund innovative outreach and enrollment efforts to expand coverage among minority and underserved children, and to those living in rural areas. It will also give states additional flexibility to streamline enrollment in these programs, reducing administrative costs for the government and eliminating paperwork and hassles for families. Covering children is the right thing to do. And by ensuring that children have access to preventive care, it is also one of the best ways of reducing long-term strain on America's health care system. Since arriving in the Senate in 1995, I have advanced worked hard to expand coverage to uninsured Americans and improve health care for those in need. I have sponsored numerous pieces of bipartisan legislation including: the ``Closing the Health Care Gap Act of 2004,'' the ``Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003,'' the ``Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Prevention Act of 2003,'' and the ``Children's Health Act of 2000.'' Last Congress, we took a critical step forward in expanding affordable health coverage to millions more Americans by authorizing tax-free, portable Health Savings Accounts as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Today, we build on that record of progress. I first proposed expanding outreach efforts to help lower income children in July of last year. Today, I join with Senator Jeff Bingaman and other cosponsors in taking a critical step toward fulfilling that goal. I also want to applaud the President for his leadership on this issue. President Bush has made the expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP coverage a cornerstone of his agenda. I am confident that with his leadership, and the efforts of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we can help millions of kids who need coverage by passing this common sense legislation. All of our children should have access to the affordable quality health care. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senators Bingaman, Lugar, Cantwell, Santorum, Collins, Cochran, and Murray. I look forward to working with them, and with all of my colleagues, to strengthen our Nation's health care system and expand affordable health coverage. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we are about to vote on the highway bill. I believe we have a strong bill, a bipartisan bill. I thank Senator Inhofe, Senator Bond, Senator Grassley, Senator Stevens, Senator Lott, and Senator Shelby for their hard work, dedication and leadership to get this bill passed. They have been instrumental to the process and deserve great credit. I also thank my colleagues Senator Jeffords, Senator Baucus, Senator Inouye, and Senator Sarbanes for their willingness to work cooperatively on this critical legislation. The highway bill is a result of a long, bipartisan process. It is based on more than 3 years of work, over a dozen hearings, testimony from more than 100 witnesses, and countless hours of negotiation. It is supported by a deep and broad coalition--from State and local highway authorities to national safety advocates. And in a few moments, we will finally deliver to the American people legislation that will help build and improve our vast and sprawling infrastructure. America is interlaced by nearly 4 million miles of roads and highways. The interstate highway system has often been called ``the greatest public works project in history.'' Our roads, ports and railroads are vital to America's economic success. We know this well in Tennessee where companies like Federal Express, U.S. Express, and Averitt Express are located. Unfortunately, America's transportation infrastructure has deteriorated badly and our roads have become painfully overcrowded. Just ask any American commuter. There is bumper-to-bumper traffic, not just during rush hour, but all day long. In our Nation's urban areas, traffic delays have more than tripled over the last 20 years in small and big cities across the country. In my home State of Tennessee, traffic congestion has increased in all of our major metropolitan areas. Nashville commuters drive an average of 32 miles per person per day. Metropolitan planning organizations are struggling to meet demand. Because of this congestion, Americans suffer more than 3.6 billion hours in delays, and waste 5.7 billion gallons of fuel, per year, sitting in traffic. All the while creating more and more pollution. Cars caught in stop- and-go traffic emit far more pollution than cars on smoothly flowing roads. The American Highway Users Alliance estimates that if we could free up America's worst bottlenecks, in 20 years, carbon dioxide emissions would drop by over three-fourths and Americans would save 40 billion gallons of fuel. The legislation before use seeks to alleviate these problems in a number of ways. In addition to improving our roads, the highway bill provides generous provisions to improve the buses and rail systems that make our urban centers thrive. For Tennessee, this legislation will dramatically increase Federal highway and transit spending and support economic development throughout the State. Tennessee, which is a donor State, will receive more than $800 million on average each year to invest in its highway infrastructure. This represents nearly $4 billion over the next 5 years. The bill will also provide more than $296 million over the next 5 years to improve transit for our rural and urban