Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will have a period for morning business for up to 60 minutes. Following that hour for debate, we expect to begin consideration of the State Department authorization bill. We have not yet locked in that agreement, but I am hopeful we will be able to reach a consent agreement shortly. Chairman Lugar is ready to proceed with the bill. We hope to make substantial progress during today's session. Under the order last night, we have scheduled a vote for 4:45 p.m. today on the adoption of a resolution relating to Pope John Paul II. I anticipate we will have additional votes today on amendments to the State Department bill. Also this evening, once we complete our business for the day on the State Department legislation, we will have a 70-minute period for debate on the issue of Social Security. I encourage all Members to remain for this important question-and-answer period. I also remind our colleagues that on Wednesday, there will be a joint meeting of the House and Senate to receive an address by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. That address is scheduled for 11 a.m. Senators should be in the Senate Chamber at 10:30 so we may proceed to the Hall of the House of Representatives. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order and in accordance with the provisions of S. Res. 93 as a further mark of respect for our former colleague, Senator Howell Heflin.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will be in a period of morning business. We are working with the Democratic leadership to reach an agreement with respect to the State Department authorization bill. It is my hope and expectation we will be able to structure an orderly debate of this measure and begin its consideration early tomorrow. In addition to the State Department authorization bill, we have a resolution relative to the passing of Pope John Paul II. We have just scheduled a vote on adoption of the resolution for 4:45 p.m. tomorrow, and that will be the first vote of the day. I also remind everyone that tomorrow evening, after we have finished work on the State Department authorization, our two policy committees will have a debate on the issue of Social Security. This 70-minute debate will take place on the Senate floor, and I encourage all Members to listen to this important question-and-answer session. We have a lot of work to do this week, and given the events scheduled at the Vatican, and President Yushchenko's address to Congress on Wednesday, we will need to make the most of our time. Rollcall votes will occur during tomorrow's session and throughout the remainder of the week as we try to complete work on the State Department authorization.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, the Senate stand in adjournment until 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate then begin a period of morning business for up to 60 minutes, with the first 30 minutes under the control of the majority leader or his designee and the following 30 minutes under the control of the Democratic leader or his designee. I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly party luncheons.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements relating to this resolution be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 93, submitted earlier today by Senator Reid and others.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand there is an announcement to be made.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 4:45 p.m., on Tuesday, the Senate proceed to a vote on adoption of a resolution which is at the desk relating to the passing of Pope John Paul II.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Senate returns to session today and joins the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II. I know many of my colleagues will want to pay tribute to one of our greatest spiritual leaders. Therefore, we will have a period of morning business throughout the day to accommodate those speeches. I also alert my colleagues that we are working on a Senate resolution which would pay the appropriate respect and tribute to Pope John Paul. We have also returned to the sad news of the passing of one of our former colleagues, Senator Howell Heflin of Alabama. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. With regard to the schedule this week, we have a busy legislative schedule with a number of scheduling challenges over the next several days. We hope to begin consideration of the State Department authorization bill tomorrow, on Tuesday. Chairman Lugar is preparing to bring that bill to the floor, and we hope to complete work on that over the course of the next couple of days. I hope we can reach an agreement that will allow that bill to come forward, with amendments relevant to the underlying legislation. In addition, on Wednesday, there will be a joint meeting of the House and Senate to receive an address by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. That is scheduled for 11 a.m. We ask that Members be in the Senate Chamber at approximately 10:30 so we may proceed together to the Hall of the House of Representatives for that address. Also this week, we have a couple of district judges who are available for consideration, and we will want to schedule those for floor action. On behalf of the Republican and Democratic Policy Committees, I remind everybody that on Tuesday we will have a floor debate on the issue of Social Security. Senators Santorum, DeMint, Durbin, and Stabenow will participate in the scheduled debate. I encourage all Members to listen to this constructive conversation. I applaud both policy committees for preparing this format. I was pleased to work with the Democratic leader in securing a time for this debate tomorrow. This week, Senator Cochran will be marking up the supplemental appropriations bill. We hope to have that available next week. Again, we have much on the plate for this week both in terms of floor schedule and other important Senate events. I look forward to a busy legislative period this spring, and trust all of my colleagues are rested and ready to proceed.