commuters, an increase of 166 percent over the last highway reauthorization bill. Tennessee's highways have consistently been ranked among the best and safest in the Nation, and these funds will help to reduce congestion, improve safety, and create thousands of new jobs. Our transportation infrastructure is estimated to be worth $1.75 trillion. Every $1 billion we invest in transportation infrastructure generates more than $2 billion in economic activity and 47,500 new jobs. I look forward to passing this critical legislation. We will need to work to resolve our differences with the House of Representatives so that we can send the President a bill that he can sign into law as quickly as possible. I am confident this can be done. The highway bill is a roads bill. It is a jobs bill. It promises to help improve every American driver's quality of life. I thank my colleagues in advance for, literally, keeping America moving forward.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, we will start the session with a 1- hour period of morning business. Following that period, we will resume the highway bill for the final 30 minutes of debate. At the conclusion of those remarks, we will begin a series of debates on any of the remaining pending amendments. It is my understanding that several of the amendments will not require rollcalls; therefore, we expect three or four votes, including final passage. We will be recessing today from 12:30 to 2:15 for the weekly policy luncheons. We will be talking to the managers shortly, but I would expect we would be able to, starting at around 11:30 or noon today, do at least a couple of those votes, and then, following the luncheons, complete the bill. Mr. President, tomorrow I expect the Senate will begin consideration of some of the judicial nominations that have been available on the Executive Calendar, as we determine specifically the plans for tomorrow. But we will be going by regular order tomorrow, taking one of the nominees from the Executive Calendar. But over the course of the day, we will come back and be more specific with those announcements, after discussion with the Democratic leader.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, for the past week, I have come to the Senate floor to briefly discuss my recent factfinding mission to the Middle East, having had the opportunity to travel to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan 2 weeks ago. I will conclude these Mideast reports with a very brief discussion of my time in Jordan. We began the Jordan leg of our trip with a visit to King Abdullah. Son of the much admired King Hussein, King Abdullah has been a trusted and valuable friend to the United States and a steadfast partner in the war on terrorism. We discussed Jordan's progress toward economic reform. Jordan is embarking upon free market reforms and encouraging the growth of small business and entrepreneurs. We know in the American experience that entrepreneurship is that engine of economic and job growth. I am encouraged by the progress that King Abdullah is making, and I am hopeful the Jordanian economy flourishes. As it does so, it will become a model of reform throughout the Middle East. We also talked about the importance of the U.S.-Jordanian partnership in the peace process. King Abdullah's father exhibited great courage and foresight as he led his nation to peace with Israel in the 1990s. Because of Jordan's relations with Israel and its special ties to the Palestinians, Jordan can be a substantial contributor to the peace process. By coordinating our efforts, I believe Jordan and the United States can help the parties build momentum toward a peaceful resolution. During a dinner meeting with King Abdullah, we were joined by Jim Wolfenson, the former head of the World Bank. Dr. Wolfenson was recently selected, as my colleagues know, by President Bush to handle the upcoming Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, focusing on the quartet of partners and building the appropriate support. I applaud the President for his choice in this emissary. Not only is Dr. Wolfenson eminently capable, but he knows many of the important players directly, professionally, and personally, and he appreciates the stakes and I am confident he can get the job done. Dr. Wolfenson understands the transition must go well. If it does not, violent unrest and instability could destroy this, what I believe is a historic chance for peace. The Jordanians have been an invaluable partner in Operation Enduring Freedom. They have made tremendous contributions to the Iraqi people's efforts to secure a free and prosperous Iraq. We have witnessed the extraordinary bravery of the Iraqis at the polling booths and at the police recruitment centers. They have been willing to defy the terrorists and assume an active role in securing democracy. Many of those courageous Iraqis are acquiring the training and skills needed to defend their country by completing a security course and police training regimen in Jordan. We had the opportunity, while in Jordan, to visit the Jordan-Iraq Police Training Center, a truly unique effort where 16 countries have come together, including the United States, Jordan, Britain, Canada, Finland, and others, to train the Iraqi security force--to train the Iraqi police. The director of the facility is John Moseby, a highly qualified veteran of the U.S. Air Force. The center's goal in Jordan is to