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, this body, the Senate, and the world community grieve for the passing of Pope John Paul II. He passed away Saturday evening, April 2, in his bed overlooking St. Peter's Square. Millions of Catholics and non-Catholics alike mourn the departure of one of the greatest spiritual leaders and moral teachers of the modern era. Pope John Paul set an extraordinary example of personal integrity and courage, not only for his fellow Catholics but for people of every religious and philosophical viewpoint. Pope John Paul was born Karol Joseph Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, in Poland, a country which at the time was a desolate, impoverished, and war-torn place. By the time John Paul reached the age of 21, every close member of his family had died. Most people would have been devastated by such losses. But for John Paul, this early experience of suffering deepened his spirituality and his capacity to find meaning in man's frailty. John Paul was ordained as a priest at the age of 26. In 1964, he became the Bishop of Krakow. Three years later, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Paul VI. In 1978, he became the first non-Italian in 455 years to be elected Pope of the Catholic Church. For the next 2\1/2\ decades, Pope John Paul campaigned tirelessly for human rights and dignity throughout the world. He practiced and inspired resistance to the great totalitarian systems that rose and, with his help, fell in the 20th century. He had the key insight that, in his words, ``the historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation, but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency.'' His historic trip to Poland in 1979 catalyzed the Solidarity movement and led to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet empire. John Paul fostered harmony between Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant Christians. He reached out in friendship to Jews and members of other faiths, and he warmly promoted interfaith understanding. He was the first Pope to visit a mosque and the first Pope to visit a synagogue. A poet, a playwright, and a philosopher, Pope John Paul II dedicated himself to the defense of the weakest and most vulnerable members of the human family. He eloquently defended the right to life of every human being, irrespective of race or sex, age or size, stage of development, or condition of dependence. He believed that ``science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.'' On his visits to the United States, he called on all Americans to be faithful to the great principles of liberty included in our Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution. Even in his last frail moments, he remained devoted to God and the cause of justice. His selfless service to God and man will remain an inspiration to all people of good will across the globe. I will close with a poem he wrote for his mother at the age of 19. It reflects his extraordinarily sensitive nature and closes with a prayer the world now sends out to him. It is entitled ``Over This, Your White Grave'': Over this, your white grave, The flowers of life in white, So many years without you, How many have passed out of sight? Over this, your white grave, Covered for years, there is a stir In the air, something uplifting And, like death, beyond comprehension. Over this, your white grave, Oh, Mother, can such loving cease? For all his filial adoration A prayer: Give her eternal peace. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, the Record remain open for statements only on Monday, March 21, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 23, the adjournment resolution, which is at the desk. I further ask that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the bill we just passed that will give Terri Schiavo another chance. The bill we passed this afternoon centers on the sanctity of human life. It is bipartisan; it is bicameral. The House of Representatives is considering the exact same bill today. After the Senate and House pass this legislation, the President will immediately sign it into law. There has been a lot of discussion about what this bill actually does. Let me point out several things. Simply put, it allows Terri's case to be held in Federal court. The legislation permits a Federal district judge to consider a claim on behalf of Terri for alleged violations of constitutional rights or Federal laws relating to the withholding of food, water, or medical treatment necessary to sustain life. The bill guarantees a process to help Terri but does not guarantee a particular outcome. Once a new case is filed, a Federal district judge can issue a stay at any time 24 hours a day. A stay would allow Terri to be fed once again. The judge has discretion on that particular decision. However, I would expect that a Federal judge would grant the stay under these circumstances because Terri would need to live in order for the court to consider the case. If a new suit goes forward, the Federal judge must conduct what is called de novo review of the case. De novo review means the judge must look at the case anew. The judge need not rely on or defer to the decision of previous judges. The judge also may make new findings of fact, and from a practical standpoint this means that in a new case the judge can reevaluate and reassess Terri's medical condition. I would like to make a few other points about the bill. First, it is a unique bill passed under unique circumstances that should not serve as a precedent for future legislation. Second, this bill would not impede any State's existing laws regarding assisted suicide. Finally, in this bill Congress acknowledges that we should take a closer look in the future at the legal rights of incapacitated individuals. While this bill will create a new Federal cause of action, I still encourage the Florida Legislature to act on Terri's behalf. This new Federal law will help Terri, but it should not be her only remaining option. Remember, Terri is alive. Terri is not in a coma. Although there is a range of opinions, neurologists who have examined her insist today that she is not in a persistent vegetative state. She breathes on her own just like you and me. She is not on a respirator. She is not on life support of any type. She does not have a terminal condition. Moreover, she has a mom and a dad and siblings, her closest blood relatives, who love her, who say she is responsive to them, who want her to live, and who will financially support her. These are the facts. We in the Senate recognize that it is extraordinary that we, as a body, act. But these are extraordinary circumstances that center on the most fundamental of human values and virtues--the sanctity of human life. The level of cooperation and thoughtful consideration surrounding this legislative effort on behalf of my colleagues has truly been remarkable. I thank Senate minority leader Harry Reid for his leadership on this issue. He and I have been in close contact throughout this process. I also thank my Democratic colleagues who expressed their concerns but have allowed us to move forward. In particular, I thank Senators Mel Martinez, Rick Santorum, Tom Harkin, and Kent Conrad for their dedication in shepherding this legislation. This is bipartisan, bicameral legislation.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 686 introduced earlier today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Congress is continuing to work to pass legislation to give Terri Schiavo another chance at life. Let me update all of our colleagues on where we are right now. On Saturday, yesterday, we reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a legislative solution. At that point, we initiated a procedural process to act on the bill, a process which brought both the House of Representatives and the Senate back today to complete action on this critically important matter. Shortly, we will stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair. This action will allow the Senate to come back into session at a moment's notice to consider the legislation. The Senate will remain here throughout the afternoon and, if necessary, late into the evening in order to act immediately on this bill once it is ready. Because Terri Schiavo is being denied lifesaving nutrition this very moment, time is of the essence. Let me summarize again for everyone what the agreed-upon legislation does. Under this bill, Terri Schiavo will have another chance. She will have another opportunity to live. The bill allows Terri's case to be heard in Federal court. More specifically, it allows a Federal district judge to consider a claim on behalf of Terri Schiavo for alleged violations of constitutional rights or Federal laws relating to the withholding of food, water, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life. I am heartened by the way Congress is uniting in a bipartisan, bicameral way in this unique situation. Now is the time for us to act. Terri deserves it. I remain committed as leader to pass legislation to give Terri Schiavo one more chance at life.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, the Senate stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 21, unless the House adopts S. Con. Res. 23, at which time the Senate will then be in adjournment under the provisions of the concurrent resolution until 2 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2005. I further ask that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the Journal of the proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate then begin a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we are hopeful that the House of Representatives will be able to act soon on the Schiavo bill we have just passed. If they are able to pass that legislation in the form received and then pass the adjournment resolution, it would not be necessary for this body, the Senate, to return. We will then have completed our work and will adjourn for the Easter break. If the House is unable to act and, therefore, does not adopt the adjournment resolution, then the Senate would automatically return to business tomorrow morning. I am hopeful that the House will be able to accept this bipartisan and bicameral agreement. I thank many Members on both sides of the aisle for expediting this legislation through the Senate. First and foremost, I need to thank, once again, the Senator from Florida, the current occupant of the chair. We will now wait and monitor, over the course of the afternoon and evening, House action. In all likelihood, it will be a long evening, but we are prepared to be here as long as it takes to see that this important bill passes so it can be sent to the President immediately for his signature. Time is of the essence. If the Senate does not need to return, I alert Members that we will have a busy legislative session after adjournment. There are a number of important matters to consider, including the supplemental appropriations that we will turn to when it becomes available. I announced previously that no votes will occur on April 4, and therefore there is the possibility of votes on Tuesday, April 5. Mr. President, for the record, I note that a colloquy that was printed earlier in the Record was between Senator Levin and myself. It is an important colloquy that expresses the views to which we have agreed. I should mention that many such conversations have gone on between and among all Senators on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I want to be clear about what we just agreed to. Today we will not be adjourning under the authority provided by the resolution that we just considered. This adjournment resolution will now allow the House to be called into session to consider legislative matters. At the close of business today, we will adjourn until Sunday. Once we are able to complete our work as it relates to Theresa Marie Schiavo, we are prepared to clear a new adjournment resolution so that we may begin the Easter recess.