train 32,000 Iraqi police by December 2005. Already, the center has graduated over 15,000 recruits, who have gone back to Iraq to serve in security positions. There are currently 40 Iraqi trainers at the site in Jordan, and the center hopes to add another 60. It sits on about 450 acres and can train about 3,500 cadets per session. I wanted to go to the Jordan-Iraq Police Training Center to see firsthand how those exercises are conducted because there has been some question in the past as to the adequacy and the quality of that training. Having had the opportunity to meet the cadets, both an incoming class and classes that were leaving, viewing many of the exercises, viewing, with the leaders there, the commitment to a quality curriculum, I am very reassured they are doing an outstanding job in training those Iraqi recruits to go back and keep their communities and their streets safe. The Iraqi cadets told us of their hope and appreciation for America's help in building a new Iraq. I am confident that by their courage and their commitment, freedom will prevail in Iraq and the dark forces that now threaten their country will be defeated. The trip throughout the Middle East was fascinating and informative. We met many vibrant and thoughtful people. Again and again, you hear, throughout all the countries, this expressed hope, the universal dream of hope that the people of the Middle East will one day be truly free-- free from violence and oppression, free to express their will through democratically elected leaders, free to express themselves in the town square without fear of violence or terrorism. I do applaud President Bush for his vision and for his unwavering belief in the dignity and rights of all people. From Darfur to Damascus, from Baghdad to Beirut, liberty is the hope of mankind. Here in the Senate, I encourage and urge my colleagues to continue to do our part to ensure that these principles help shape the future of the Middle East. I believe together, with our partners around the globe, we can spread prosperity and peace. I believe it is the only way. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. 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. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 143, which was submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for representation in a civil action pending in Federal District Court in the District of Columbia. In this case, the United Nations is seeking to prevent an individual from complying with subpoenas for testimony and documents issued by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and other congressional committees in connection with their inquiries into allegations of fraud and corruption in the United Nations Oil for Food Program. The individual at issue, Mr. Robert Parton, is an investigator formerly associated with the Independent Inquiry Committee, an entity formed by the United Nations to conduct its own investigation into the program. The United Nations contends that its privileges and immunities, and its contracts with Mr. Parton, bar him from complying with the subcommittee's subpoenas. Mr. President, subcommittee staff has been discussing for some time with United Nations and IIC counsel their concerns regarding United Nations privileges and how any such privileges might be accommodated consistent with the investigative needs of the subcommittee. The subcommittee does not desire adversely to affect the IIC's ongoing investigation of the Oil-for-Food Program. However, the subcommittee believes that it is possible for Mr. Parton to provide information needed by the subcommittee in the fulfillment of its responsibilities without doing so. In the event, however, that the subcommittee's negotiations with the United Nations and the IIC do not resolve this matter, the enclosed resolution authorizes the Senate legal counsel, when directed by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, or by the chairman and ranking minority member, acting jointly, to appear in the name of the subcommittee as amicus curiae, intervenor, applicant or respondent in United Nations v. Robert Parton or any related action or proceeding.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we return to the consideration of the highway bill. The managers are here to work through the remaining amendments this afternoon, and we will have votes on at least one amendment at 5:30, or sometime around 5:30. The specific time we will state shortly but at around 5:30 today. We have an agreement for finishing this bill tomorrow. Under the agreement, Senators may offer amendments today from the limited list we agreed to last week. We do hope most of these amendments will not require votes. There are a few remaining amendments that will need rollcall votes prior to passage. I once again thank the managers for their hard work, and I look forward to finishing the bill tomorrow so we can get it to conference as soon as possible. Lebanon Mr. President, in my leader remarks for the past week, I have come to the Senate floor to briefly comment on a recent trip to the Middle East. Over the April recess I had the privilege of traveling to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. In each of these stops, I met with officials and community leaders. I also made a special point of meeting with opposition leaders as well. With each conversation, I learned more about the challenges facing this complicated part of the world. I became convinced that despite the deep differences that divide them, each party is committed to and wants peace and prosperity. Each side knows that dialog is the only way forward. Nowhere has this been on more astonishing display than in Lebanon. As we all witnessed, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens took to the streets to peacefully protest foreign occupation and interference. The images on television were remarkable. Central Beirut was awash in this sea of flags of red, green, and white. Proudly defiant citizens passed out roses to the soldiers who had been sent in to contain them. It was a triumphant moment for the Lebanese people and a turning point in their country's history. Our delegation had the opportunity to walk through Martyr Square, as that square is called, where, on March 14, there were hundreds of thousands of people who came forth to express the will of the people. Syrian military and intelligence personnel had been stationed in Lebanon for decades and had consistently denied the Lebanese people the sovereignty and territorial integrity deserved by all independent nations. In addition, heavily armed militias, such as the Deborah terrorist group, have operated with virtual impunity in Lebanon and have been allowed to pursue their radical agenda. The last few months have been times of turmoil and opportunity for the Lebanese people. For the first time in decades, the Lebanese people are free of the interference of the Syrian military. However, it is still not clear that Syria is fully complying with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. Resolution 1559 calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and intelligence personnel, and the disarming of armed militias. Although Syria claims to have removed all of its intelligence personnel from Lebanon, this has not been confirmed. And groups such as Deborah refuse to disarm. Resolution 1559 also calls for free and fair elections. Our first meeting in Beirut was with members of the opposition. They represented parties and religious sects--Christian, Druze, and Muslim. These leaders were well versed in the requirements for a successfully functioning democracy. In particular, they discussed the need to restore accountability, to restore transparency, to secure an independent judiciary, and to rebuild their economy so all Lebanese people have a stake in the future. Their commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and democratic governance was truly inspiring. They are intensely aware of the importance of this historic opportunity to secure a truly free democracy, and they were all united in holding elections on time in late May. While I am hopeful, it remains to be seen how their unity will hold once that new government is formed. We then met with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Najib Mikati. I was greatly encouraged when he echoed many of the concerns that had been expressed earlier in the day by leaders of the opposition. He spoke of the need for an independent judiciary and respect for Lebanese sovereignty. I agreed with his assessment that economic reform required a strong private sector that is truly globally competitive. He also expressed confidence that Syria had withdrawn all of its intelligence agents and that the Lebanese people would soon see the benefits of freedom from foreign occupation. The Prime Minister also echoed the assurances of Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri that free and fair elections would take place as scheduled. Finally, I had the opportunity to visit with participants in a program called AMIDEAST. This program was established by our State Department shortly after 9/11, seeking to rebuild a better understanding of the United States by selecting young Lebanese students to attend American schools and live with host families for a year. I had the opportunity to meet with two students who will soon be in Tennessee. President Bush has rightly emphasized the importance of public diplomacy in our efforts to spread freedom and democracy. My interactions with the participants of AMIDEAST confirmed my belief that more such programs are needed throughout the region. We need to make a more concerted effort to reach out to the people of the Middle East, especially the young, and demonstrate to them that they can achieve their hopes and aspirations for peace and freedom. My visit to Lebanon and the determination exhibited by the Lebanese people in the past few months have been truly inspiring. I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in continuing to support the Lebanese people as they strive to achieve their dream of a free and prosperous Lebanon. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Recognition of the Minority Leader

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as in executive session I ask unanimous consent the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following conventions transmitted to the Senate on May 16, 2005, by the President of the United States: Convention Concerning Migratory Fish Stock in the Pacific Ocean (Treaty Document 109-1); and Convention Strengthening the Inter-American Tuna Commission (Treaty Document 109-2). I further ask the conventions be considered as having been read the first time; that they be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and the President's messages be printed in the Record.